Printing Insights from the Production Floor

A lot of print headaches can be avoided simply by asking the right questions up front. Before you sign off on your next job, ask your printer: Is my file truly print-ready? Are size, bleed and margins set correctly? Any low-resolution images or font issues you can see? Is this the right paper for how we’ll use it? Will this stock fold well, mail well, or hold up in a binder? Is there a better option for the look/feel we’re after? How will colour be handled? Is this printing C

The Court of Appeal for BC tells you exactly how your paper appeal book must look under Civil Rule 26 – but those details often never make it into the print order. Using the “Paper Filing Completion Instructions: Appeal Book – Civil Rule 26” as an example, here’s how to translate the rule into clear, practical directions for your printer. 1. Page numbering and table of contents The court expects: Pages numbered sequentially at the top centre A table of contents that matches t

Canva is great for quick design work, but it wasn’t really built with commercial presses in mind.If you’re sending Canva designs to a print shop, here’s how to keep things running smoothly. 1. Start with the right size and bleed Set your Canva document to the final print size (8.5" × 11", postcard, etc.) Turn on Show print bleed and Show margins Extend backgrounds and images right through the bleed area so there are no white edges after trimming 2. Make sure your images have

Ever ordered “80 lb” paper and been surprised that it felt way thinner or thicker than you expected? You’re not alone – North American paper weights can be confusing. . Here’s the short version: The “lb” is a basis weight – the weight of 500 sheets of a specific parent sheet size Different paper types use different parent sizes That means 80 lb text and 80 lb cover are not the same thing So “pounds” only make sense if you also know the paper type. That’s where GSM (g/m²) come

If you design for print, you’ve probably seen this requirement in specs:“Please use 300 ppi images.” On its own, that line is incomplete. What actually matters is: the size of the image in your layout, and the number of pixels the image has. You can have three images at 300 ppi, 72 ppi and even 10 ppi that look identical in a print-ready PDF, as long as they all have the same pixel dimensions. The PPI field in the file is not the hero here – pixel count at the final print siz

Bi-fold – programs, sell sheets, simple menus Tri-fold – classic brochure or mailer Z-fold – step-by-step guides, statements, maps that reveal in sequence Accordion – timelines, multi-option menus, product tiers Gate fold – dramatic reveal for a hero image or launch Double gate – poster-style reveal packed into a small piece Roll fold – staged storytelling, onboarding, tours Double parallel – dense specs, bilingual layouts, policy inserts French fold – invitations, maps, even