![]() The physical characteristics of the press itself, including its speed.The number of inks being used in one press run.The printing process: offset (sheet fed or web), digital, and so on.Several factors determine the maximum amount of ink that will work for a particular job, including: So if you had the maximum 100% of C, M, Y, and K, you’d have 400% TIC, which is equivalent to the Registration swatch in a CMYK InDesign file. Percentages are used to describe ink coverage. Believe me, this is one mess you want to avoid. What happens when a designer ignores this ink limit? The ink that gets laid down on press last will attach improperly to the previous layers and it will not dry properly on the press sheets. This is referred to as off-set, where the ink of a still wet sheet rubs off on whatever is stacked on top of it. When several colors are printed on top of each other, there is a limit to the amount of ink that can be put on paper. This maximum dot percentage is referred to as either TIC (Total Ink Coverage) or TAC (Total Area Coverage). ![]() What is Ink Density?įirst let’s understand what is meant by ink density. Having been in print production for over 25 years, I use a prepress checklist before submitting my files to the printer or imposing them myself for press. One of the items on my checklist is confirm (or fix) the ink density in my images, so I’m sure it’s within the limits my printer has specified. ![]() Following their specs will get you there. And using a prepress checklist before you submit your file to the printer can prevent your project from getting bounced back, and/or the printer having to fix your files, which will usually incur additional costs! Most printers will be happy to provide specifications for how to submit files. Their goal is the same as yours: to save time and money, deliver the project on schedule and with the best possible results. In the world of print design, the end of the design phase is just the beginning of the prepress phase. Creatively, you may be finished with a piece, but next you must ensure that the file is ready to print as intended. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |