Taking stuff to the Printer.

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

I'd like to know a few things about taking stuff to 'the printer' before I go headstrong into building my portfolio.

I don't want to make stuff, then all of a sudden realize that it's not a good viewing quality or unprintable.

so:

In photoshop, what size and resoulution should I start making all my stuff. Let's say I scan a drawing and decide to paint it. Should I make it as big as possible? or just whatever size the scan is?


How would I go about getting something printed? I mean, if I go to a printer, what shape should my file be in (should it be a particular type of file\size etc.)?

In Illustrator, does it matter what size the vector image is? Should I resize it to the approx size I want, lets say a poster, in Illustrator and make a huge file? Or, would they take it and resize it, or does it matter at all?

Anything for print should be 300dpi or above.

In photoshop work at 300dpi in CMYK Color. For Illustrator, you can keep your vectors at a moderate size so your computer runs rather smoothly and then let the print shop blow it up to print.

i wouldn't say work in cmyk, work in rgb then convert to cmyk. if you're working in cmyk there's a lot of filters that aren't available.

other than that i'd say to save out of illustrator as an eps file, and be sure to either include the fonts you use or convert them to outlines.

chris

[QUOTE=Fig]i wouldn't say work in cmyk, work in rgb then convert to cmyk. if you're working in cmyk there's a lot of filters that aren't available.

other than that i'd say to save out of illustrator as an eps file, and be sure to either include the fonts you use or convert them to outlines.

chris[/QUOTE]

Isn't that a bad idea considering your colors won't be exactly the same when you convert from cmyk to rgb or RGB to CMYK?

Sorry for all the editing. I can't construct sentences this morning lol.

[QUOTE=FlackBait]Isn't that a bad idea considering your colors won't be exactly the same when you convert from cmyk to rgb or RGB to CMYK?

Sorry for all the editing. I can't construct sentences this morning lol.[/QUOTE]


Yeah if you convert the colors will usually not be quite the same, work in cmyk if you plan to print.

I would do what Fig said. Most material you start out with is in RGB, plus, like Fig said, you get more filters in RGB mode. There will be some color shifting when you convert, but you are going to convert at some point most of the time anyways. Might as well save it till the last and only convert your image once.

Using the info tool and color selector you can see what cmyk you have and also when it's out of sure print range.

If your image started in CMYK, then probably best to leave it in CMYK, or maybe convert a copy into RGB and see how it goes.

*I would be more worried about whether the monitor is close to what you want. I had a nice incident where the blue turned out to be more purple - lol.... luckily she was a nice lady.

Work in RGB.

Under the View menu:

Do a CMYK proof setup, using a profile from your printing company if you can get one (otherwise, set up a generic SWOP coated or uncoated profile). Use Proof Color to simulate a view of your image as it should look when prinnted. Use Gamut Warning to get visual feedback on the RGB colors that fall outside of the gamut of the CMYK Proof Colors you have configured.

For further information, please do some research. There's way too much to go into here regarding these matters.

I forgot to ask a while ago, but what kind of printing places should I look for.

I'm guessing kinkos isn't the best option. But I have no idea.

Open up your Yellow Pages.

Ask people you know. Ask local businesses who have brochures and other print work that you admire where they get their printing done.