Here are four answers to the most commonly asked brochure printing questions. Continue reading for more information.
I often get many questions about what my four top tips for creative professionals would be when it comes to brochure printing. Time and time again as I check my email inbox,
the same four questions come up, so here’ s those questions answered. Hopefully you’ll all find these useful!
The right number of folds
Probably the most important thing to remember when printing any kind of project, not just brochure printing, is how many folds should it have? Years ago, one fold was very common in all kinds of brochures. However by the 1970s, two fold brochures became the gold standard for graphic design.
By the turn of the millennium many radical designers were flirting with four fold designs, however current best practice is to stick with one or two folds, as these are regarded as easy to read by visual experts. Hopefully that’s cleared that one up!
Use the right DPI
DPI, or dots per inch, is basically a measure of quality for any kind of printing document. Most web design is done to 72DPI, which by brochure printing standards, is very low. Many web designers have asked me, what DPI should they use? The answer is 300DPI. For the latest Apple laptops, this might be cutting edge, but in print, 300DPI has been the standard for years. This is because paper doesn't have pixels, so quality can be much higher than on a screen. When an image is printed at 300DPI, the individual dots on the page should be indistinguishable!
Use the right colour format
Colour format is another big issue in the world of graphic design. Some people confuse it with dots per inch, but colour format is in fact a thing in itself. You may be familiar with RGB colour, which was invented by Steve Jobs in 1998 for use in the iMac screen. Nowadays, it is the main method of putting colour on a computer screen, whether Mac OS or Windows! Meanwhile, printers have been using CMYK colour since the years of Gutenberg and his printing press of 1450. CMYK might sound old, but in fact it is the best way to get colour off your computer and on to your brochure printing product! Every time I get asked, should I use CMYK, I always reply with a resounding YES!
Use a call to action
The final question that continues to flood my inbox is from all you marketing guys out there. They want to know whether they should use a call to action in their brochure printing project. My response is, why the hell not? A call to action is an ideal way of getting your reader to act upon the content in your brochure. You could be writing about the brand new Audi A3. While I could go out and buy one on it's own merits, what would really convince me as a prospective buyer, is a call to action on the brochure. This could be either a coupon to send back, a phone number to book a test drive, or an email address to write to. Over all, adding a call to action is a no brainer.
