Frequently asked questions. We have answers.
What is Direct Image printing, and how is it more beneficial than traditional printing?
Direct
Image (DI) Printing allows us to go directly to press with your digital
file.
Here are just some of the benefits that brings to you:
Speed — The new press images its own plates directly from
PostScript output, so your process color job is completed instantly.
Affordability — With Direct Imaging, we can print color
in quantities as low as 200 or as high as 20,000 sheets at prices well
within your budget.
Quality — Direct Imaging delivers waterless offset quality
in resolutions as high as 2540 dpi. This is real printing, not something
that looks like it came out of the wrong end of a copier.
Versatility — Because it works so efficiently, Direct Imaging
expands your color horizons. Use it to print, in full process color,
projects that had been restricted to black-and-white or spot-color production,
due to time or budget restrictions.
Environmental Soundness — Direct Imaging uses no film, no film
processing chemicals, no plate making solutions, no toners and no dampening
chemicals. So every sheet you print on it is a plus for the environment.
What is process color or 4-color printing?
Process/4-color printing refers to a printing method which uses four
inks (cyan, magenta, 
yellow, and black - CMYK) to create a full color printed piece. Basically,
a sheet of paper passes through 4 separate rollers, each applying one
of the 4 process colors. Each ink is printed using a dot pattern (screen)
and each is assigned a different angle to print the dot pattern. This
assures that no two dots of a different color print right on top of
one another. It is this combination of inks, dots and angles that produces
the spectrum of color you see in a full-color print.
What is the difference between CMYK and RGB?
In short, CYMK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black ("K" represents black instead of "B" to avoid any confusion with Blue). These are the four primary colors used in process color printing. CMYK inks blend together to create the spectrum of colors seen when white light is reflected off a printed item. RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue. These are the three primary colors of light used to create images in a video based system (such as a computer monitor or television). RGB colors blend together to create a spectrum using direct light. In order to create working color separations of digital files, all color schemes must be converted to CMYK.
Why is the color of my printed piece different from what I see on my computer screen?
This
is due to the nature of RGB imaging (see previous question). Computer
monitors use
direct RGB light to produce the images you see on screen. The RGB color
gamut is much more versatile than the CMYK color gamut and can result
in colors which simply can not be recreated in a CMYK process color
environment. In addition, printed colors may appear less vivid because
they rely on reflected light as opposed to computer monitors which deliver
direct light to the viewer. Coated papers can be used to increase the
amount of reflection and enhance the "vivid" nature of your
printed item, however, a noticeable difference will remain between the
printed and on-screen images.
My desktop printer uses CMYK toner, will it produce prints similar to your press?
The answer is most likely "No". Not all desktop printers are created equally, and most do not utilize the same color specifications, line screen or image resolution required by a printing press. Also, laser and ink-jet printers apply ink differently and than a printing press, creating color variations between them.
Are PDF files acceptable for all print projects?
In most cases, pdf files are acceptable, but not recommended. If your project is single color, a pdf file will usually work just fine. If you are using multiple spot colors, a pdf is acceptable, provided that it is created using proper spot color separation methods. A pdf file will also work for process color printing as long as the original artwork was all created using CMYK colors and files. In any case, your pdf file should be created using acceptable resolutions and compression settings. IMPORTANT: If any of this information is new to you or you are unsure if your pdf file meets these requirements, don't worry, just bring in your files in their original format, and we'll take care of it for you.
