1200+ dpi online print shop?
July 19, 2013 1:11 PM Subscribe
I'm looking to print business cards. 300 dpi seems to be the standard online but that isn't sufficient for my design. Anyone know an online company that prints 1200 dpi (or higher)?
I haven't found any printers, either.
But, I'm curious why 300 DPI isn't enough, especially if you're talking about a standard sized business card. I've designed tons of high-end print jobs. I have maybe done 5 jobs in 10 years at more than that.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 2:25 PM on July 19, 2013
But, I'm curious why 300 DPI isn't enough, especially if you're talking about a standard sized business card. I've designed tons of high-end print jobs. I have maybe done 5 jobs in 10 years at more than that.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 2:25 PM on July 19, 2013
Response by poster: I'm looking to print a very very small font that will only be legible through a magnifying glass.
posted by Izner Myletze at 2:26 PM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Izner Myletze at 2:26 PM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In that case, I'd be far more concerned about the ink bleeding into the substrate than I would with the the DPI. If I were you I would start by calling around to local print shops and explaining exactly what you want to do. They should be able to steer you in the right direction. Or email the online printers, but make sure to tell them exactly what you're trying to do. A good printer will be able to make this happen, but it's not going to be a default option on any website.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:32 PM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:32 PM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Possibly helpful info?
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:46 PM on July 19, 2013
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:46 PM on July 19, 2013
Best answer: print a very very small font that will only be legible through a magnifying glass
thats...really hard to do. Which is why microprint is on paper currency. I would be stunned if there was any online business card place that would do this for you- they work on a model that is all about bulk and automation, not readable print a hundred microns high. A high end print shop will probably be able to do it, but it will be much more expensive than a standard card.
posted by rockindata at 3:21 PM on July 19, 2013
thats...really hard to do. Which is why microprint is on paper currency. I would be stunned if there was any online business card place that would do this for you- they work on a model that is all about bulk and automation, not readable print a hundred microns high. A high end print shop will probably be able to do it, but it will be much more expensive than a standard card.
posted by rockindata at 3:21 PM on July 19, 2013
Best answer: but!
It looks like Xerox has figured it out on their high-end digital presses. I would call around your local shops and see if anyone has the appropriate Xerox equipment, software, and font.
posted by rockindata at 8:39 PM on July 19, 2013
It looks like Xerox has figured it out on their high-end digital presses. I would call around your local shops and see if anyone has the appropriate Xerox equipment, software, and font.
posted by rockindata at 8:39 PM on July 19, 2013
Best answer: I run a digital print shop. The printer (or press) is only half the resolution equation. The stock you're printing onto is the other half. Plain card stock is fairly rough, and has a usable resolution of about 300dpi. Imagine taking a piece of chalk and writing on a nice chalkboard, vs. writing on asphalt. The same chalk (the printer) produces very different results depending on what you're writing on. To do a really tiny font, you're going to need a super-smooth, probably glossy, stock which will also be quite expensive.
This is also going to be a single-color job. Doesn't matter if it's offset, gel/inkjet, or digital; you're not going to get accurate 4-color registration on text that small. Some shops might take the job, but I would be amazed if they guarantee the result. If you need a custom color, you may find an offset shop willing to mix a batch of custom ink, but that's going to be make-you-cry expensive, if they can even provide the resolution you want.
Digital, on a well-maintained iGen, say, is probably going to be your better bet (as you're dealing with dry toner instead of wet ink, so there is less tendency to bleed into the stock), but you'll probably be limited to running one of the 4 primary colors (C, M, Y, or K), and at 100% (no screening), to have your tiny print still be legible. Xerox has some really cool demo stuff, but that's generally how it pans out--demo stuff. Try on a shop press with several million feet through it, and the operator will smile and shake his head.
One advantage of a digital shop is that you can print just a few sheets, without running into the setup costs of an offset shop. I would plan your job with a few different typefaces in different sizes, so you can compare results on different media. If you must have color, produce your PDFs or however you're submitting the job as separations, and then go one step further and make a single-color file as well. Just so you can see the difference that trying to register 4 colors will make on your output.
I think this is an intriguing idea, but if you came to me with this idea, I'd either make a proof and have you sign our special jobs disclaimer saying you understand we cannot guarantee the result you want, and insist on payment up-front; or I'd decline the job altogether. If it was single-color, I might take it if you twisted my arm.
posted by xedrik at 9:31 PM on July 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is also going to be a single-color job. Doesn't matter if it's offset, gel/inkjet, or digital; you're not going to get accurate 4-color registration on text that small. Some shops might take the job, but I would be amazed if they guarantee the result. If you need a custom color, you may find an offset shop willing to mix a batch of custom ink, but that's going to be make-you-cry expensive, if they can even provide the resolution you want.
Digital, on a well-maintained iGen, say, is probably going to be your better bet (as you're dealing with dry toner instead of wet ink, so there is less tendency to bleed into the stock), but you'll probably be limited to running one of the 4 primary colors (C, M, Y, or K), and at 100% (no screening), to have your tiny print still be legible. Xerox has some really cool demo stuff, but that's generally how it pans out--demo stuff. Try on a shop press with several million feet through it, and the operator will smile and shake his head.
One advantage of a digital shop is that you can print just a few sheets, without running into the setup costs of an offset shop. I would plan your job with a few different typefaces in different sizes, so you can compare results on different media. If you must have color, produce your PDFs or however you're submitting the job as separations, and then go one step further and make a single-color file as well. Just so you can see the difference that trying to register 4 colors will make on your output.
I think this is an intriguing idea, but if you came to me with this idea, I'd either make a proof and have you sign our special jobs disclaimer saying you understand we cannot guarantee the result you want, and insist on payment up-front; or I'd decline the job altogether. If it was single-color, I might take it if you twisted my arm.
posted by xedrik at 9:31 PM on July 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
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posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:24 PM on July 19, 2013