Digital Print Problem

[Jadey]

Hi there, I am hoping someone is able to help with my problem...

I have just picked up a single side DL flyer printed on 200gsm gloss for a client.
I sent it to a digital printer that I haven't used before but I have sighted their work & they appeared to be quite good.

The work that came back was:
1. printed on matt stock
2. small fonts were un-readable

The job will have to be printed again anyway due to the incorrect stock used, but the printing guy said that "the font was too small - anything under a point will come out wrong & that's why the ink looked faded & was difficult to read."

I have used the same font & colour all the way through the document (Helvetica Neue Std Ultra Light Extended Size 9 & Pantone 7533C) & as you run down the flyer the font becomes more faded as you go along. The small text looks like it had been rushed through on the fastest setting & hardly any ink transferred to paper.

I am reluctant to think it is too small as it printed consistantly on my printer & didn't fade the smaller the font became. I am going to re-issue the art using just Helvetica Neue Std Light Extended & see what they say - before going to print...

Any suggestions or ideas??

[Toon]

Are the small fonts solid or screened?

[Jadey]

Solid fonts..

[ianm]

sounds like the guy has a problem with his printer and he wasn't letting on, and if it's digital, point 9 i can't see being a problem if it's working properly, however it is an ultra light typeface but the colour shouldn't fade - you should really talk to this guy and get your money back - job badly done if the colour is fading and especially when you specified a stock to use.

[Jadey]

Thanks Ian, I didn't think I was going mad.

[strev]

I send a lot of stuff to digital printers (successfully) and may be able to advise. Jadey, can you post a jpg of the art so that we can better understand the issues?

[Jadey]

Hi Strev,

Thanks for your reply, I have the original pdf & a scanned image of the print output & have uploaded to the following url:

http://lacomputers.com.au/PRICE_LIST.pdf
http://lacomputers.com.au/Image0002.JPG


Jade

[strev]

Hiya Jadey,

Thanks for sending your samples. I've just looked at your price list and I see the problem–and unfortunately, I don't think you can (in fairness) blame your printer.
The font is VERY thin (ultra light) and therein lies your problem. Digital printing, at this point in time, cannot handle such thin lines. The small text that was disappearing was probably less than .5 pt in thickness = out of digital "gamut."

I think the design you created with the ultra light font looks great and is quite appropriate for offset printing but for digital printing you will have to thicken it up.

Since digtal printing is so inexpensive, I do test prints that combine various font sizes and CMYK colour combinations on a sheet so that I can determine (before the print run) what will work.

PS. Another factor here is whether the printer is sending the file as postscript or "other". Ask for test prints on coated, uncoated, postscript etc. For a couple of bucks, you can avoid disappointment and best of all, you will look good when the finished product is delivered and looks great.

Reveal your suppliers limitations and work within their capabilities–or go to a better supplier!

Hope this helps. Cheers from afar.