The impression you make with your catalog printing project is the only chance you have of ever getting your prospective clients to become interested in your business. That first impression would more likely get you a sale, create a relationship with your target readers, keep a current one, as well as maintain your status in your business niche. Hence, everything you do to market your business would become concrete by the impression you make to your target audience.



As image is very important, so is your catalog printing project that builds your image for you and your business. This is where effective catalog printing design comes in. Your catalog printing design would either make or break your business success for you.

Despite the prestige it has right now, graphic design doesn't mean that you have to shell out a huge chunk of your budget to be able to afford a professional and skilled catalog printing designer to make an impact.

In fact, catalog printing design should not be pricey at all. When done right, your catalog printing designer can actually help you save money if they have the knowledge and experience to produce your catalog printing job for you. A good and reliable catalog printing designer should know the ins and outs of the industry that include the catalog printing presses, commercial catalog printing, other catalog printing techniques and considerations, as well as the catalog printing production process itself.

So here are a few catalog printing design tips from the pros to help you create a compelling catalog printing project that reflects your company's good sense and taste in your design and message.

To avoid ?gradation banding?

- Always lessen your line screen to a reduced state (e.g. if 150, try 133).

- Create line screens that can cover better when overlaid on each other. This is possible when you apply as many color processes as possible in your catalog printing project.

- Fountain steps should be increased to the maximum, which is 256 and up.

- Show light screens and gradations to their fullest by always checking each of your film pieces. Some may not be able to show any of the lighter screens or gradations in your catalog printing photos.

- Also, it is better to use match points during the production of light screens and gradations.

To save money on film

We all know how expensive it is to actually purchase all the films you'll need in your catalog printing project. The way to save on film is to set up smaller documents to print as spreads, like in your catalog printing project. Check with your catalog printing shop if they will ask for a ?reader's spreads? or ?printer's spreads?. The difference is that the former is based on how your target readers will see them, such as pages 1 and 2 is a spread, pages 3 and 4 is another spread, and so on.

The printer's spreads, on the other hand, depends on how the page would be fed into the catalog printing press. There is a difference between the two so lest you want to pay for more, ask your catalog printing company for their preference.

To set up your digital output

- Always use PostScript fonts rather than TrueType fonts.

- Include the printer fonts and screen fonts in your disk, as well as the original images with your output file.

- Do not apply large solid areas in your catalog printing design. They do not print well.

- All scanned images should be in CMYK or grayscale in TIFF format, including your pantone colors. No RGB or JPEGs please.

- On graduated blends, lighter ones are preferred rather than the darker blends as they are likely to band.

And finally, always provide a printed proof with your file for easy reference.