yellow background = card area = 3.5" x 2"
red background = add 1/8" bleed = 3.75" x 2.25"
crop lines = bleed area minus card area
images -> 300dpi transparent png format
mouseover red area to show card area only 👀
mouseover yellow background to show printer's version 👁

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so, printers can be picky and, most often, justifiably as there are some
significant differences between "graphics-ready" for the web and for printing

the absolute best program to use for page layout when going to the press is Quark xPress
HTML is an excellent alternative and more widely used today

HTML is also the reason printers started asking for pdf files
HTML can be interpreted differently on different browsers, os, devices and printers
pdf is more like a hard copy with fixed measurements and maintaining hi-res imagery

transparent images allow background color/filter/paper texture, to come through
ultimately, 300dpi is required for most traditional presses and high-res digital printers

when viewing an image through transluscent diodes (like on the web)
due to limiting inherent visual impairment specs, we max out at 72 pixels per inch
on the web, the same image even at 600 or 1200dpi will not appear any clearer

when viewing reflective image (like printed on paper) higer resolution will render clearer image
using the natural spectrum of wavelengths, when stretching 72dpi image to fit larger space
most often, we might observe pixelation, degradation of the original - text included !! ↶ Return
next» layout, style, crisp text and final pdf output