- Colour
- Format
- Production
- Processes
- Finishing
- Stock
1. Colour.
In terms of colour there are lots of different print processes available that offer different colour options. If we were to use a Digital print we would have to print using CMYK mode, in which there are a limited number of colours available. However if you are to use other processes such as lino print, mono print or screen print you are able to mix custom colours, and view the physicality of this colour as it is being mixed which some people may prefer.
Through using screen print, the above designer is able to make the design bespoke, by selecting an individual colour choice.
As the above designer has used digital print as their production choice, they are only able to use those colours within the Pantone system. This limits them to a range of colours, however it also means that as RGB colours are not reproducible during CMYK printing, that Screen print could be the better option if you are wanting more vibrant colour.
2. Format.
There are a range of formats to choose to work in when creating graphic design, however I would like to focus on a large format and a smaller one. I found that when considering format, it is very important to consider who will be your audience.
Billboard
Billboards are a great choice of format for lower budget briefs, Billboard advertising is the cheapest out of television advertising, radio advertising and newspaper ads. By using billboards, companies are able to reach their specific audience aswell as those who aren't within their demographic, without the audience having to purchase a magazine/newspaper etc.
' - Billboards allow you to reach more people faster and easier than any other type of media.'
' - People spend more time in their vehicle than they do to read the paper and watch the news.' sourced
The above billboard shows great example of how to connect with the demographic audience, the billboard was the best choice for this kind of advertising as it is aimed at those who drive cars. A billboard is the quickest and easiest way to get a message across to those who use vehicles. Above is a new series of billboards released by mini. Owners of a mini, can apply to have a customised message, pop up on every multimedia mini billboard they drive under.
Business card
Business cards are appropriate for small specific pieces of information, as they are used to act as a reminder and mental aid. Due to the little amounts of information, business cards are usually small (around the same size as credit cards) and are therefore easy to slip into a pocket or purse after they have been handed out.
3. Production.
Mass production .vs. single production.
ethical v.s non ethical.
4. Processes.
Inkjet printing and Laser printing.
Why do people still print via inkjet when laser printing is available?
Inkjet printing is not regularly used for commercial printing but for the consumer, or general public, in comparison to the Laser printer that is used for commercial based work.
An inkjet printer has little warm up time and has a low cost per page, in comparison to the laser printer.
However original inkjet ink is very expensive, and when a lot of the catridges used in inkjet printing declare themselves empty, they are capable of printing over 30% more good quality prints.
Laser printers are highspeed with an ability to print 6000 coloured pages per hour.
Inkjet pros and cons:
Pros:
- Ideal for printing photographs and other image intensive documents.
- Inkjets can print onto many types of paper, from cheap office paper to high-end glossy photograph paper.
- Little to no warm-up time is needed for printing jobs.
- Most inkjet cartridges can be refilled and reused, which cuts down on waste and saves money
Cons:
- Brand new inkjet cartridges tend to be a bit pricey.
- Inkjet ink is typically water-based, thus making prints highly susceptible to water-damage and fading.
- Ink cartridges need frequent cleaning, which most printers perform automatically. Cartridge cleaning accounts for a majority of ink usage, rather than for printing actual images and documents.
Laser printing pros and cons:
Pros:
- Due to the printing process, laser printers can print documents at a much faster rate than inkjet printers.
- Price by price comparisons tends to favor laser printers over inkjet papers for documents that are not graphically complex.
Cons:
- Warm-up times delay the initial printing startup time.
- Upfront toner costs are higher than inkjet ink cartridges.
- Because the toner has an electrostatic charge, toner will stick to most anything, making toner leaks and other mishaps cleaning headaches.
5. Finishing.
The two finishing choices I looked into were matte and glossy. I never really put much thought into choosing whether to have my documents with a matte or glossy finish, however the two have pros and cons of their own.
Matte:
- Matte finishing has a softer more glowing appeal.
- 2.0 websites inspired soft design in print - so websites such as twitter, youtube and hubpages.
- Matte paper better helps the ink to diffuse by limiting how much light is reflected off the papers surface.
- Is quite regularly more expensive than glossy paper .
- It will preserve any smudges/dust/ finger prints that it comes into contact with.
- Colours can often look less vibrant with a matte finish.
- Matte is a good finish to use when lighting/reflection could be a problem.
Gloss:
- Makes colours brighter as the stock reflects a lot of light.
- Great for colours such as black which look very intense with a glossy finish.
- Gloss is more often less expensive than matte.
- Gloss is seen as the more professional paper choice.
- However the shiny coating that enables the paper to be glossy picks up finger prints.
As seen in the above image when not interrupted by reflection, the black with a glossy finish is a lot more intense when compared with the matte black background.
6. Stock.
Newsprint.
When people are creating publications, they have to consider there stock in order to relate to the end user. The newspaper is accessible to everyone, and has no particular specific demographic audience, therefore is has to be easily available to a wide range of people. This is made tangible through the stock that the newspaper is printed upon. News papers are printed upon newsprint, a strong, adaptable to 4 colour printing and Low cost stock choice, meaning that the price of a newspaper is very low and therefore economically available to most people.
High gsm, aqueous coating, spot varnish.
Using different paper stocks helps to express the attitude of a project, Using a higher quality stock emphasises the aim for a higher standard. The use of a paper with higher gsm, creates a feeling of more substantial work and improves the print quality. We would expect this kind of stock to be used in more high end design, such as the work below.
The design work for rolls royce is a great example of how differentiating stock can alter the end user.
Above is the owners manual for the Rolls Royce ghost, a premium booklet consisting of 127 pages that elaborate on how to use the car. The book features a black leather bound front and back, in which two 'ghost like' R's are debossed into the front. The use of leather, and range of stock and processes (digital print and debossing) shows that this brief has been completed with a very different attitude and end user in mind.
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