Why does an image look brilliant on one paper and dull on another? Why are fine lines sometimes blurred? Print quality depends on many interacting factors. Knowing them helps you understand what matters and avoid problems at the planning stage.
The quality of the artwork sets the upper limit for the result. Images with too low a resolution become pixelated. RGB data can change colour during conversion. Missing bleed leads to white slivers at the edges. More in our article The most common mistakes when creating print data.
More in our article What types of paper are there?.
During printing, the halftone dots become slightly larger than they are in the file. Images can therefore look darker and have less contrast. How much this happens depends on the paper and process. The right colour profile takes dot gain into account and compensates for it.
The finer the screen, the more detail can be reproduced. On smooth, coated papers, a finer screen is possible than on absorbent uncoated papers or kraft board.
In multi-colour printing, the individual colours must sit exactly on top of each other. Even small deviations lead to blurred edges or coloured fringes, especially with small type. That is why small text is best set in pure black only.
Too much ink on top of each other dries poorly and can smear. Too little looks pale. How much ink a paper can take is limited. The right colour profile controls this too. Even inking across the whole sheet ensures uniform solid areas.
Offset, digital, screen and UV printing have different strengths. The choice of process affects colour gamut, sharpness of detail and suitability for certain materials. Our article The most important printing processes at a glance gives an overview.
Well-maintained presses, clean rollers and blankets, a stable climate in the print shop and standardised workflows ensure reproducible results. Colour management to ISO 12647 creates defined conditions from proof to production run.
If further processing starts too early, the ink can smear or crack at the crease lines. Precise die-cutting and folding are also part of perceived print quality. A perfect print loses its impact if the cut is off.
Our article How is perfect print quality achieved? describes how all these factors come together for a perfect result. Our free print data check reviews your files before production. You will receive a binding quote within 24 hours.
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