File formats:
Printing can be done with only colors without adding white, which is referred to as cmyk colors.
In addition, you can also print with:
- Standalone white = visible white in the print
- Spot color white = white printed under a color so that the color becomes opaque
Printing with white is referred to as cmyk+white.
The table below indicates which files are suitable for which method of printing:
| |
jpg, jpeg |
png |
bmp |
pdf |
ai |
eps |
svg |
ods |
doc, txt |
| CMYK |
✓* |
✓* |
✗ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓** |
✓** |
✗ |
✗ |
| CMYK+WHITE |
✗ |
✓* |
✗ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓** |
✓** |
✗ |
✗ |
Guidelines:
General guidelines (for cmyk and cmyk + white)
- Base the file on A4 or A3 format, 297x210mm or 297x420mm respectively
- Keep a space of at least 5mm around the file empty, this is for the printer margin that cannot print there
- Use a color profile: for RGB colors a "sRGB profile", for CMYK colors "Coated FOGRA39" or "Euroscale coated" and enclose these profiles (not possible with png, always base them on srgb)
- Make items the color you want, no adjustments will be made to the file unless it has been explicitly discussed and calculated in the assignment
- Pixelated images (eg jpg and png files) prefer to use at least 300ppi (dpi) resolutions and no compression or lower quality settings
Png specific guidelines (in addition to the general guidelines)
Use a transparent background and also save the file with a transparent background
When cmyk + white is to be printed: make all items to be printed white also white in the file
Vector specific guidelines (in addition to the general guidelines)
Embed (pixel) images, by default they are linked
Convert texts into letter outlines / objects (since I don't own all fonts)
Only use area fills and no outlines *, if you want to outline something, make this an offset object
If background colors are used for checking, label them as "remove" or remove them yourself
A good contrast color for white control is #b5daf6, this color is quite similar to the blue backing of the decal paper
Use the 3-layer vector format if you want to print from a vector without converting to .png.
For more information about the 3-layer layout,
click here.
For more information about the difference between vector print and printing from PNG files,
click here.
* If you have used outlines in the file and cannot work around it, clearly indicate this in an accompanying email.
