Printing Tips

Please organize all elements involved with your job when sending them in to us. Excess files can cause confusion and possible errors. Be sure to send only the files needed to complete your job. Include an up-to-date hard copy print out for us to check against while working on your job.

All graphics/images should be in .tiff, .jpeg, .eps  or .pdf format. The dpi should be twice the linescreen you desire to output. Example: Most of our Black and White images are printed at 120 line screen, so your images should be 240 dpi. Colored images should be set at 266 dpi which will print at 133 line screen.  Any line art should be in the range of  600 to 1200 dpi.

GIF and JPEG files pulled from a website are usually 72 dpi (low resolution) and are not intended for use for print production.

If you are setting up for a process color project. Design in CMYK, and before submitting, print out your file using color separations from your laser printer. Check carefully to see if all information was printed to produce each color.

Programs we use: PC Platform / CorelDraw, Photoshop, Publisher, Word.

You can be confident that the staff at Endicott Printing will make your project look great. If you have a concept, but need graphic design support to create your idea, rest assured we can make your inspiration a reality.

Some things about paper

Basis Weight. The Basis weight shows the weight of one ream  (500 sheets) of basic size paper in pounds. The combination of the basic sheet size and weight determines whether a sheet is 60 lb. text, 100 lb cover, etc.

Brightness. A papers brightness is determined by the percentage of light it reflects. Papers with a higher brightness allow the colors to stand out, while lower brightness papers are easier on the eyes for reading or extended viewing.

Finishes. The term finish refers to the surface of the paper, starting with two basic choices … uncoated or coated. Uncoated sheets have finished ranging from super smooth, vellum and luster to specially embossed finishes such as linen and laid. The ink absorbs into these papers which produces a  softer, more understated image.  Coated paper has an outer coating applied to one or both sides of the sheet. Available in gloss, dull, and matte. Coated papers are less absorbent, which means the ink stays and dries on the surface. Producing brighter colors and sharper images.

Grain. The grain direction is the direction in which most of the fibers lie in a sheet of paper. The paper fibers lie parallel to the direction in which the paper is made on the paper machine.  You can determine grain direction by comparing the flexing resistance of the sheet. The direction of least resistance if the grain direction.

Opacity. Sometimes referred to as “Show through”, this term refers to the property of a sheet that prevents dark print areas from showing through to the other side.  If your project is to be printed on both sides of the sheet, you should consider the opacity of the sheet.

Printing Tips