Chap. 4 & 5
 Files to Print
 The most commonly used file printing formats would be TIFF, EPS, and Photoshop PSD or PDF.
Now a TIFF (tagged image file format) is the most widely accepted file format because of it's transferability skills that is pertains. Happy being transported from Illustrator, to Microsoft Word and everything in between. Along with the import features TIFF's also use RGB and CMYK color spaces and allows to contain spot-color channels.
EPS (encapsulated PostScript) really is described as encapsulated art. Able to contain raster images, vector artwork, or both combined EPS is said to be postscript in a bag. Historically EPS files were saved to preserve a special function, such as a vector based Clipping Path.
Photoshop PSD's and PDF's were two formats saved through the Photoshop program. PSD's used to be saved strictly as a Photoshop document that was then flattened and saved as a TIFF or an EPS format. A PDF however contains about the same information as a PSD but is just encased. There is no reason to use a PDF when a PSD will work.

Files Not to Print
 There are a list of files that are strictly only used for web content and print is not an option. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a graphic that can contain alot of neccessarry qualities for print it has no CMYK color space. BMP (Bitmap) can do black and white but again has no CMYK color space. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a strict web use file because of it's low resolution qualities. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) mainly because of it's loss qualities that it has through devices. Every time you save a JPEG you lose your Image quality.


Pixel vs.
A pixel (definition from the book) is shorthand for picture element, the smallest unit of information in a digitized image. Before pixels came to be cameras were used to capture artwork from drawings to painted illustrations. The job of capturing these images was time consuming to say the least. It required years of apprenticeship and experience to master the skill of capturing these images.
Now that we have discovered the pixel instead of having family photos smashed in a closet somewhere we now can have a stack of CD's organized and neat atop our desk. The pixel is the way of the future you could say comparing it the cave paintings and the ways that were done before the pixel came to be. It allows work to be done faster and more efficiently than any of these earlier ventures into photos.
 


JPG vs. RAW
 JPG is a compressed file format that can either be compressed a lot loosing image information or compressed a little only compressing a small bit of information. Image RAW is a feature that comes on higher end digital cameras, the point and shoots do not allow you to shoot in RAW. Camera RAW format is subject to no compression what so ever from the digital camera, this allows that whenever you open your RAW file into Photoshop you can change alot of the settings as if you were while you were taking the photo and not loose any picture information. Now camera RAW files cannot be dropped directly into Indesign, or Illustrator they must be ran through Photoshop first.

PPI Resolution
 PPI or pixels per inch this is the resolution on which you set your images for different mediums, for instance if you are setting an image for the web it would be set at 72 ppi at it's final size. These standards change however for every medium that you are using and print is widely debated format on ppi resolutions. With the updated technology that we use today we have settled on a resolution of 300 ppi. The debate use to be that 300 was insufficient because the RIP's would choke down and take all kinds of time, an also because the hard drives would be filled up rapidly, but with the technology of today we can run a 300 ppi image quickly and therefore efficiently.

Bitmap Images
 The main part of Bitmap images is that they are strictly black and white with no shades of gray in them at all. Commonly used for scans of signatures, or black pen sketches because it can offer a sharp, clean high resolution image. Yet another advantage to a Bitmap file is that they can offer these very high res images on a small files size.

Cropping and Rotating
 Cropping images is when you pretty much cut off the excess fat around an image that is unnecessary to be there. Cropping images is also used to center up a subject or to reduce the size down to what's needed for you to place onto a job. One major important factor to remember about cropping is to always keep a backup image on hand for any just in case purposes.
Rotating images is used all the time within logo design, page layouts, web design, etc. However one key note to remember about rotation is that the only safe rotation is a 90 degree rotation. Whenever you rotate an image less or more than the safe 90 you get the softening of detail inside the image.


Transparency Tip
 Whenever you are using any sort of transparency you must be careful switching between editorial programs. For instance whenever you are transporting your file into Indesign from Illustrator and you have a drop shadow upon print that drop shadow will show up gray, so it is best to make sure that whenever transporting files that everything matches up.

