back to basics
Designing for print
Outline and shadow text created by style The inclusion of a common colour Trims & bleeds
menus should be avoided. Most desktop background or strap heading across several All page content that runs to the edge of the
printers will not successfully show the final pages of a feature or sections of a magazine page must extend off the page by a minimum
printed result and you may get unexpected can draw attention to the natural minor distance of 3mm. This minimum distance is
or undesirable results. variations in colour balance that occur across referred to as ‘bleed’. If bleed is not applied
a press/presses during a press run. This can there is a risk of an unsightly white area
Fine lettering
Thin lines, rules, medium and small type sizes
be minimised by creating these common appearing at the bleed edge.
should be reproduced in a single colour only
colours out of as few process colours
Elements that do not bleed should be a
wherever possible.
as possible.
minimum distance of 5mm from the edge
Do not use rules defined as ‘Hairline’ in
Give careful consideration to the use of of the page. This is referred to as the ‘margin’.
your DTP application. Desktop printers
one, or perhaps two colours to produce the Elements closer to the edge than this
and similar devices will not give an
common colour. Such a colour will enable a standard, risk being trimmed off during
accurate representation of a hairline rule
more consistent reproduction than the same the finishing process.
on your proofs. object defined using all four process colours.
Do not attempt to place text sitting
Keep to a minimum rule weight of 0.25pt However, certain two-colour combinations exactly on the trim – you will almost
for a solid single colour. can also be prone to unattractive colour certainly be disappointed with the finished
shifts, particularly when both colour values trimmed result.
Reversed out lettering
are midtones. Two-colour combinations
Reversed out lettering, or knocked-out type, It is also necessary to be aware of the
where one colour is considerably higher than
should be out of a minimum of colours. binding style when setting the margins. For
the other prove more stable, producing a
Type or objects smaller than 10pt in size perfect-bound titles, consideration should
more consistent, balanced result. To assure
should ideally be reversed out of one colour be given for the area in the backs lost in the
only. Small letters reversed out of multiple
accurate reproduction on press, it is
spine gluing process.
colours, particularly fonts with fine serifs,
advisable to supply a colour swatch or
will show colour in white type areas even
contract-colour proof.
For wire-stitched titles remember that
with the slightest mis-registration on press.
larger paginations cause ‘bulking’, resulting
Black overprint
Check to ensure that reversed-out lettering
in the centre pages of the magazine being
100 per cent black elements will
does not become illegible due to the text’s
considerably shorter in width than the pages
automatically overprint other colours. This
background.
at the front and back. Since the uneven
prevents normal black text knocking ‘holes’
fore-edge is trimmed away after it is stitched,
Tints & backgrounds in tints. Therefore, it is important that larger
you may wish to allow a larger fore-edge
If you wish to reproduce a large solid black 100 per cent black page elements, such as
margin in such cases, or a larger margin in
background, we would recommend that the boxes or very large point size text, do not
the backs, to allow for ‘feathering’ at the
black prints at 100 per cent, along with a have variations in colour beneath them.
imposition stage.
40 per cent cyan tint to provide more These will show through in the printed
density. This is often referred to as a ‘shiner’, page. Alternatively a ‘shiner’ (see Tints & If in any doubt, please always contact your
and produces what is sometimes called a Backgrounds) can be used to produce a Production Controller at Headley Brothers
‘rich black’. heavier, more consistent solid. for advice on how to proceed.
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