Knowledge Base:
PrePress Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the PrePress FAQ Centre, where you’ll find clear, expert answers to many of the most common questions about graphic design, prepress, printing, branding, colour management, typography, artwork preparation, file formats, web design and digital publishing.
Each FAQ provides a concise answer to help you find the information you need quickly. If you’d like a more detailed explanation, simply click Read More to access our comprehensive guides, professional advice and industry best practices.
What is Brand Design and why you need it
Brand design is the visual identity of a business. It combines your logo, colours, typography, imagery and overall style to create a consistent and memorable impression across every customer touchpoint.
Strong brand design helps customers recognise your business, builds trust and sets you apart from competitors offering similar products or services. A professional brand gives customers confidence and makes your business more memorable, whether they discover you online, in print or through social media. While a logo is an important part of branding, brand design is much broader. It defines how your business looks, feels and communicates with customers. Consistent branding strengthens your reputation and helps create lasting customer loyalty.
If you’re looking for professional branding services, our comprehensive Brand Design guide explains the complete process and how we can help create a brand that reflects your business.
For a detailed explanation read our guide [Brand design]
Do I create artwork in RGB or CMYK?
The simple answer is that RGB is generally best for digital content, while CMYK is the preferred colour mode for professional printing. However, the decision is not always as straightforward as it seems. Modern design projects often need to be used across multiple platforms, from websites and social media to commercial print, packaging and large-format graphics, meaning your choice of colour workflow should be planned from the very beginning.
The most effective workflow depends on your intended output, the software you use, your print process and the needs of your clients. Many professional designers now work in RGB or even LAB colour spaces during the creative stage to preserve the widest possible colour gamut, only converting to a specific CMYK profile when preparing artwork for press. Understanding when to work in RGB, when to convert to CMYK, and how colour management affects the final result is the key to achieving accurate, consistent colours across both digital and printed media.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [RGB or CMYK?]
How does dot gain affect print?
Here we help explain what dot gain is and how it affects your print
Dot gain occurs when halftone dots reproduce larger than they were intended to during the printing process. As the dots increase in size, more ink covers the paper, which can make printed images appear darker or heavier than expected. This is particularly noticeable in the midtones and can result in a loss of detail, reduced contrast and changes in colour appearance.
The amount of dot gain depends on several factors, including the printing process, paper, ink, screening method and press conditions. Different printing processes can therefore produce different levels of dot gain. Professional prepress and colour-management workflows take this into account when preparing images and colour separations for print.
Dot gain is a normal part of the printing process rather than necessarily a printing fault. Understanding and controlling it is important when accurate colour and tonal reproduction are required.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide to [What is dot gain?]
InDesign will not open. Here’s how to fix it.
There’s hardly a worse feeling than facing a deadline with a non-responsive app. So, what should you do if InDesign will not open? These instructions pretty much apply to any application.
- Reset Your Preferences: Hold the keys Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+Shift (macOS) Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) the exact moment you launch the app, and click “Yes” when prompted to delete preference files.
- Restart and Update: Restart your computer. Go to Adobe Creative Cloud app and ensure you are running the latest version of the. Update your operating system to prevent compatibility conflicts.
Click on the Read More button below for more options on why InDesign will not open
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Logo resolution
The answer might surprise you:
A professionally designed logo shouldn’t have a resolution at all.
- A logo should be created as a vector file (AI, EPS or SVG), allowing it to scale from a business card to a billboard with perfectly sharp edges every time.
- If your logo only exists as a JPEG, PNG or Photoshop file, you may not have the original artwork needed for high-quality print, signage or branding.
- Learn why vector logos matter and how to check if your business has the right files.
#LogoDesign #GraphicDesign #Branding #PrintDesign #Vector #AdobeIllustrator #BusinessBranding #DesignTips
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [What Resolution should a logo be?]
Pantone alternatives: Frequently Asked Questions
Pantone has been an important part of professional colour specification for decades, helping designers, printers and brands communicate colour accurately across different stages of the production process. However, changes to licensing, software access and the way modern print workflows are managed have led many businesses and designers to consider other ways of specifying and reproducing colour.
Our Pantone alternatives FAQ answers some of the most common questions about colour systems, colour matching and professional printing. Whether you are looking for an alternative to Pantone for a particular print project, considering how to maintain consistent brand colours, or simply want to understand the options available, these answers provide a useful starting point. For a more detailed look at the available options, their advantages and limitations,.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [The best Pantone alternatives for print & design]
Should I use CMYK or RGB for my design files?
