Spring is (officially) around the corner, which means all things Spring Cleaning are in the air, all around, everywhere you turn, online and IRL! Spring cleaning is often associated with refreshing your physical space, but today we’re sharing some tips for extending your Spring Cleaning routine into your print workflow.
If you haven’t already done it, Spring is the perfect time of year to evaluate what you have, get rid of what isn’t working, organize what you’re keeping and start any updates or new projects you want to add into the mix. The rush of the new year is behind us, now let’s head into this season with a fresh energy!
Branding
How is your branding holding up? Could it use a refresh? Spring is a great time to evaluate what you have and what, if anything, you’d like to change.
Maybe your entire brand doesn’t need an overhaul, but your marketing materials could use an update. Have you been wanting to try a new design trend? Or if new designs aren’t in the budget, you can do something simpler and less costly, like swapping the paper finish you use on your next print run to give your materials a different feel, literally!
Inventory
Once you’ve evaluated your branding and marketing materials, it’s important to take stock of your physical inventory. Spring is the time to go through what you have, see if it’s still relevant and/or if you’re running low on anything.
If you’re planning to keep your current designs, do you have a sufficient supply on hand for your upcoming needs? Or is a replenishment required?
If you’re wanting to make some updates, will you have enough of your current inventory to hold you over until that process is complete? If you are in need of a replenishment, order a small print run to get you by until your redesign is ready to go to print.
Budget
If your fiscal year started on January 1, your budgets are probably already locked in place. And we all know budgets have to stretch farther and farther these days. Make the most of your print budget by:
- Allowing enough time for normal turnarounds and avoid express shipping costs
- Figure doing larger runs, or gang multiple items, to take advantage of cost efficiencies
- Spellcheck, proofread and review design files prior to submitting to your printer to avoid additional costs for author’s alterations (AAs)
And if you find that you have extra money in your budget, maybe those design upgrades are doable after all!
Specs
When getting a print quote, it’s important to relay all of the specs to your printer. Streamline your quote request process! Create a cheat sheet for you (and your team) with all of the relevant specs your printer will need for your various print projects, including:
- Quantity
- Pages, if applicable
- Size (flat and finished, if applicable)
- Stock
- Ink and any coatings
- Finishing
- Packaging, if any special requests
- Shipping
File Storage
Spring cleaning is usually associated with refreshing your physical space, but there’s no rule that says you can’t apply the same attention to your digital files. Take some time to make sure your filing system is neat and organized, that you have all of your links and fonts gathered, and that you have clear naming conventions and your versioning protocol dialed in.
Print Ready File Release Checklist
Before submitting files for print, it’s important to make sure you have everything your printer will need to make the process as streamlined as possible.
First, what kind of file does your printer need for your particular project: native design files, or is a PDF okay? For a lot of projects, a PDF will suffice as long as it’s saved out correctly. For others, a native design file is required. Make sure you know what your printer requires.
- If native design files, make sure you have all fonts and links packaged. Check that your page dimensions are set to the correct size and extend 1/8″ bleed if applicable. If any dielines or stamping layers are included, they should be on their own layer and ideally set to a spot color swatch.
- If a PDF, make sure your resolution is set for Press Quality and that bleeds and crop marks are saved out, if applicable.
For either native files or PDF, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are your images at least 300dpi?
- Is your logo vector?
- Is your color profile set to CMYK (and/or Pantone if applicable)?
As we explored here today, Spring Cleaning doesn’t just have to be for your home or physical spaces, it can apply to all areas of life– like your print inventory and workflow! Setting up systems to review these areas each year, or even multiple times throughout the year, is a great way to stay on top of your print needs and ahead of any rush press runs.
Photo by byMATTER MADE BETTER on Unsplash
