Resources for Printing Companies

Color printing is easier to order than ever before. You can order many printed products to market your business or to improve your company image without ever leaving your desk. The availability of printing technology gives you more control over your documents but forces you to become educated so you don't make a mistake.

Making the most of printing companies often involves creating and uploading your own artwork. Keep the following things in mind when choosing design services:

1. Consider whether you will save money if you design your own product and whether you want total control of the finished look.

2. Strive for a coordinated look among all of your printing orders by having the same person design them, whether it's someone on your staff or at the printers.

3. Save money by choosing products that are of standard size but remember that unusual sized products will catch the eye.

Take advantage of print companies that offer design services

Some printers offer design services for free. Check to make sure you will receive a proof. Read the fine print to see what changes you can make to the design and whether there is a charge for that. Provide the printer with a copy of your logo and other printed materials, so they can design something that will fit with your company image.

Create your own design and upload it to a digital printing company website

Look for printers that give instructions on what type of files to upload and how to format them before you design any products. You may have the option to have the company check it to make sure it's right.

Choose a commercial printing company that can print a custom-size document

Some printers offer only standard-sized documents on their websites. Choose those companies that list custom-sized documents as an option on their website to find those with the experience and equipment to take on an odd-sized item.

• When using digital printing services that let you upload your own file, make sure you follow the company's specifications exactly when it comes to page size, bleed and resolution. When producing a graphic for upload, the minimum resolution should be 300 dots per inch.