When you are doing a calendar printing, there are some tricks you need to know to prepare your photographs for the printer. Great looking photos are the most important part of wall calendars, so here are some tips for getting clear, sharp images that have the colors you intended.
Use Photos that have 300 to 800dpi
For your pictures to look their best, they need to be at a high resolution. They will have to have at least 300dpi (dots per inch). If you can get shots with more dpi that is great, but you probably will not want to go higher than 800dpi because the pictures will take forever for your printer to download. It is a good idea to check with your printer so you know what dpi range they are able to work with for calendar printing.
If you decide to go with stock photographs, be sure to check their dpi. Most images on your computer only have 72dpi, so be extra careful when you find shots on the Internet. You can find pictures with 300dpi online if you look for them on stock photo websites. If you want to use a picture that has a lower resolution, you can scan it into your computer and use Photoshop to change the resolution to 300dpi, but this will shrink your picture down, so make sure the resulting image is the size that you need.
Convert Pictures to CMYK Colors
The pictures on your computer are in RGB colors, which are produced by red, green, and blue light. Offset printers use CMYK colors, which are made by different combinations of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (Black is called key, hence the “k.”). Even if you take your own pictures, you will probably still have to convert the colors because a lot of digital cameras take photographs in RGB colors, and scanners use RGB colors as well. You should know that the colors will look a little different in CMYK, so make sure the photos will still work for your calendar printing project.
Save Photos in EPS or TIF Format
EPS and TIF formats are the best for transferring your photographs to your calendar printing company because they will keep your pictures looking sharp, and they will help to preserve your colors. Plus, printers are able to work with these formats much easier.
Upload Links to Your Photos
Instead of embedding your photos into your files, just upload links to your photos when you send your files to the printer. Embedding your photos would make your files huge, and it would take forever to upload them. Don’t forget to also send the actual files of your photos so that your printer has the location for the links!
The best part of using an online printing company is that most are willing to answer any questions you have about correct photo uploading procedures. Find a printer with excellent customer service and even art check services to insure the best results without any hassle.
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