Getting the settings right for any printing project is crucial. Knowing what color space and resolution you are working in can make or break a great print. Even knowing about your printer color profiles makes a huge difference. The printer profile is what defines the range of colors and how saturated they will come from the printer. Here are all the basics you need to know to master the printing process.
Color Space
Color space is defined as the range of colors that a camera, printer, or computer monitor can produce. This range of colors is called the gamut and each gamut is defined with it’s own profile. Two of the most common profiles used in both photographic imagery and printing are Adobe RGB and sRGB. The difference between the two is simple. sRGB is a smaller color space than Adobe RGB. This translates into different uses. sRGB is excellent for online usages and normally incorporates the full range a computer monitor can display. Adobe RGB was designed specifically for printing. This means that the profile has not just more colors, but deeper saturated colors.
Other main profiles to consider that affect print quality are utilizing RGB and CMYK color spaces. RGB simply stands for red, green, and blue and is best used for digital display formats. CMYK is known as a printing profile and stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Each profile uses a different mapping system to define a specific color. Most printers print best using a CMYK mapping system because the inks are defined through those specific colors, especially in high end printers.
Resolution
When printing large, resolution matters. Promotional banners and custom trade show displays are rarely small so considering the resolution of the images and files that are used in a printable design is essential. Ideally, logos should be designed in programs like Adobe Illustration and utilized as EPS or AI files. This helps them retain the quality and not pixelate during printing. The same holds true for imagery. Photographs and other graphics should have a very high pixel resolution in order to print clearly. This also translates into how you save the document. Save custom graphics as either EPS files or high resolution print PDFs. This will help make sure you receive the best possible printed product. Lastly, if you have any technical questions about our printing process and how to further improve your design process, please contact us.