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Prepress Services & Design Software

Prepress Services and Design Software: What You Need to Know

Prepress services are the processes used to prepare a project for outputting on physical media such as film positives or plates. This requires leveraging design software that is capable of creating the necessary files and formats needed by print shops in order to properly set-up a project. In this blog, we’ll explain what pre-press services are offered by print shops, which types of software they require, and how best to use them.

Types of Prepress Services & Design Software Offered by Print Shops

Prepress services include various activities such as proofing, film stripping, trapping, color correction, impositioning, scanning images for outputting on physical media, and more. The type of software used depends largely on the type of job being done; for example, image editing programs like Adobe Photoshop are often used for tasks such as color correction or image manipulation. Other types of prepress software includes desktop publishing (DTP) programs like Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress; these programs allow users to create layouts that can then be printed directly onto film positives or plates. Additionally, vector illustration programs like Adobe Illustrator help with tasks such as logo design or image creation.

How to Use Prepress Services & Design Software Effectively

When using pre-press services and design software effectively, it’s important to keep in mind that each program has its own capabilities and limitations; understanding these beforehand will help you plan your projects accordingly. For instance, if you need to create a complex layout with multiple elements then InDesign might be the best choice since it offers tools specifically designed for this purpose. Similarly, if you need to edit photographs then Photoshop would be the better option since it includes powerful tools for manipulating images on a pixel level. Additionally, it’s important to understand the different file types used by prepress services and design software; some programs save their files in proprietary formats while others save them in industry-standard formats such as PDF or TIFF. Knowing which format is supported by your printer will help ensure that your documents can be printed accurately without any errors or issues during production.

Prepress services are an essential part of any printing job; without them it would be impossible to properly prepare projects for outputting on physical media such as film positives or plates ready for press runs. Understanding which types of pre-press services can best meet your needs—as well as which types of design software are most suitable—will help ensure that your printing jobs turn out perfect every time! With this information handy now all website owners and SEO newbies have the starting knowledge they need to work with graphic designers and printers when preparing a project for outputting on physical media such as film positives or plates ready for press runs. Good luck!  ​

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Inks & Coatings

A Comprehensive Guide to Inks and Coatings for Printing Applications

In the world of printing, inks and coatings are a key factor in ensuring a successful final product. The right combination of ink and coating can determine how long your printed materials last, how vibrant the colors appear on the page, and even how resistant they are to fading due to sunlight exposure. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which ones are best suited for your particular application. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you select specialized printing inks with particular properties suitable for specific applications. Let’s get started!


Types of Inks


When it comes to printing inks, there are several types that can be used depending on the type of material being printed on. For example, solvent-based inks use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a carrier for the pigment and offer excellent color saturation but also have a strong smell and release toxic fumes into the air when dried. But if you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, water-based inks are non-toxic and offer good color saturation without any toxic fumes or smells. They also dry faster than solvent-based inks, making them ideal for high-volume projects.

Types of Coatings


In addition to selecting the right type of ink for your project, it’s also important to consider which type of coating is best suited for your needs. Glosses or mattes finishes can be applied as coatings that provide added protection against fading due to sunlight exposure over time when printed on outdoor surfaces like billboards or signs. Varnish is another popular coating choice that provides a glossy look while protecting against dirt, fingerprints, and UV rays from fading colors over time. Finally, UV curing ink sets offer better resistance against fading due to sunlight exposure over time when printed on outdoor surfaces like plastic containers or metal cans while providing a glossy finish that resists scratches and other damages more effectively than varnish or glosses coatings do.


No matter what type of material you’re printing on—from paper goods to plastics—it’s essential that you select an appropriate combination of ink and coating for your project in order to ensure optimal results. With this comprehensive guide to selecting specialized printing inks with particular properties suitable for specific applications combined with protective coatings like varnish or UV curing ink sets that offer better resistance against fading due to sunlight exposure over time when printed on outdoor surfaces, you’ll be well equipped with the necessary information needed to make an informed decision about which ink/coating combination is best suited for your needs! Good luck!