If you need a few pointers on how to spec your job here is a handy print guide to give you the basics.
You can also view the Digital Portfolio to see the spec of jobs we have previously printed. If you prefer to talk us through your job, then you will always be greeted by a helpful chap at this Bristol Printer, so please just give us a call to discuss your requirements 0117 9728900
The Digital press capacity
Print image size up to 320 x 480mm (including bleed)
Paper weight 80-350gsm
How to spec a job
What format is the job?
Which of the following common litho jobs does your job most resemble?
What is the finished size?
Paper Sizes |
MM |
---|---|
A3 | 420 x 297 |
A4 | 297 x 210 |
A5 | 210 x 148 |
A6 | 148 x 105 |
A7 | 105 x 74 |
Special Sizes |
MM |
Business cards | 85 x 55 |
CD case size | 120 x 120 |
DL | 210 x 99 |
A4 square | 210 x 210 |
Envelopes |
MM |
C4 | 324 x 229 |
C5 | 229 x 162 |
C6 | 162 x 114 |
How many pages?
How many printed pages, that’s pp to those in the trade (be sure to count both sides of the paper or each page of the artwork)
What weight stock?
Check the below guide to help you decide the most suitable weight stock.
Postcards | A6 2pp postcard | 300-350gsm | |
A5 2pp postcard | 300-350gsm | ||
Leaflets | A4 2pp | 130-350gsm | |
A4 4pp | 130-300gsm | ||
A5 2pp | 130-300gsm | ||
A5 4pp | 130-300gsm | ||
A5 6pp roll fold | 130-300gsm | ||
A5 6pp gatefold | 130 – 250gsm | ||
A6 8pp gatefolds | 130-250gsm | ||
DL 2pp | 130-300gsm | ||
DL 4pp | 130-300gsm | ||
DL 6pp concertina/ roll fold portrait | 130-300gsm | ||
Brochures | A4 8pp self cover | 130-200gsm | Self cover (cover and text on the same weight) |
A4 16pp self cover | 130-200gsm | ||
A4 32pp |
Cover 200-300gsm Text 130-170gsm |
||
A4 64pp |
Cover 200-300gsm Text 130-170gsm |
||
DL 16pp portrait |
Cover 170-250gsm Text 115-170gsm |
||
Folders | A5 4pp with non capacity pocket | 300-350gsm |
Stock
There are generally 4 categories to choose from but hundreds of variants available for each.
Matt |
Silk |
Gloss |
Uncoated – remember colour can look more dull on uncoated and the job takes longer to dry |
Speciality stocks– eg. GF Smith, Fedrigoni, Fenner |
Ink Coverage
It is useful to know how much ink you are using. It may help us advise whether your job is suitable to print digitally. Are you using solid colour and full bleed images or is there only ink on 50% of the page, ie. black copy only, with a small image.
Finishing
Here is a guide to the finishes available and an idea of how much they might cost.
Die cutting – Is there a shape you would like the item to be cut into? Remember if you want to die cut anything over 2pp it will need a flat edge for the fold.
The above finishes can be combined to good effect. See the portfolio for some examples.
Binding
On a leaflet we may just need to trim and /or but on anything bigger we will need to bind. Here are some options that are available:
Any special requirements?
Does it need to hold a business card?
Does it need to match any other literature?
Versions
The advantage of printing digitally is that each copy is printed individually, so it doesn’t matter if they are all different.
Quantity
How many do you need?
Do they all need to be printed at once or is a part delivery required?
Delivery
What is your desired delivery date?
Our considerations would be;
Finishing time. The more complicated the finishing the longer it takes.
With this information Apple Colour will make recommendations on how to complete the job. To discuss your job further please don’t hesitate to get in touch either by calling us on 0117 9728900 or email sales@applecolour.co.uk
Considerations when specing a job
- what is your budget?
- what stock do you have in mind?
- what is the quantity?
- what weight suits your chosen format?
- how quickly do you need it, could we do a part delivery?