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HOW TO GO ABOUT DIGITAL VARIABLE DATA PRINTING?

by Jinky Mesias, C.

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Digital variable data printing has opened up some of the most creative opportunities in used in the industry of digital printing. It has provided an additional means of printing things. However, enough knowledge is required is you want to have quality outputs. So this article will tackle some tips on how to go about digital variable data printing.

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In digital variable data printing images are likely to come out differently when printed. The reason for this is that sometimes the resolution of the supplied images may be too low resulting in a not so great image. Nonetheless, there are cases wherein the resolution of the images supplied is too high. In this case the resulting image will tend to have more data on it. Most digital printers are at 600 dpi nevertheless your digital variable data printing provider can give you specific specs for images that you want printed.

Another consideration in digital variable printing is the paper stock. The paper stock to be used must adhere on a digital press. Make use of uncoated papers since they print well in digital presses however be careful since uncoated stocks usually amplify the deficiencies of a toner-based system especially in areas of heavy coverage. On the other hand, a glossy stock does not necessarily imply that you’ll be getting a glossy result but don’t dismay because there are digital presses that have gloss-enhancing features.

When it comes to printing projects containing large areas of solid black be careful because it won’t be easy to print it on a digital press. Nonetheless, it is still much better to consult your digital variable data printing provider to help you to come up with the formula for creating the shade of black you desire. And also it is important to note that a bleed must always consider the printer’s image area.

In addition, in digital variable data printing a product just cannot be trimmed, folded or bound since the layout does not accommodate the binding. That is why print jobs must be set up in such a way that would accommodate the final format as well as the available cutting and also the binding equipment. You must not worry for this is the job for the prepress department of your print shop.

Digital variable data printing also involves the used of toners. Toners are known to behave differently from ink. To be sure that the print output is good kindly run a test to see what works best with your design. Another thing to watch out for is the odd word breaks in the variable text. The reason for this is that sometimes the variable text is too long and the text container is too small. To prevent such from happening variable layouts have to be tested with sample data that contains the longest anticipated text string. Also avoid too much variable information on a page because it causes RIP errors. Lastly, be mindful of the fonts you use. Use appropriate fonts for every specific project.

For suggestions and comments kindly visit Digital Variable Data Printing

Jinky C. Mesias is a lover of simple things and of nature. She spends most of her time reading and writing poetry. http://www.digitalroom.com

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