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Cover
Art Resolution
How
much resolution do I need for my cover art?
In
the print world; bigger is better. This is exactly opposite of what
is needed for the internet world-which is fast becoming the rest of
the world. The internet is a fast loading, RGB (Red, Green and Blue),
72 dpi (dots per inch) very low resolution.
The
print world is slow loading, CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black),
300-600 dpi high resolution. The scanning process must be done with
the print world in mind. You can take high resolution scans and
downgrade them with a couple of clicks without hurting your images.
You CANNOT take a 72 dpi graphic and convert it to 300 or 600 dpi
without severely "pixelating" your image. (Pixels are the
tiny squares that make up your image.) Enlarge your graphic and you
will see squares.
Your
next issue, Where do you get high resolution graphics?
Well,
don't steal them from the internet. It's a dead giveaway to have 72
dpi graphics in your printed brochure. If you are working with a
company and you have permission to print their materials and
graphics, ask them for the high resolution version of their art. They
don't want you to use the low resolution graphics--it makes them look bad.
Scanning
your own artwork?
Set
the resolution before you scan for 2 x's your line screen (how many
lines of dots per vertical inch). Most color work is printed at 150
lpi (lines per inch). So a 300 dpi scan is enough resolution to print
most color work. Is more better? No it isn't. If the press is running
175 lpi, then you should scan at 350 dpi. (The old rule was 2½
x's your line screen. Maybe someone had a hard time calculating the
extra ½, or they decided it wasn't noticeable to the eye.)
Now
that you have the large graphics (or any large files), how do you
get them to the press since we all talk and do business via the internet?
I
thought the internet needed light, airy, fluffy, low-resolution
graphics? We have a special site called an FTP (File Transfer
Protocol) site. When you're ready to upload your files, just ask for
the ftp site and instructions. It's as easy as dragging and dropping
your folder of files on our "incoming" folder.
So
two things today: some resolution issues and heads-up on the quality
of your graphics when we print them--so you'll know what to expect.
And secondly, I've thrown a few terms around that you will hear when
you enter my strange world of printing.
Disclaimer: Not
responsible for advice, ideas, suggestions and/or
programs. By
mentioning these programs or any other program, I’m in no way
endorsing these or any other programs for you and/or your project.
Any advice, ideas or suggestions and/or programs mentioned are
considered my opinion only and am considered not liable. Not
responsible for sales or lack of sales of your project.
Brian@SunriseBooks.com
SunrisePublishing@gmail.com |