The short answer: CMYK
For most commercial print jobs, CMYK is the safest choice for supplying artwork.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is designed for screens and uses light to create colour. It has a much wider colour gamut than CMYK.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) is used for commercial printing and relies on ink. As a result, it cannot reproduce every colour that an RGB screen can display.
If an RGB file is used for print, it will eventually need to be converted to the appropriate CMYK colour space. Colours outside the printable gamut may change during conversion, particularly bright blues, greens, oranges and highly saturated colours.
For the most predictable results:
- Supply artwork in CMYK where appropriate.
- Use the ICC colour profile recommended by your printer.
- Request a printed proof for colour-critical work.
Some modern printing workflows can accept RGB files and manage the conversion themselves, so always check with your printer before preparing final artwork.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [CMYK vs RGB].
What are widows and orphans in print?
Widows and orphans are typesetting terms used in professional print and publishing. They describe lines of text that are left awkwardly positioned at the top or bottom of a page or column.
A widow is usually a short final line of a paragraph that appears on its own at the top of the next page or column.​
An orphan is a single line or word left on its own at the bottom of a page or column.​
They may seem like small details, but they can make a professionally designed document look untidy and disrupt the natural flow of reading. In professional prepress, these problems are normally corrected by carefully adjusting the text, spacing, tracking or page layout before the artwork goes to print. The aim is to create pages that look balanced, consistent and easy to read.
Good typography isn’t just about choosing the right font — it’s about how every element sits on the page. Widows and orphans may appear to be minor details, but they are an important part of professional graphic design and page layout. A true professional understands that quality is often found in the details that most people never consciously notice.
In professional print, there should be no such thing as “close enough”. Every element deserves attention, from the overall design right down to the final line of a paragraph. Maintaining those standards is what separates good design from truly professional design. Once standards are allowed to slip, they can be surprisingly difficult to recover. Never drop your standards.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [Widows and orphans]
What does a prepress department do?
An introduction to prepress
A prepress department prepares and checks artwork before it goes to print, making sure files are correctly set up for the chosen printing process. This can include checking colour, fonts, images, bleeds, resolution, file formats and other technical requirements, as well as proofing and preparing files for production.
Want to know more? Read our complete guide [What is prepress?]
What does CMYK stand for?
CMYK is the four-colour process used to reproduce colour in commercial printing.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black). These are the four process colours used in commercial offset and digital printing.
Different percentages of each ink are applied to the paper as tiny dots. When viewed from a normal distance, these dots combine visually to reproduce a wide range of colours, images and photographs. Black is used alongside cyan, magenta and yellow to provide stronger blacks, greater contrast and fine detail.
CMYK is known as a subtractive colour model, because the inks absorb light rather than producing it. In contrast, RGB is an additive colour model, used by computer screens, phones and other digital displays, where red, green and blue light are combined to create colour.
For a more detailed explanation of how CMYK works, including colour reproduction, ink percentages and the difference between CMYK and RGB, see our guide [What is CMYK?]
What is bleed?
Here we explain what bleed is and why it is important.
As a reprographics company, bleed is one of the more common artwork errors we deal with on a daily basis. If you have been asked to add bleed to your artwork and are not quite sure what that means, you are certainly not alone. It is one of those technical print terms that can be difficult to understand until you see exactly why it is needed.
So, if we have pointed you in this direction after asking you to add bleed to your artwork, don’t worry — we are simply trying to explain what is required and why. Once you understand how printing and trimming work, bleed is actually quite straightforward.
For more information, read our guide [What is beed in printing?]
What is Flexography printing?
Flexography, often called Flexo printing, is a high-speed printing process that uses flexible relief printing plates to transfer ink onto a wide variety of materials. It is commonly used to print packaging, labels, food wrappers, cartons, paper bags, corrugated boxes and plastic films, making it one of the world’s most versatile commercial printing methods.
Modern flexographic presses produce exceptional print quality with fast production speeds and excellent colour consistency. Thanks to advances in digital plate making, high-definition screening and colour management, flexography is now capable of reproducing vibrant graphics, fine text and detailed photographic images that rival other professional printing processes.
For a more detailed information, read our guide [What is Flexography?]
What is the difference between Digital and Litho printing?
Digital and lithographic (offset) printing are two different ways of producing printed material, and both have their place in modern commercial printing.
