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The Wild World of Printing
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Jan. 2nd, 2009 | 10:28 pm
i am finally completely done my portfolio and my application for Grad school. i am very proud of myself for completing such a beautiful book using Adobe Creative Suite - a program i had no idea how to use 6 months ago.
Preparing the pages and having them look good on the computer screen is one thing, but having them look good printed is another. Here are five lessons i learned about printing and binding an important booklet.
1) Adobe CS: If you want your document to look professional, you need Adobe Creative Suite. Become proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, and it will pay off.
2) Run test prints: Print everything as a test run first, then scrutinize the heck out of every page, and ask others to do the same for you. Only do test prints once you think you are ready to print the final product - and expect the test prints to be far from perfect.
3) Mylar: This thick, translucent plastic makes great section dividers in a portfolio, but it is difficult to find and its not very cheap. Also, the only way to print on mylar digitally is with an ink jet printer. Kinko's, Staples, Copies Plus (almost any printer) will not use mylar in their laser printers, because they fear the laser will melt the plastic and ruin their machine.
4) Finding the right Printer: Find a person who knows exactly what they are doing when it comes to printing and binding. He/she should be confident, and answer all your technical questions assuredly. Befriend this person and make sure that only he/she handles your entire project from start to finish. i recommend Marcus at the Kinko's on W. Broadway and Burrard.
5) Expenses: Printing a nice, professional looking portfolio is expensive. The total cost of my test prints, mylar sheets, trimming and binding (then i screwed up so i had to do re-prints, re-trims, and re-bindings) came to $200 - Hopefully it all pays off!
Preparing the pages and having them look good on the computer screen is one thing, but having them look good printed is another. Here are five lessons i learned about printing and binding an important booklet.
1) Adobe CS: If you want your document to look professional, you need Adobe Creative Suite. Become proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, and it will pay off.
2) Run test prints: Print everything as a test run first, then scrutinize the heck out of every page, and ask others to do the same for you. Only do test prints once you think you are ready to print the final product - and expect the test prints to be far from perfect.
3) Mylar: This thick, translucent plastic makes great section dividers in a portfolio, but it is difficult to find and its not very cheap. Also, the only way to print on mylar digitally is with an ink jet printer. Kinko's, Staples, Copies Plus (almost any printer) will not use mylar in their laser printers, because they fear the laser will melt the plastic and ruin their machine.
4) Finding the right Printer: Find a person who knows exactly what they are doing when it comes to printing and binding. He/she should be confident, and answer all your technical questions assuredly. Befriend this person and make sure that only he/she handles your entire project from start to finish. i recommend Marcus at the Kinko's on W. Broadway and Burrard.
5) Expenses: Printing a nice, professional looking portfolio is expensive. The total cost of my test prints, mylar sheets, trimming and binding (then i screwed up so i had to do re-prints, re-trims, and re-bindings) came to $200 - Hopefully it all pays off!