Designing for print versus for screen
Even experienced designers can get caught up when asked to design for print instead of screen, and vice versa. While on the face of it, one might assume that designing for print and screen are largely the same, there are a few very important considerations you need to make depending on your project to ensure that the end result aligns with your expectations. Let us walk you through what you need to know when designing for print or screen to avoid disappointment and nail your next design.
Physical size
Before you even begin designing, it’s best to find out what size you’ll need for your project so you can work within these parameters from the start. Sizing your project correctly will negate the need to resize your design later and avoid all of the hassle that comes with resizing a completed design.
Resolution
When designing for print, resolution is an especially important element to keep in mind. When designing for screen, you’ll often be able to physically see and judge for yourself if the resolution of your design is up to the necessary quality. However, when it comes to designing for print, it’ll be harder to judge how your design will look once printed, especially because print files can often be very large and distort easily. The standard setting for anything being printed is 300dpi to avoid any blurriness within the final printed design.
Further reading: Demystifying graphic design with 10 tips for non-designers
Bleed and trim
Bleeds and trims are important considerations when it comes to designing for print. The bleed is the area around the edges of your design that will be cut off once your design has been printed. Bleeds are usually between 3-5mm and exist so that none of your intended design is cropped off during the printing process. Be sure to extend the background of your design into the bleed to ensure that there isn’t a white line around the edge of your design after it’s been cut to size. Your printer should let you know which bleed size they require.
The trim is the edge of the final print. Avoid putting anything too close to the trim in case it is cropped off when your design is cut to size.
Use of color
Did you know that you'll need to work with a totally different color palette depending on whether you’re designing for print or screen?
That’s right — the colors we see on screen aren’t necessarily a representation of how these same colors will look when printed. As a result, you’ll need to work within the CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) if you’re intending to print, and the RGB palette (red, green, blue) if you’re designing for screen. The letter K is used to represent the color black because it stands for key color. CMYK is used for designs that are to be printed because these are the base ink colors that exist within a printer. They are mixed to recreate the colors used within your design. You can easily switch the mode of color within the design program you are using.
Further reading: Understanding the psychology of font and text in graphic design
Preparing your file to print
Many printing places will prefer your design to come in the form of a PDF, while others may accept design files or JPGs. You can check the preferred file format with your chosen printing shop. Avoid providing your design in formats such as word documents, publisher files, PowerPoints, keynote slides, Google pages, etc., as these will generally not be accepted.
Many print shops will also prefer that you outline any text used within your design before sending them your completed file. Doing so will prevent your text from being editable and will turn it into a vector line drawing instead of a font. Outlining text is an option that many design programs offer and is simple to do. Nonetheless, be sure to save a backup copy of your design before outlining your text. If you need to make changes to your text after you have outlined it, you will not be able to do so.
Another thing you will need to do before sending your file to print is to embed any linked images you’ve used in your design. Linked images are what are created when design programs link to the original file on your computer. They do this because it decreases your overall file size. However, if the file were to be opened on a computer that didn’t have the native file saved onto its hard drive, the image would no longer appear within your design if it needed to be opened or edited. Embedding your images will prevent this issue from happening if the print shop needs to open your file. Images can easily be embedded using your chosen design program.
Final checks
While any design, whether being used for screen or print, should undergo a final check process to catch any errors, it’s extra important to be diligent if your work is being printed — especially if there are multiple copies being produced. Any embarrassing mistakes will be permanently printed and much harder to rectify should you notice an issue later. Ask a friend or colleague to check your work before you send your files to the printer.
If you’re used to designing for the screen or for print, it can be daunting to switch to an unfamiliar medium. With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll officially be set up for success no matter the project.