Translating digital to print
From digital files to physical products
We specialize in turning your digital designs into tangible, high-quality printed products. Whether it’s business cards, banners, or custom merchandise, we ensure your vision comes to life with precision and vibrancy.
However, it’s essential to be aware of certain limitations in the process. Digital files may look different on screen compared to printed formats due to variations like resolution and color settings.
Image Resolution (DPI)
DPI (Dots per Inch) refers to the number of individual dots of ink a printer can produce within a one-inch space. When designing or submitting raster images, be sure the DPI matches what it’s being used for.
Web
72 DPI
Rasterized images intended for the web only need to have a resolution of 72 dpi (dots per inch), which is the maximum resolutions of monitors.
Print
300 DPI
Rasterized images intended for print need to have a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch), as the printing process allows for much greater detail.
Vector Flexibility
Because vector graphics are resolution-independent, they can be scaled up or down without losing their sharpness or clarity.
- Ideal for all logos/designs that will be printed across multiple products
- Maintains crisp, smooth lines and vibrant colors for screen printing, and all digital printing decoration methods
- Easily adapts and adjusts to most print needs
Raster Limitations
Because raster graphics are made up of a fixed number of pixels, they may become blurry or pixelated if they are enlarged beyond their original size.
- Ideal when your design requires a realistic photo style or incredibly detailed artwork
- Rasterized photos or images must be created at the resolution and size specific for its use, since they don’t scale
- High-res images require a large file size for print resolution (300dpi)
Why doesn’t printed color match what’s on my screen?
The color on your screen doesn’t match the color on your printed products because screens use additive RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color mixing, while printers use subtractive CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) color mixing.
This fundamental difference in color models leads to what’s perceived as “duller” or less “vibrant” colors in a print execution vs. on screen.
Additive vs. Subtractive Color
Additive color mixes light colors (RGB) to make new colors, used in screens.
- Colors: Uses Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) lights.
- Combining Colors: When these colors of light mix together, they create colors differently than inks or paints.
- Example: If you mix red and green light, you get yellow. If you mix all three (red, green, and blue), you get white light.
Subtractive color mixes inks or paints colors to make new colors, used in printing.
- Colors: Uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK) inks or PMS.
- Combining Colors: When these inks mix, they subtract (take away) certain wavelengths of light, creating new colors.
- Example: If you mix cyan and yellow ink, you get green. If you mix cyan, magenta, and yellow, you get a dark brown or black.
Printed colors are more limited than on screen
As you’ll see in the adjoining chart, the range of both CMYK and Pantone (PMS) colors are not as wide as RGB.
Even RGB colors can’t achieve the entire visible color spectrum.
That being said, our art and production teams do their best to match your vision, within the available color spectrum.
Best solution: Predetermine your selected PMS and CMYK colors with your brand teams to ensure Imprint Engine, or any other vendor, can hit the mark every time.