Vector Graphics
First and foremost things to know about Vector Graphics is that they are pixel free. What does this mean? This means that scaling dimensions is no limit, you won't ever get that pixel line at any point of your project.

Vector File Formats
Again you need to know what file formats are acceptable in the printing world and what's not. We back to EPS files, this file format is the most common file format for vector artwork. As for use with this EPS file you will find out that if you try and stick and EPS file into a microsoft word document that it's not going to show up correctly because the software cannot read it correctly.  So mainly use your EPS files for placed artwork.
Adobe PDF is one that we haven't been brought to yet, saving you vector art as a PDF ensures that your art cannot be changed. Also it is only intended for the use in page layout softwares that are going to be a finished print.


Embedded Fonts
Fonts that are embedded means that whenever you created a file in Illustrator or save it as an EPS this means that the font should now be available for print and viewing purposes, however this doesn't mean you can change the font in your layout software. Also not all fonts can be embedded, at times font sites will put a don't embed flag on there fonts to ensure the use for personal only.

Outlining Text
Converting your text to an outline text eliminates that someone will embed your font and cancel all edit ability. Also if your saving you file out as a PDF then outlining is pointless because of the edit ability restrictions that come with a PDF.


Simplifying Paths
Fewer Points smoother the drawing. Simple right? However it used to be believed that the more points the more detailed your drawing would be but however that's not the case. It is important to try and use as few points as possible but make sure those points are the right points.


 


 

AntlerShed Media

AntlerShed Media
Self Promotion Notepad

After careful consideration I decided for my self promotion notepad that I was going to change the name of my own media company that I've been trying to get off the ground. Double B Media is now going to be changed to AntlerShed Media, after asking some of my friends and aquaintances which name they liked more. Apart from my collegues choosing the name this also allows me to fulfill this assignment to the max, starting from scratch I designed my own logo, and now will use the notepad as a promotion device.
These are a few VERY ROUGH sketches that I had drawn out mainly for ideas on the layout of this notepad and how much content I wanted to be added.

Sketches 

As you can tell these are very rough but served the purpose I was after. The two on the right and the bottom sketch are all turned the wrong way due to my sheet, they actually lay out as a 5x7 vertical spread.

Rough

This is the rough draft that I created. It is measured out to a 5x7 vertical dimension notepad.

The antler that is in the middle will be taken down to a 13% opacity so for better use as a notepad. In the photo all that you see that is colored in will be black, along with a black outline on the antler again this will be at 13% opacity. Now from my screenshot you can't tell what my writing tells you so I will explain. In the top left hand corner of the pad I will have my QR code that I created for my blog, I have decided to not put any sort of text along with the code because this code will have you sent straight to my facebook page where all of my work can be viewed, I will let my work do the talking.

In the bottom right hand corner my logo that I have created in illustrator will be placed. I will have an 1/4" edge around the entire document to ensure that I do not make my drawing too large for the pad.

There was some changes made throughout the rest of the design process. Originally I had found a font that I like but upon our on screen critique day a lot of my classmates told me that it was hard to read. So after careful consideration I decided to change the font to accommodate both my taste and to give the name more readability.

This the original build of the notepad with the font that I first chose. As you can tell the Script like font is a little hard to read at first glance.















The next screenshot is off the final file that I decided to go with. This was with the new font that I had come across on dafont.com.

After listening to my peers in the on screen critique it really allowed me to see how other people viewed my product and really allowed me to make a better more useful product that more of the public could read and understand.














This is final product after print.

Chapters 1,2, & 3

Finishing Processes
 

Finishing Processes as far as print is concerned is a general term that is used to describe the processes that are taken after a project has been printed. Such processes include laminating, mounting, coating, image transfer, and trimming. These processes are sometimes referred to as a value-adding process.

Printing Dummy

A printing dummy is what is commonly known as a proof. All the printing dummy is is a mock up of what the final print whenever assembled is suppose to look like.

