PrePress Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
Brand Design and why you need it
Well thought out brand design will work wonders for any company
Brand Design and why you need it’ is a surprisingly simple question with a complicated answer.
It is the identity and story of a company that makes it stand out from competitors that sell similar or the same services. The goal of branding is to earn space in the minds of the target audience and become their preferred option for doing business.
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, read our guide to The best Pantone alternatives for print & design.
Logo resolution
The answer might surprise you: a professional 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
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.
Click the Read More button below for a full explanation of copyright ownership, design rights and commissioned artwork.
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.
If you want further information then please click Read More below.
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
Should I Use CMYK or RGB for My Design Files?
One of the most common questions in commercial printing is: “Should I supply my artwork in CMYK or RGB?”
The short answer is CMYK.
Understanding a few basic print standards can save time, avoid production delays, and help ensure your printed job matches your expectations.
CMYK vs RGB
Can I send my file in RGB because it looks great on my monitor?
Unfortunately, no. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is a colour space designed for digital displays such as computer monitors, tablets, and phones. It produces colour using light and has a much wider colour gamut than CMYK.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key/Black) is the colour space used by commercial printing presses. Because it relies on ink rather than light, it cannot reproduce every colour that RGB can display.
When an RGB file is sent for print, it must be converted to CMYK. During this conversion, colours that fall outside the CMYK colour gamut are replaced with the closest printable equivalent. This often results in noticeable colour shifts, particularly with bright blues, greens, oranges, and fluorescent-looking colours (see image).
Many commercial printers will flag RGB images during prepress rather than automatically converting them. This is because automatic conversions can lead to customer complaints when printed colours do not match what was seen on screen.
If the prepress department converts the file to CMYK, the process itself is straightforward, but the printed result may still differ from your original design. If the artwork contains colour-critical elements such as logos, brand colours, or product images, a new proof may be required for approval, which can add both time and cost to the job.
Best Practice
For the most predictable printing results:
- Create or convert your artwork to CMYK before supplying it for print.
- Use the correct ICC colour profile recommended by your printer.
- Always check colour-critical artwork with a printed proof where possible.
Preparing your files correctly from the start helps ensure smoother production, fewer surprises, and colours that print as accurately as possible.
Image Resolution (DPI)
Image resolution (PPI/DPI) ≈ 2 × the screen’s LPI (lines per inch).
LPI (Lines Per Inch) refers to the halftone screen frequency used in printing.
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) is the correct term for the resolution of a digital image.
DPI (Dots Per Inch) refers to the printer’s output capability, although people often use “DPI” when they actually mean image resolution.
Examples
150 LPI print screen → 300 PPI image
175 LPI print screen → 350 PPI image
200 LPI print screen → 400 PPI image – We save all our images at this setting by default
NEVER USE JPEG FOR PRINT – THERE ARE BETTER FILE SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT DEGRADE YOUR IMAGE
The “2× LPI” rule (also called the quality factor of 2) is based on the Nyquist sampling principle and is widely used in commercial printing.
There are exceptions:
Some workflows use 1.5× LPI to reduce file size with minimal visible quality loss.
Very high-quality art books or stochastic/FM screening may use different recommendations.
What is CMYK?
Here we explain what is CMYK stands for in printing
CMYK is an acronym. It stands for the four ink colours used when printing full colour – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black.
In offset and digital printing, the four ink colours, CMYK is applied to the paper in successive layers. By overlapping these four inks thousands of colours can be created. The combined visual effects of these four CMYK colours produce what we commonly know as Full Color Printing.
What is dot gain?
Here we help explain what is dot gain and how it affects your print
First of all, there will be a lot of ‘industry’ people who couldn’t tell you what is dot gain. They probably wouldn’t know the CMYK print angles they use or why it is generated. So you’re not alone. We are going to explain here what is dot gain briefly so you understand the basics and can get on with your job.
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.
What is Pre Press?
An Introduction to Pre Press
When you produce your artwork, a business card or even a magazine and send it to a printer, even if you are using an online creator, there will be somebody, at some stage, checking that artwork. It may be a person, it may be a program, but never the less your artwork is checked and proofed before sending, in the case of litho – to plate, or in the case of Digital to print, this is the Pre Press Department. In Essence, Pre Press is the part that links design to print.
What is the difference between Digital and Litho printing?
A quick guide to the pros and cons of Digital and Litho Printing
What is the difference between Digital and Litho printing? Not as straightforward as you may think. Over the last decade Digital presses have made gigantic leaps forward in technology, performance, accuracy and quality, but Litho presses have done exactly the same.
What is the difference between UV Varnishing, varnishing and laminating?
Clients often become confused with the various finishes that can be applied to printing materials. Not knowing the right one can cause problems so it’s important that when ordering that you tell your printer exactly what you require.
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.
Bitmap graphics use pixels to represent images while vector graphics use a sequence of commands or mathematical statements that place lines and shapes in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space.
Why is Google so important?
Understanding why Google is so important and how to improve your ranking
The reason for Google being so important is that in the UK more than 90% of all web traffic runs through its search engine. Those companies at the top of each page pay for that position. You can understand why Google earns Trillions of revenue every year.