The main difference is how the image is transferred to the paper. Digital printing works directly from a digital file, without the need to make printing plates. This makes it particularly flexible for short runs, quick turnaround, on-demand printing and personalised or variable-data work. Digital presses have also developed considerably in recent years, with improvements in colour accuracy, quality, speed, substrates and finishing.
Lithographic printing, usually referred to as offset printing, uses printing plates to transfer the image to a series of rollers before it reaches the paper. Although this involves more preparation, offset printing is highly efficient for medium and longer runs and can offer a wide choice of papers, inks, coatings and specialist finishes. Modern offset presses are also highly automated and can produce very high-quality results at considerable speed.
There is therefore no simple rule that digital is better for small quantities and litho is better for large quantities. The most appropriate process depends on the quantity, paper or substrate, colour requirements, finishing, turnaround time, personalisation and overall cost of the job. In many modern print businesses, digital and litho work alongside each other rather than competing directly.
For a more detailed comparison of the two processes, including quality, cost, run lengths, colour, paper and finishing, see our guide What is the difference between Digital and Litho printing?.
What is the difference between UV varnishing, varnishing and laminating?
Clients often become confused with the various finishes that can be applied to printed materials. Although varnishing, UV varnishing and laminating can all improve the appearance and durability of a printed item, they work in different ways and provide different levels of protection.
Varnishing applies a coating directly to the printed sheet, while UV varnishing uses ultraviolet light to cure the coating almost immediately, producing a harder, more durable and often more visually striking finish. Laminating is different again, as it applies a separate plastic film to the printed sheet. This generally provides greater protection against handling, moisture, scuffing and abrasion.
The right finish depends on what you are producing and how it will be used. A brochure, business card, luxury invitation, packaging item or display graphic may each require a different approach. When ordering, it is therefore important to tell your printer exactly what finish you require rather than simply asking for a “coated” or “glossy” finish.
For more information, read our guide [What is the difference between UV Varnishing, varnishing and laminating?]
What’s the difference between vector and bitmap images?
Here we tell you what’s the difference between vector, raster and bitmap images and what they are used for.
The main difference between vector and bitmap images is the way they are created. Bitmap images, also known as raster images, are made up of a grid of individual pixels. Photographs and many images created or edited in Photoshop are bitmap images. Their quality depends on the resolution, so enlarging a bitmap image too far can make it appear pixelated or blurred.
Vector graphics work differently. They are created using mathematical paths that define lines, curves and shapes rather than individual pixels. This means a vector logo or graphic can usually be enlarged or reduced to almost any size without losing quality. Vector artwork is therefore particularly useful for logos, icons, illustrations and other graphics that may need to be reproduced at different sizes.
For commercial print, knowing whether your artwork is vector or bitmap can make a significant difference to the final result. A high-resolution bitmap can produce excellent results, while low-resolution images may become soft or pixelated when printed. Vector artwork remains sharp and clean at any size.
Who owns my artwork?
One of the most common questions we are asked is who owns the copyright to artwork or designs that have been commissioned?
At PrePress, the answer is simple. In almost every project where a client pays us to create artwork, logos, brochures, packaging, or other marketing materials, we are happy to transfer the copyright to the client. We believe that if you have commissioned and paid for the work, you should own it.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many design agencies, freelancers and creative studios retain copyright or restrict how their artwork can be used unless ownership has been agreed in writing. If you’re wondering who owns a design – the client or the designer? the answer depends on the agreement between the two parties. Our detailed guide explains how copyright works, when ownership transfers, and what you should check before commissioning any creative work.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [Who owns my artwork]
Why is Google so important?
Understanding why Google is so important and how to improve your ranking
Google is the dominant search engine in the UK, which makes it one of the most important ways for potential customers to find your business. When someone searches for a product, service or answer to a question, appearing prominently in those results can put your business in front of people who are already looking for what you offer.
Getting to the top of Google isn’t simply a matter of spending the most money. Paid advertising can put a business in front of potential customers, but organic search results depend on many different factors, including the quality and relevance of your content, the structure and technical performance of your website, your authority and the overall experience you provide.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of improving these areas to increase your visibility in search results. There is no guaranteed route to number one, and the most effective approach is usually to identify where your potential customers are searching, understand what they are looking for and create useful content that gives them the right answers.
For smaller businesses in particular, good SEO can provide an opportunity to compete with much larger companies without simply trying to outspend them. The objective isn’t necessarily to be number one for everything — it is to be visible when it matters.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide: [Why is Google so Important]
