Susie

[size=12px][/size]I realize this area is for Photoshop and the web but I was wondering if there was an area discussing the topic; Getting Photoshop images ready for print? I'm trying to teach myself this particular area of photoshop from a book and thought it would be nice to be able to ask questions or maybe get tips/hints/direction/help [excited]

I don't get the chance to visit these boards as much as I would like to but I would really appreciate feedback or perhaps links to where I might make the learning curve less stressful!

Thanks
Susie

on another note...how do you make those icons below your forum names..some are animated....they are some of the coolest and most creative I've seen.

gymmie

Here's a site that pretty much concentrates on printing issues:

http://www.creativepro.com/category/...l?origin=story

Otherwise, whatever application you use should give some good tips, in documentation and online.

Sorry I can't help more...I'm definitely not a print expert 8[

stickdiesel

ask away, there are several folk here who do printwork.
I would try posting in the general subjects area though.

jpfitness

Susie you can add an avitar in your profile..... look at the top of this page and you will see the link to your profile just create an avitar and upload it into your profile [righton]
sfm

Susie

[size=18px][/size]Julie:
[size=12px][/size]Thank you for the link. I will check it out as soon as I can.

[size=18px][/size]Stickdiesel:
[size=12px][/size]Thanks for offering to answer my many questions!
I see that this thread has already been moved to the General Subject area...Apologies to the moderators.

[size=18px][/size]sfm:
[size=12px][/size]Are Avitars created in PS and animated in ImageReady? AND what would the final size of the image need to be?

Thanks all ....you've been wonderful
Susie

Welles

Hi Susie,

When it comes to advice on printing, it would be helpful to have you narrow down the field by specifying what sort of printing you are intending to do. There is a big difference in creating files which will be printed on your own ink jet printers as opposed to sending files to an image setter for example. Then if you are printing on your own ink jet printers, there is a difference between Windows or Mac workflows.

Welcome to the forum!

An avatar is most likely created in Photoshop and ImageReady (if animated) but other programs work well too, for example Gifmation on a Mac. The avatar size limits are not to exceed 75 pixels square and no bigger than a 10K file size.

Cheers

Susie

[size=12px]Thanks Welles[/size][size=12px]
Not to bore you with my aspiring career goals, but I am trying to pursue a career (and get a job) as a Web/Graphic designer. I have most of the requirements that companies seem to want in a graphic artist/desktop publisher...except....getting images ready for print...is that pre-press?

I have PS7, Illustrator 10, QuarkXpress, and PageMaker (all pc platform) so I was hoping that I could create business card templates, letterhead, etc and print them on my ink jet printer as well as prepare them as if I were sending to an outside printer.

My main goal here is to be able to confidently enter an interview with enough knowledge in getting images/documents ready for print. ( most job ads don't really specify if the printing is done inhouse, but I would have to believe that it usually isn't).

I understand that the world of print is very dependent on platform and type of printer the documents are going to.

I'll get a couple of templates created/finished and post them so you can see what I would like to do.

I appreciate any and all help!
Thanks again [excited]
Susie

oh yeah...thanx for the info on the avatars[/size]

Bacardi

Me too, I work on a win-based PC.

http://www.prepressure.com/

a very good site to read on various stuff concerning print. I know the guys: it's really info straight out of practical experience, no books being retold.

First of all you have to aqcuire a good basic knowledge on RGB (monitor), CMYK and spotcolors (print). You think you have that?

Imo, it's best to start in black and white, in which both colours can be any colour you prefer (ie: black ink on white papaer, and red ink on blue paper). Simple things. Once you have a fairly good insight in how these are printed, you can start with colourwork, which hhas two main departments: CMYK, or full colour prints like photographs in magazines, and spotcolors, mostly Pantone, to print special colours that can't be mixed with CMYK.

With QuarkXPress you're fairly safe because many printers have it, but the pdf format is used more and more because it's more reliable and less complicated that Postscript.

Then there's the calibration of your scanner and your monitor, and getting acceptable results out of your home printer.
Which scanner do you have, and which printer?

Be shure that you can get all the help you need, or i-adresses where you find additional info, and be prepared that sometimes people may differ in opinion. You will meet that too: many printers and pros use duifferent methods. But finally, what they want from you is something they can work with, that enters into their workflow and that gives predictable results.

The biggest mistakes (hey guys, add what you consider big mistakes, ok?) are:

1/ Thinking that you can see CMYK on your monitor. No, you can't Photoshop can simulate them, but a monitor always displays RGB, and there are CMYK colours that fall outside the RGB set.

2/ Thinking that you can print spotcolors with your desktop printer. No, you can't. And thinking that you can choose spotcolors on your monitor. The only way to choose spotcolors is to take the book (ie Pantone) and choose your colour in there. That is the correct hue. If you don't: you're in for surprises.

See: the ONLY problem is that what you design on your puter has to come out of that big press and be as good as identical.

etcetcetc

Welles

Eric,

May I suggest you post the http://www.prepressure.com/ URL on the Links Forum as well? I'm an ignoramus when it comes to prepress as my workflow is from my own computers to my own printers and I think the PrePressure site is a superb resource.

Thank you!

Bacardi

Done!

I also print much of my paintings etc on my home printer, and I've been looking for a decent way to calibrate things together. I'll post my experiences shortly, and I look forward to exchange insights and evt. tricks.

[righton]