Professional Reprographics

A customer asked me this question on Merchant Circle today:

“When Printing Flyers, What Are Some Tips for Getting Clear Copies?”

When you put a lot of time into designing and laying out your flyer and it looks great on your screen, its always disappointing when it prints poorly. We print a ton of color flyers (and even have a special 15th anniversary rate for color copies) and here are some easy tips to think about before you lay out your next flyer:

1. Web resolution is 72dpi and the flyer you’ll print is print resolution, 300dpi. When you blow up an image from web resolution – what you see on your computer screen or online – to a printable size, it is rarely large enough. The result is your images (pictures and graphics) will be pixelated:

Pixelated Photo from Robinsblog.com

Make sure you are using higher resolution images so your flyers look crisp!

2. Design your flyers so they are cleanly designed without a lot of clutter. Use a simple, clear headline that gets straight to the point. Don’t put too much text and always put your contact information on the flyer!

3.  The larger the file, the better the copy. Make sure to output your file into a high-res PDF or TIFF file. .JPG files (images) are compressed and whenever you compress an image, you’ll lose quality and it will look less clear.

4. Don’t copy a copy and expect it to be as clear as the original! We can easily copy your old flyer but you’ll often lose some of the clarity. If you don’t have electronic artwork, consider scanning it in at a larger size and importing the file into your graphics program. That way, your flyer will be sharper.

5. Use better paper – the cheapest paper is not always the best to use. In some cases, using a black and white flyer on colored paper is far less expensive and can be more impactful.  Heavier stock paper is better for handing out to individuals – the first impression your flyer makes is important and how the paper feels can make a big difference.

Flyers rock – they are a great way to market your business, service or product. Next time you need flyers printed in Nashville, give us a call and let us help you get the most for your dollar!