Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : How do I prepare large print with a Photoshop File?
Illustrator
11-27-2006, 08:01 AM
Hi. I need to print out a poster size, roughly 11 by 17 inches poster print from a .PSD file. What else do I need to do to get a high quality print besides setting the document to 300dpi, CMYK color profile?
I need it exactly 11 by 17 without any white borders, so basically 11 by 17 trimmed.
Do I take a flattened PSD file or PDF file? This will be a digital color print. Thanks.
Illustrator
11-27-2006, 08:04 AM
By the way, should the .PSD document file dimension be exactly 11 by 17 or larger?
Do I need to add bleed?
The best thing to do is speak to your printer.
But in the meantime add about 5-10mm bleed, cropping isn't always exact.
I would flatten your PSD as you wont have to supply fonts along with your artwork.
Illustrator
11-27-2006, 10:27 AM
So I should make the document dimension size larger? So add 5-10mm all around on top of 11x17?
I've flattened to reduce the large size. The document I need printed is CMYK, flattened at 11x17 inches document dimension and 300dpi/ppi
Illustrator
11-27-2006, 10:28 AM
In addition, does Copy Print centers provide trimming? I'm making these for a display in a portfolio casing... I only need one great print and not multiple prints. Thanks.
PrintDriver
11-27-2006, 10:30 AM
Talk to your printer but yes add bleeds. A half inch all around is way more than enough for simple trimming. But ask. Remember you are paying for what you print. No sense sending more than you need.
You may also want to supply the layered file in case the color needs to be tweeked. Send a flattened one and you limit your color correction options. If you used fonts in Photoshop, it's best to leave them unrasterized and send the fonts along with your image. You are likely to get better looking type if you do. Maybe. Depending on who is doing the printing.
Also, are you absolutely sure your printer wants 300dpi and CMYK?
Just want to make sure that you understand what is ment by bleed... forgive me if this sounds patronising... bleed is when the image or colour continues off of the page or outside your crop area. Simply adding a border wont work as the border colour can still appear at the edge of your trimmed final piece - Your final piece needs to be 11 by 17 but your artwork needs to be bigger than this with any effects, images, colours etc extending outside the crop and into the extra area. Double check your PSD file.
Illustrator
11-28-2006, 11:31 PM
Talk to your printer but yes add bleeds. A half inch all around is way more than enough for simple trimming. But ask. Remember you are paying for what you print. No sense sending more than you need.
You may also want to supply the layered file in case the color needs to be tweeked. Send a flattened one and you limit your color correction options. If you used fonts in Photoshop, it's best to leave them unrasterized and send the fonts along with your image. You are likely to get better looking type if you do. Maybe. Depending on who is doing the printing.
Also, are you absolutely sure your printer wants 300dpi and CMYK?
I got it done at a major printer place. They didn't specify anything.
Illustrator
11-28-2006, 11:32 PM
Thanks for clearing this up. I guess all I can do is make the document larger by making it from 11x17 to 12x18. :(
Illustrator
11-28-2006, 11:34 PM
Just want to make sure that you understand what is ment by bleed... forgive me if this sounds patronising... bleed is when the image or colour continues off of the page or outside your crop area. Simply adding a border wont work as the border colour can still appear at the edge of your trimmed final piece - Your final piece needs to be 11 by 17 but your artwork needs to be bigger than this with any effects, images, colours etc extending outside the crop and into the extra area. Double check your PSD file.
I had no idea at first color copiers cannot add colors all the way to the edge and infact you need to print on a larger paper with the actual artwork bigger than the intended size to get it trimmed the right way.
budafist
11-29-2006, 12:19 AM
I had no idea at first color copiers cannot add colors all the way to the edge and infact you need to print on a larger paper with the actual artwork bigger than the intended size to get it trimmed the right way.
That's right. Unfortunately I get clients that print a proof out for themselves on their own and complain that I've gone and put a white border around the artwork. But if you look on screen the artwork goes right to the edge....oh well.
Illustrator
11-29-2006, 08:36 AM
That's right. Unfortunately I get clients that print a proof out for themselves on their own and complain that I've gone and put a white border around the artwork. But if you look on screen the artwork goes right to the edge....oh well.
Learn something new everyday. :)
RWakefield
11-29-2006, 02:38 PM
I'd make your artwork 11 1/2 x 17 1/2, giving a 1/4" bleed outside the trim on all sides. Get the printer to print it out on Super B or something like that. You can either add trim marks in yourself in Photoshop (so you or the printer knows where the trim lines are), or import your artwork into InDesign and make an 11 x 17 document with 1/4" bleeds and let InDesign create the trim and bleed marks for you (in the print dialogue). You'd then have to give the printer the InDesign file as well as the Photoshop file.
Just my 2¢!
R.
PrintDriver
11-29-2006, 04:48 PM
If your printer can live with 1/8" all around you can set trim bleeds right in Photoshop.
Bizarre they only allow 1/8" though. Sigh. Just another case of Adobe completely forgetting about the large format people. Inches Adobe. Inches!
Illustrator
11-29-2006, 07:12 PM
If your printer can live with 1/8" all around you can set trim bleeds right in Photoshop.
Bizarre they only allow 1/8" though. Sigh. Just another case of Adobe completely forgetting about the large format people. Inches Adobe. Inches!
That was weird. I noticed that too. Maximum of .125 around.
Illustrator
11-29-2006, 07:12 PM
I'd make your artwork 11 1/2 x 17 1/2, giving a 1/4" bleed outside the trim on all sides. Get the printer to print it out on Super B or something like that. You can either add trim marks in yourself in Photoshop (so you or the printer knows where the trim lines are), or import your artwork into InDesign and make an 11 x 17 document with 1/4" bleeds and let InDesign create the trim and bleed marks for you (in the print dialogue). You'd then have to give the printer the InDesign file as well as the Photoshop file.
Just my 2¢!
R.
Thank you :)
Illustrator
11-29-2006, 10:11 PM
Where can I get single quality prints done? I'm having trouble finding copy and print center that will do a full bleed on a 12"x18" document and trimmed to an exact 11"x17" size for Portfolio display. (I have a 11"x17" portfolio folder) I'm having trouble finding places that do single prints for quality. Staples wouldn't even accept a .PSD file. I'm so sick and tired of looking through the phonebooks and driving around to find a quality copy and print place for quality prints for portfolio display. Please help.
It took Staples four tries to get a document printed out from a PDF because it kept coming out clipped and wrong from the screen and it still wasn't perfect (but managed to get it done).
PrintDriver
11-30-2006, 11:11 AM
Are you a student?
You think you're sick and tired of looking now... LOL!
And you've just learned a VERY important lesson about speed/quality/cost. You can have only two of the 3.
Find a smaller place with a wide format high resolution digital inkjet printer (photo quality). One-offs aren't going to be cheap. You might be better off ganging your work onto an artboard size recommended by the print vendor you are going to use, having it done as one big piece, then trimming it out yourself.