# Printing art

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [July 1, 2003, 10:24am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486 "2003-07-01T10:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![x\_vector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b9e5f3/32.png) [@x\_vector](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/x_vector)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:24am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/1 "2003-07-01T10:24:00Z")

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hej peeps …

i recently printed a flyer, made in photoshop.

on my pc the colours are very nice but on the printed version  
it looks like \*\*\*\* !!!

the printed flyer is so ugly … what do i need to do to maintain  
the “real” colours i used when i print the flyer ??

In photoshop i used RGB- colour mode … should this be changed  
for printing stuff ??

please help 'cause this is really bothering me

thnx in advance

Odin

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/2 "2003-07-01T10:39:53Z")

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it could be a lot of things, are you using good paper?

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/3 "2003-07-01T10:40:28Z")

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RGB is used mainly for web applications. For print you should be using CMYK for the best results. Also make sure the resolution is atleast 300 dpi as well.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:47am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/4 "2003-07-01T10:47:12Z")

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thnx EG …

yes the paper was good quality … i went to a special print shop  
to print the flyers …

so 300 dpi and CMYK should do it … 🙂

lat0rrrr

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:50am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/5 "2003-07-01T10:50:05Z")

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If you’re having this done at a professional print shop then they should know what specifications are needed to print the flyer. You shouldn’t even have to worry about all this, just give them the file and they’ll make the correct adjustments. 😛

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/6 "2003-07-01T11:20:45Z")

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Some print shops don’t have their equipment calibrated for both CMYK & RGB so  
before you create your next piece of art ask some questions because once you request resizing or any corrections to be made you may be charged extra by the shops onsite digital artist . Also some colors will still print hotter or cooler even after switching modes from RGB to CMYK for example an “aqua blue” may print  
near “purple” .  
Ask about:

1. File Format- PSD,JPG,PDF( pdf is friendlier for resizing for some shops)  
2.DPI -if you need to print larger than original you need more .300 is great but 150 will work fine, 600 is max some will allow.  
3.RGB ( usually for video) or CMYK( usually for print)

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/7 "2003-07-01T11:34:38Z")

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thnx Ribcage … good info

and EG … the file was printed at good printshop but they still managed to create an ugly flyer  
[check here](http://www.tomaatnet.nl/~xvector/flyer.gif) out of my file …

so i think i should definately be worried bout this stuff 😃

Odin

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/8 "2003-07-01T11:45:06Z")

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Did you print your file to your own printer for comparison? Obviously if your CMYK blue = blue and their CMYK blue = purple (or whatever) then they have a problem. However, if you can’t print it they way you like it yourself, then you have to adjust the colours accordingly.

Remember the primary difference between colours on paper and on screen. Paper relies on reflecting light and displaying the colours accordingly. Screen has a light source behind the image so projects the colours.

The main difference therefore is intensity of colour.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/9 "2003-07-01T12:53:01Z")

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well … i contacted the dtp-dude at the shop and asked him if  
the print would be better if i used CMYK-colour …

he said it wouldn’t make a big difference and that the printed  
flyer will never look the same as on my pc because they use  
different equipement (or some like that 🙂

furthermore he said the only way to get it right on paper is to  
go to a professional press/print company (which will cost a fortune i think)

so i will check my local yellow pages to see if i can find some  
professional press/print companies and check/compare their  
prices …

thnx again for all the replies …

Odin

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/10 "2003-07-01T13:18:14Z")

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by the way , ask for a proof before they do a complete run of your flyers.  
just to double check colors

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/printing-art/24486/11 "2003-07-01T13:28:51Z")

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will do 😃
