Print design

1. WHAT WE DO

Print design is not the same as web design. Colors look different on screen than on paper. On screen you can use gradients and effects, on print they look different. File size matters on screen, but with print – it matters enormously.

Most designers design for screen and then print. Result: colors don’t look as expected. Font size is smaller than needed. Quality is lower than it should be.

Print Design is our service for creating print materials that look amazing in reality. That are designed with printing technology in mind. That use materials efficiently. That stand out on the shelf or in the office.

What this includes

Print strategy & brief: Before we design – we understand the print material. What kind of material is it? Packaging? Brochure? Catalog? Business card? What’s the goal? Where will it be used? Based on this – we define strategy. What should the design look like? What scale? What format?

Design for print specifications: We design with print in mind. CMYK color model, not RGB. Correct resolution – 300 DPI for print, not 72 DPI for screen. Correct dimensions accounting for trimming and margins. Correct typography for print. All of this ensures the result will be perfect.

Material & finish selection: Paper matters. Glossy or matte? Thickness? Whiteness? Texture? We help choose the right material for the goal. Maybe higher density is needed for a premium feel. Maybe eco-paper is needed for sustainability. Maybe special finishing – varnish, foiling, embossing.

Color management & accuracy: Colors on print must be accurate. We work with color profiles. We check proof prints. We ensure colors in print look the same as in the design. This is especially important for brands where color is critical.

Structural design: For packaging, brochures, catalogs – structure matters. How does the package fold? How does the brochure open? How do the pages turn? We design not just beautiful aesthetics, but functional structure.

Production-ready files: Files are prepared for print. All fonts are embedded or converted to curves. All images are at correct resolution. All colors are in CMYK. Marks for trimming and margins. Typography is optimized for print. The file is ready to send to the printer.

Sustainability & eco-friendly approach: We care about the environment. Eco-paper. Biodegradable materials. Waste minimization. When possible – we recommend sustainable options. Because beautiful print should be responsible.

Production coordination & quality assurance: We work with printers. We monitor the printing process. We check first samples. We ensure quality meets expectations. We answer printer questions. If adjustments are needed – we make them.

2. WHAT PROBLEMS WE SOLVE

• Design looks good on screen, but terrible in print, because technical print requirements weren’t considered.
• Colors on print don’t look as expected, because CMYK color model wasn’t used.
• Text is unreadable in print, because the font size is too small or typography is wrong.
• Packaging doesn’t fold correctly, because the structure was designed incorrectly.
• Print quality is low, because file resolution is wrong or specifications are incorrect.
• Printing is expensive, because material or technology choice is wrong.
• Material doesn’t suit the purpose, packaging doesn’t protect the product, or the brochure falls apart after a few opens.

3. WHY ALMA

1. Print expertise, not web designers

   Many designers come from web design. They design the way they designed for web. We are print designers. We know CMYK, DPI, halftones, special inks. We understand printing technology.

2. Production knowledge

   We work with printers for years. We know how everything works. What inks look best. What materials work. What problems wrong design can cause. We use this knowledge to design correctly.

3. Material expertise

   Material matters. We help you choose. What paper? What thickness? What finish? Eco-materials? Special effects? We know all options and help select the best for your budget and goals.

4. Cost optimization

   Printing can be expensive. We help optimize. Right size to minimize waste. Right material choice. Right technologies. Result: low cost without quality loss.

5. Color accuracy

   Colors are critical. We work with color profiles. We check proof prints. We ensure the result matches the design. For brands this means color is consistent everywhere.

6. Sustainability

   We care about the environment. We recommend eco-materials. We minimize waste. We choose sustainable technologies. Because beautiful print should be responsible.

4. OUR APPROACH

Phase 1: Brief & specification

First – the brief. What kind of print material? What’s the goal? Where will it be used? What’s the budget? Based on this – we define print specifications. Size, material, technology, color profile.

Deliverables: Print Brief, Specification Document, Material Options, Cost Estimates.

Phase 2: Material & finish selection

We select material. What paper works best? What thickness? What finish? Glossy, matte, special finish? We recommend options and help you choose.

Deliverables: Material Samples, Finish Options, Cost Comparison, Sustainability Assessment.

Phase 3: Design development

We design with printing technology in mind. CMYK color model. Correct resolution. Correct typography. Everything is designed to look perfect in print.

Deliverables: Design Concepts, Print-Ready Mockups, Color Specifications, Typography Guidelines.

Phase 4: Structural design (if needed)

For packaging, brochures, catalogs – we design the structure. How does it fold? How does it open? How does it function? We create technical specifications and layouts.

Deliverables: Structural Specifications, Die-Cut Templates, Assembly Instructions, 3D Mockups.

Phase 5: Color proofing & approval

We check colors. We create a proof print. We ensure colors look correct. If adjustments are needed – we make them. Only then do we approve for full print run.

Deliverables: Color Proof, Approval Document, Final Color Specifications.

Phase 6: Production-ready file preparation

We prepare files for printing. All fonts are embedded. All images at correct resolution. Marks for trimming and margins. Typography is optimized. File is ready for the printer.

Deliverables: Production Files, File Specification Sheet, Print Instructions, Technical Checklist.

Phase 7: Production coordination

We coordinate with the printer. We monitor the process. We check first samples. We ensure quality meets specifications. We answer questions. We make adjustments if needed.

Deliverables: Production Schedule, Quality Check Reports, Approval Sign-off.

Phase 8: Delivery & documentation

Materials are ready. We coordinate delivery. We provide documentation – how to store, how to use. We archive everything for future reprints.

Deliverables: Delivery Coordination, Usage Guidelines, Archive Documentation.

CONCLUSION

Print design is not just design on paper. It’s understanding printing technology. It’s choosing the right material. It’s optimizing for quality and cost. It’s responsibility to the environment.

ALMA has designed 500+ print projects. From packaging to catalogs, from business cards to posters. From small runs to millions of copies. And everywhere the result is the same: high-quality print that stands out, that people remember.

If you want your print material to be at the level of the best – this is what we do.