PPB December 2017

how they will look when printed on the product. It’s better to match colors from a printed piece because unless you are printing on a backlit product or a light bulb, the colors might not match perfectly. When you use your Pantone guide to select colors based on what you are seeing on the computer screen (in Pantone or CMYK), always verify and get approval from your client. Sometimes, simply educating your client that there might be a slight color shift when a product is printed or embroidered will do the trick. A Caution About PDF Files If your client sends you a pdf file, it may or may not contain a true vector image. When a pdf file is created, it may have a low-res or raster file embedded within it. Unfortunately, there is nomagical programcreated yet that can turn a low-res or raster file into a vector. Tip: The only way to truly tell if file images are not vector is to enlarge them as much as possible in Adobe Acrobat (this is a free download online and more than likely already on your computer). If you see a blurry edge or an image that looks pixelated (you can see the individual pixels that form the image), it is not a vector file. If you are still unsure, ask your supplier to check it out and let you know. You do not want to run the risk of an order being printed with blurry artwork. Changing Full Color To One Color And Other Conversions If your supplier is requesting a one-color version of a logo or piece of artwork, there are a couple of different ways to obtain it. You can ask your client to convert it, or you can attempt to convert a full-color file yourself if you know how to use Adobe Illustrator. You can also contract with a designer to convert a full-color file. If the logo does not contain any gradients within it or if it does not have much detail, it can be easily changed to one color, so it shouldn’t cost very much to ask a designer to do it. Using A Designer When you need graphic assistance, make sure you include the cost of that service in the cost of the product. Most of the time, you should only need the skills of a graphic designer or outsourced graphic conversion company to convert a .jpg logo to a vector file or to change colors in a file. You can save money by using an outsourced graphic conversion company for basic needs, but if you need to create custom artwork, it’s best to call on a professional graphic designer. Tip: If at any time you are confused about the cost regarding artwork creation, ask the designer. To you, two different jobs might look very similar but there are often many underlying issues that make art costs increase. A good designer will always offer an explanation regarding the costs and the time it takes, but he or she will need to see the artwork first before giving you a proper quote. Tee Hamilton, owner of CreativeAlchemy, is a designer/ illustrator who works with suppliers, distributors and service providers within the promotional products industry. She also presents education sessions on creativity and industry artwork. Hamilton has worked in many different industries in the U.S. and overseas to design children’s books, comics, giftware, toys and other products, and technology. tee@creativealchemy.biz The only way to truly tell if file images are not vector is to enlarge themas much as possible in Adobe Acrobat. If you see a blurry edge or an image that looks pixelated (you can see the individual pixels that form the image), it is not a vector file. 74 | DECEMBER 2017 | THINK