Leaflets - advice on file format for a print shop needed

[SourChocolate]

Hello,

Cutting a long story short, I've been having some issues with the designer who was supposed to deliver PSD file with a leaflet design. Unfortunately, I'm not going to get the result I was hoping for. Fortunately though, the design is kind of there, the issue is actually with putting it all together to be ready for printing.

I don't have time now to look for another designer and was thinking whether generating the file myself would be an option? What I'd be looking for is:
- add images and some text in the desired format
- exporting it to PDF or JPG format - 300dpi, CMYK, with font presumably converted into "curves/lines" (apologies, do not know the correct terminology here)

What I need some help with is whether there are any requirements in regards to images, i.e. minimal dpi, colour scheme etc.? Essentially - will copy-paste work or this is much more complex that that? If an image is 300dpi, originally in JPG - if I copy-paste it and resize to the desired size - how will it look on printed materials?

I'll be using Scribus - free publishing software (appreciate it's not an Adobe package but I need it hopefully only this one time).

This is heading towards a total disaster and I'm hoping it can be rectified - any help with this would be greatly appreciated...

Regards,
S.

 

[Mayor]

For simple pictures with text, I have used very basic programs like MS publisher, converted it to a PDF, and used that with our local printers with very passable results.

 

[DavidWH]

Suppose your image is 5x5 cm and is 300dpi, you enlarge that to 10x10cm it then has 150dpi, 15x15 100dpi.

If your reducing it the opposite happens, but saving as a pdf you can reduce images over 300 to 300.

Might be worth adding bleed and crop marks.

 

[Talay]

An old version of Adobe is now free I understand (some versions ago but legitimately free) as Adobe has abandoned the idea of software version updates in favour of the cloud.

Googling brings this and others:

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/3689-adobe-photoshop-cs2.html

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-get-photoshop-for-free/#!AV4Iu

As to the graphics themselves, I use CS6 but I design in Adobe Illustrator in PDF format, have logos in InDesign / Fireworks etc.

If you want a free trial, you can loads here from Adobe themselves: http://www.adobe.com/uk/downloads.html

 

[SourChocolate]

Thank you, that's helpful.

Does it mean that if I copy-paste an image and subsequently export it to PDF, it's going to be most likely "fine"?

Also, what minimum dpi an image needs to have in order not to have visible pixels when printed?

Last one - when saving to PDF - I guess all embedded sources are converted into CMYK. regardless of the original format?

S.

 

[Talay]

Nope, you cannot copy images from the web as their resolution is way too low (could be 90 dpi or less) and in any case, you may well be in breach of copyright.

In various Adobe products, you have the choice at what dpi you want. You can have 300 dpi or much larger but you cannot improve the dpi unless reducing the image size. Most bought images are 300 dpi and can be very large indeed. If these were reduced in size, their respective dpi would increas, maybe to 1200 or higher and this is really overkill - I have had print at all kinds of dpi and 300 is fine.

PDFs are not automatically embedded. You don't actually want to in some cases until the very last proof.

I an no computer dunce but I learned hands on with nothing except online resources and I can knock up decent adverts - though I draw inspiration from some paid professionals. Serious graphics I get experts for.

Get a month's trial of Adobe Illustrator and start playing around with it. It is my foremost program and you can work on .ai or.pdf forms (and others). Very easy to work with.

 

[Forty8Creates]

Hello!
I've just read your post, I am very sorry to hear that your designs didn't come together as well as you thought.
I run a Creative Agency that could really help you out, and we are available ASAP, if you would like to look at our work, please check out forty8creates.com
and you can contact us if you would like us to help you - design at forty8creates.com

Chloe

 

[SourChocolate]

Nope, you cannot copy images from the web as their resolution is way too low (could be 90 dpi or less) and in any case, you may well be in breach of copyright.

In various Adobe products, you have the choice at what dpi you want. You can have 300 dpi or much larger but you cannot improve the dpi unless reducing the image size. Most bought images are 300 dpi and can be very large indeed. If these were reduced in size, their respective dpi would increas, maybe to 1200 or higher and this is really overkill - I have had print at all kinds of dpi and 300 is fine.

Thanks Talay - I have an image in 300dpi on my PC, probably in RGB though. Now my question is if I copy-paste it (or import it) into the software, resize it (say make it two times smaller, so effective dpi is 600) and export it into CMYK PDF - is it going to be suitable for printing.

That's all I need to know - I have a few images like this so if the above is a correct approach, then I should be fine...

S.

 

[Talay]

Go see what Adobe have. Either (or both) get the free CS2 or a trial (30 days) of the new versions. I'd do the trial and also go look at the old stuff.

You are not going to export it into a PDF. You can manipulate it in a program such as Photoshop and then save it in the fashion you want (or multiples). You can then copy it and paste it into a PDF production in Illustrator for instance.

If you have the image too large at 300 dpi and resize in Illustrator for instance, it will, as you note, increase in dpi but it will also be a large graphic file. Reducing it to 300dpi at the right size is a better option.

You can then embed or not, flatten or not etc. later. In reality, there are too many options.

I play with graphics in Illustrator and Fireworks and then design in Illustrator and a little In Design and use Photoshop when necessary.

30 day trial here: http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativecloud/buying-guide.edu.html

Student discounts (look into this): http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativecloud/buying-guide-education.edu.html

One off CS6 purchase for students: http://www.software4students.co.uk/products/adobe-cs6-production-premium-student-and-teacher-edition

This is a lot of money I know but it is a lot of product. As a one off cost, it must rank as one of the best deals out there if can qualify:

Eligible individuals
Only full or part-time students enrolled at a higher education establishment, defined as an accredited public or private university or college that grants degrees requiring not less than the equivalent of two (2) years of full-time study, or students enrolled at an accredited public or private secondary school providing full-time instruction are eligible.

Kids at school = you qualify