The debate has raged on for years, Mac vs PC, Freehand vs CorelDRAW, then Adobe Suite vs CorelDRAW and, more recently, free online packages like Canva have entered the fray. Add to this a further complication, DIY (Do It Yourself) designs vs the services of a professional designer. I use the term “professional designer” on purpose because a self-taught, poorly trained, or inexperienced designer is essentially a person yet to graduate from the DIY level.
I will never forget that one of our earliest significant clients came on board with us because we had the willingness to print from Microsoft Publisher when other printers rejected the idea. The biggest single order we ever landed, came from this client. The point is, no matter what the source, it is possible to get a suitable file for printing. You just need to understand the dangers and limitations of each package and take care of them.
The bottom line, speaking as a printer, is not about what package you use. It is about how print-ready your design is:
- How fit for purpose is your design?
- Have you considered practical print considerations like bleed and safe areas?
- To what extent have you proofed your final copy?
- Have you produced a physical mock-up and worked through it?
- Are you working with a printer who understands the practical limitations of your chosen design package? [From the most popular “free” packages to the so-called industry standards, they all regularly catch out even the most experienced yet unaware designers.]
Naturally, we think the last question is the most important consideration and it is the reason why we focus most of our attention in this area. Added to this is the strength of a business based on relationships. We not only consider the design package used but also use our familiarity with the particular designer or company, we can anticipate and adapt files to avoid problems when going to print.
“Leave it with us, you’re in good hands”.
