It all comes down to the difference between an additive and subtractive color spectrum. Another way to think about it is light vs physical color. If you were to shine three lights colored red, green, and blue respectively on the same spot, the resulting light would appear white. However, if you were to put red, green, and blue paint in the same spot, it would come out black. Your computer monitor uses the additive, light-based color spectrum while printing always uses the subtractive, pigment based color spectrum. Unfortunately, print isn’t capable of getting the same bright colors that monitors can. However, using press-quality Pantones can get brighter colors that traditional CMYK digital printers can not. But these colors come at a considerable cost due to using a much more expensive technology.
Setting Files Up for Printing
Can I send packaged Adobe CC files?
Yes, but chances are we’re just going to use the PDF files included in the package. Please contact us if there’s a situation that requires us to print from a packaged adobe file.
Why do you prefer PDFs?
Wanting to submit a Word document, Powerpoint, Photoshop, InDesign file or something similar? Unfortunately, these files depend on the computer opening them to have all of the dependent fonts and (in some cases) images installed on the computer itself. PDF is one of the only “closed” file types that doesn’t depend on anything else being installed on the computer for it to open, view, and (most importantly) print correctly. This doesn’t mean PDFs never have printing issues, but 90% of any issues are cleared up by just saving your file as a PDF.