Imagesetter

An imagesetter is a high-resolution output machine that can transfer electronic text and graphics directly unto film, plates, or a photosensitive paper. The imagesetter is pretty much a high res printer that, alike printers, can come in various sizes and formats. The imagesetter consists of a laser and a dedicated RIP and is compatible to create the film used in computer-based preproduction work.

Pica's vs. Points

Pica's and points are both measurement devices for type. 12 points is equal to 1 pica. Some people prefer to use pica's on document measurement rather than inches, but points are the universal suit for type sizes.

Die-Cutting

Die-cutting is a printing process that cuts your documents into certain shapes, the die-cutting machines can be purchased in various sizes for either industrial size jobs or small enough to use on individual projects. Much like a cookie cutter, the die cut is a blade that has been bent into a specified shape. After the die is put into the machine you then put in your medium and the die-cut will cut your medium into the desired shape of your project.

Purpose of a RIP

RIP stands for Raster Image Processor, the RIP is an output device that turns your vector based project into high res images that can be output. Such things as fonts and photos can translated into a work piece that the RIP can turn into small dots so that RIP can print your project accurately.

The RIP process is a huge part of a print project, as another piece of the puzzle to enable your project to turn out exactly how you want it and exactly how your customer wants the project to be. The RIP enables you to turn your designs into a printed reality.

VDP

Commonly used on such things as direct mailers, postcards, flyer's, notepads, promotional pieces, or anything else that you are wanting to speak directly to your customers the Variable Data Print is a huge piece of printing and self promotion. Variable data printing capitalizes on this by picking up customized artwork for each page based on information from your database and rules that are set up within the Variable Data software program. Variable elements can be text, graphics or photos, color or black-and-white. Variable data can be flowed into each page on a simple record-by-record basis, or the contents of a page can be controlled by sophisticated rules based on relationships among data fields.(Greenerprinter)

Two-color printing

Two color printing is exactly how is sounds your print produced by two colors of your choosing. Now due to common thought that your project that you design with three or four colors you can actually produced the same project using two colors. Projects can be produced with two colors simply because you can use two color prints to create shadows and bevels on the print. 

PPI, DPI, LPI

As in print the definition of DPI stands for dots per inch. The specific definition is this, a measure of the resolution of a printer is called DPI or dots per inch. It properly refers to the dots of ink or toner used by an imagesetter, laser printer, or other printing device to print your text and graphics. In general, the more dots, the better and sharper the image. DPI is printer resolution. (desktop)

As you read the specific definition, in print knowing what your dpi is a must, now it seems that for photography uses something called PPI, which stands for pixels per inch. Obviously within photos the camera saves your pictures with pixels therefore you need to know what your PPI is for printing purposes.

Now LPI was a tough one to really figure what it was used for, within being in commercial graphics I had heard a lot about PPI and DPI, but LPI was a total new concept for myself. LPI stands for lines per inch. As my research has found is that LPI is very commonly used for photography, which surprises me that I’ve never heard of it. LPI also comes down to what type of paper that you use and your printer that you are running off of.

CMYK vs. Color Spots

Being new into the realm of print I’d know that CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK hence CMYK.  Now I’d never seen anything about color spots until looking at our first project and reviewing the preflight checklist that asked about the color used and I noticed color spot 1, and color spot 2.

Spot coloring uses the pantone system and involves either 1, 2, or 3 premixed color choices, also it is said to be a more accurate color choice because the colors are not being mixed during the print process.(Vision)

Sources

http://www.w-co.co.uk/finishing.php

http://www.marketing-playbook.com/glossary/index.php/term/%26%23160%3B,Folding+dummy.xhtml

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci825229,00.html

http://www.printingquotesonline.com/content/detail/117/Picas-vs-Inches.html

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4923262_whats-process-die-cutting.html

http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/lib/print-registration.htm

http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/rip/a/rip.htm

http://www.greenerprinter.com/grp/jsp/vdp.jsp

http://www.bargainprinting.com/body_2color.php

http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/intermediate/a/measure_lpi.htm

http://www.visiondesign.com/2010/04/printing-cmyk-vs-spot-color/