Signature Graphics Print & Design Guides

How to Prepare & Design High-Volume Print Projects

There’s a lot more that goes into commercial print projects than just your messaging. To enhance brand awareness and achieve the most successful campaigns, how you print and what design choices you make play a huge role. In this guide, we’ll help you understand what it takes to prepare a great print and show you what choices are available for your next high-volume commercial print project.

Need help choosing materials or designing your print project?

Brand Guidelines for Print

Logo: Needs minimum size, clear space and proper usage
Colors: Swatches with Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX codes
Typography: According to client specifications
Imagery: According to client specifications

How to Use Color Schemes in Print Marketing

How to Prepare Files for Commercial Printing

Accepted file formats: PDF (print-ready), AI, EPS, TIFF
Bleed: 0.125” (⅛”) on all sides
Margins: Keep important elements 0.25” from the trim edge
Color mode: CMYK

How to Prepare Design Files for Print Marketing

Commercial Print Specifications

Paper stocks: Gloss, matte and uncoated
Ink coverage: Maximum 300% total ink coverage
Finishing types: Varnish, spot UV and embossing

Request Print Sizing Specifications

Typography Guidelines for Print

Minimum font size: 6pt for body copy in print; 8pt recommended for readability
Hierarchy: Consider size, weight and color for a clear structure

Typography Guidelines in Print Marketing

Image Guidelines for Commercial Print

Photos: 300 DPI at 100% size
Logos and line art: Vector format preferred (AI, EPS, SVG)
Stock images: Ensure proper licensing for print use

Prepress Instructions for Print-Ready Files

How to create print-ready PDFs: Export as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 with crops and bleed marks included
Overprinting: Use for small black text on colored backgrounds
Trapping: Let our prepress team handle trapping

Layout Tips for Effective Print Marketing

Understanding the Print Proofing Process*

Digital proof: For content and layout approval
Hard copy proof: For accurate color representation

*Approval required before printing begins

How to Choose the Best Printing Technique for Your Project*

Offset (coldset) printing: Offers the most affordable high-volume printing for newspapers, circulars, coupon books, direct mail and more

Offset (heatset) printing: Great for high-volume printing with high-quality images, sharp text and smudge-proof, professional designs in magazines, brochures, catalogs and more
Digital printing: Ideal for shorter runs (under 1,000 pieces) and variable data printing

Heatset vs. Coldset Printing: Which Method is Right for You?

*Note: Signature Graphics specializes in high-volume offset printing (heatset and coldset) and excels at large runs of 10,000+ pieces. For smaller runs, digital printing may be recommended.

Paper & Substrate Guide

Text weight (typically 50-100 lb): Used for interior pages, inserts and direct mail pieces
Cover weight (typically 65-130 lb): Used for covers, postcards and heavier promotional items
Coated stocks: Gloss, matte, silk
Uncoated options: Offset, felt, linen

Guide to Paper Types and Weights in Print Marketing

Finishing & Binding Options

Folding: Gate fold, tri-fold, Z-fold, half-fold and quarter-fold
Binding: Perfect bound, saddle-stitch, wire-o
Additional finishing: Inserting, stitching and trimming, tabbing, ink-jetting, mail processing, inline gluing and trimming

How to Finish and Assemble Print Marketing Materials

Direct Mail Packaging & USPS Mailing Requirements

USPS regulations: Size, weight, tab closure requirements
Envelope guidelines: Placement for address and postage
Mailing list services: Merge and purge mailing list capabilities, selective demographic mailing options

How to Use USPS Mailing Incentives to Lower Direct Mail Costs

Sustainable Printing Practices at Signature Graphics

SFI-certified papers available
Organic, non-metal and soy-based inks available
100% of waste paper is recycled (1,100 tons recycled annually)
Dual-sided mail options available to conserve paper and ink
Digital proofing to reduce paper waste
Shipping straight from the source minimizes travel waste

Sustainability in Print Marketing

Print & Digital Accessibility

Color contrast: Use WebAIM contrast checker
Minimum font size and readability guidelines: 8pt+ for print body copy
Alt text for images in digital documents

How to Submit Your Print Files to Signature Graphics

Upload files to our secure FTP server*
Compress large files using a ZIP format
Include all linked images and fonts

How to Create Effective Direct Mail Ads

*Contact your project manager for FTP credentials and folder path

Full-Service Print Support from Design to Delivery

Now that you know what goes into a great commercial print project, let us handle the areas where you need help. Signature Graphics offers services in design, print, assembly and delivery to ensure you get support where you need it. Reach out to ensure your next print project is set up for success.