Category

General

Category

When it comes to large format printing the common or traditional rules that generally apply to standard off-set printing do not apply here. The file dimension and resolution are not looked at the same as that of something printed on a smaller scale. That being said, a number of web & print designers as well as desktop publishers find that they are definitely out of their comfort zones when it comes to prepping a file for large format printing. But, because having the right knowledge & skill set when it comes to large format printing is so important they must adapt quickly and bring their best work to the table. 

Understanding Files For Large Format Printing

First and foremost large format printing pertains to things like the giant billboards you see while driving or a vehicle vinyl wrap with different graphics embolized on a car, truck, or commercial fleet. The way that images are printed and thus viewed by the human eye is very important when it comes to large format printing. Wrap Works, an automotive enhancement service, relies heavily on the way the graphics and text come out when printing a vehicle vinyl wrap. You have to look at it as you only have one chance to get your images right, says Rob, an Orange County vinyl wrap installer, with Wrap Works. I mean technically you can print a vinyl wrap as many times as you want if you have a large format printer in-house, but who really would want to? If you can’t get it right it doesn’t look good to the customer and it definitely isn’t cost-effective. 

What you need to keep in mind is that the viewing distance is the most critical aspect of how you prepare the file. Having a background in code or web design is often a benefit because you understand images and graphics related to pixels and different resolution measurements.

Pointers On Preparing Files For Print

The main goal of large format printing is to offer better clarity of the picture after print. Most large format printing files are generally saved as TIFF or EPS but it also greatly depends on the printer and other criteria and aspects of the file. One very important rule to remember when looking to send your file to print is to NEVER flatten your original design. and you should always have an editable version so that you are able to make changes easily & whenever necessary. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that just because the file is bigger doesn’t mean that the resolution or pixels need to be increased. In fact, sometimes decreased resolution & pixels actually help the image to be seen more clearly. Remember, you are printing the image to look the way it would best when viewed by the human eye. For example, billboards have clear pictures and text that can be read easily. The human eye viewing it is at a very far distance from the billboard which has to be taken into consideration when implementing the design. But did you know if you walked up close to a billboard it would look a little blurry and you would be able to see all of the large pixels that make up the picture? Farther away it looks a lot clearer and definitely more streamlined. So basically when it comes to adding dimensions and resolution aspects to large format printing fies a lot of it has to do with how & where the image will be viewed!

When it comes to learning code like that of HTML & CSS it doesn’t’ have to be super difficult or really expensive. In fact, there are many great code learning platforms on the web, with some even being free! But with so many to choose from and new platforms popping up regularly, which platforms are the best and easiest to use?

Best Coding Platforms To Learn HTML & CSS

CodeAcademy –

is a well known FREE platform that teaches you HTML code in small increments. It offers a split-screen so that you can see both your code as well as live updates. Everything is automated and marked which makes the curriculum very structured and easy to go through. The downfall is that for those looking for an HTML certification at the end of the course, CodeAcadamey does not offer or provide one. In general, this platform is best used as a starting point for those looking to learn code. In fact, this platform is great for learning the basic concepts of HTML

W3Schools –

This platform is similar to CodeAcademy and is a great way to learn HTML & CSS code. All of the lessons on the platform are available to you right away and they even offer a certification showing your HTML experience for $95. This platform also offers new content all the time proving that they are always evolving when it comes to the world of web development. This platform is great for beginners and those looking for more advanced lessons should look to another platform. 

Lynda.com –

This platform offers thousands of courses on many different topics including HTML. There are a limited amount of free videos to start with and then you must sign up for a monthly membership. With their premium membership, you gain access to project files to help with your code development. Thi platform is available as a mobile app and can be used anywhere. The downfall of this platform is that it requires a paid membership where the others we discussed are 100% free. The fact that the level of your membership also entails the amount of access you have to all of their tools can be quite limiting too. 

The bottom line is that with an abundance of code learning platforms available you are sure to find one that meets your needs and works best in terms of the way you learn. Just remember learning HTML & CSS can seem very intimidating but it doesn’t have to be! And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money either! In fact, it can be very easy! Take advantage of all of the platforms at your fingertips and you will be well on your way on your code learning journey!