Inkspot

What typeface is right for you?
Bold and brassy or sleek and subtle? Fun and flighty or solid and steady? We often use these words to describe people, but they are just as appropriate to typefaces. Like people, each typeface has its own personality. The goal for the designer is to match the typeface's personality with the particular project.

A typeface, or font, is an important element in any project. What captures the reader's eye first is not the actual words on the page, but how those words are presented. In this subconscious processing of typefaces, the reader is making judgments about what he or she is looking at. Typefaces have the power to direct the reader's emotions. Use them to your advantage.

Here are some hints to guide you in selecting typefaces.

Typefaces should work with text. A typeface should be the messenger, not the message. If a typeface calls attention to itself, the message is lost on the reader.
Typefaces should be easy to read. This should be obvious to most, but designers sometimes get carried away with swirls and flourishes that make it very difficult to read the words. There are a number of formal typefaces that convey elegance without resorting to illegibility. Make sure the point size of a typeface is large enough to read; it should not be crowded onto a line or a page.
Typefaces should be appropriate. How would you describe your project? Business or casual? Formal or informal? Using this as a starting point, you can begin to assess the appropriate typeface for your job.
Typefaces should be limited. Too many typefaces on a single document is overwhelming. Unfortunately, the plethora of available typefaces makes it easy for a person to mix and match. To create a unified design, a general rule is to use a serif typeface (one that has a fine line at the tips of the letters) for the text and a sans serif typeface (no finishing line) for the headline. Because of these tails, serif typefaces are generally easier to read than sans serif typefaces.
Typefaces should follow a uniform style. Just as the number of typeface styles should be kept to a minimum, so should the other elements. That means keeping a standard font size and limiting the use of bold, italics, and underlines. Too many changes creates a visual jumble of letters.

One web site, www.esperfonto.com, allows you to enter the information about your project and the impression that you are trying to create. It then provides a range of typefaces that may be appropriate.

A few typeface styles and uses

Paragraph headers or headlines are often set in a sans serif typeface because they stand out a bit more than their serif counterparts. Example shown is Helvetica.

Body copy or large blocks of text are often set in a serif typeface due to the fact that serifs are easier for the eye to read. Example shown is Garamond.

If you are looking for a more interesting typeface for a poster or invitations that you are designing, then a decorative face might be used. Example shown is Party.

If you want to give a more handwritten look to your design piece then perhaps a script typeface should be chosen. Example shown is Brush Script.

Wir-o-bind and coil binding now at The Ink Spot

Our new binding machine produces fast and accurate wir-o-binds and coil binds. Best of all, there are bindings in different colors. Wir-o-binds are available in white, cream, red, green, blue, gray, black, pewter, and brass. Coil binds are available in white, black, red, blue, green, clear, brown, navy, gray, maroon, and royal blue.

The machine binds legal size documents and books from 3/16 inches to 1 1/4 inches thick and produces punch holes in a variety of sizes and hole patterns. It makes manual hole punches obsolete.

See what our machine can do for your next print job.

This clear coil bind is produced on The Ink Spot's new Rhin-o-Bind machine. It adds a professional, polished look to a document. The wire bind, bottom, is another alternative when putting together your document. With the Rhin-o-Bind, coil and wire binds are produced quickly and accurately. There are many different colors in both binding styles.

New service makes it easy to transfer files

A web site exclusively for The Ink Spot customers makes it easy to send large files. With one click of the mouse, your files will be stored securely in our system. The file transfer site is reliable, secure, and easy to use.

    Here's how it works: When you log on to filesdirect.com/theinkspot, you fill out the online form, and select the files to upload. Place all the files in an archive to allow for faster uploads, downloads, and to keep the files intact. Click the "Upload" button and you're done. To ensure that your job is correct, we request that you send a PDF with the files or fax us a hard copy for proofing purposes. You will receive a confirmation that your file has arrived via email. The Ink Spot receives a similar confirmation so we know that your job is ready to be processed.

   Sending files is secure-it is protected with industry standard 128-bit SSL encryption. It is compatible with any email program and accepts up to 200 MB from a single transfer. There's no hassle with an FTP and no additional software or special accounts are necessary.

    Filesdirect.com/theinkspot is a more convenient way to send your files. We recommend that it be used for any file over 5MB. Please be sure to take advantage of this new opportunity.

The right files for the job

Electronic files are now the standard for receiving print jobs. Here are some common questions and answers. Sharon Swanson is the Type Department Manager/Pre-Press Specialist. She has been with The Ink Spot for more than 15 years, and has seen the transformation of the pre-press from traditional typesetting to digital workflow.

Q.	What's the best way to submit a project for printing?
A.	We accept electronic files that come to us on 3.5-inch diskettes, 100 and 200MB Zip disks, 120MB superdisks, CDs, or by email. The Ink Spot has also established a file transfer site (see above for details) that accepts files.

Q.	What formats are best?
A.	We prefer to edit and print files that are formatted in QuarkXpress (versions 5.0 or lower) and PageMaker (versions 7.0 or lower). We can also accept files in Indesign and, less preferably, Microsoft Publisher. Publisher files often require work to be compatible with high resolution imagesetters and customers may have premium charges for file manipulation. All other page layout documents must be saved as PostScript or PDF files with embedded fonts. Otherwise, the documents will be useless to us. When including graphics, make sure they are linked, not embedded. The original linked images must be provided to assure the best quality and highest reproduction. To ensure that all components of the job are included on the job disk, use the collect for output in QuarkXpress or the save for service provider plug-in utility in PageMaker, and Pack and Go for Publisher.

Q.	When submitting a PostScript file, what should I include?
A.	When you send a PostScript file, you are responsible for choosing the correct print settings. We recommend keeping the output at 100 percent, that is, don't reduce or enlarge the document; resolution should be 1200 dpi; line screen should be at 133 lpi or 150 lpi; crop marks should be centered and offset by 9 pts and allow 9 pts or .125'' for bleeds; select the proper orientation (tall or wide). If you're unsure on how to create PostScript files, call us and we will fax you the procedure.

Q.	How do I create PostScript files?
A.	Creating PostScript files requires a PostScript printer driver on your computer. Without this printer driver, many of the PostScript features are unavailable. Fortunately, it is easy to install such a driver. A generic PostScript driver should be available on your system software CD. We recommend using the RIPit Speedsetter x1 driver. We can send this driver to you via email.

Q.	What are the most common errors associated with PDF files? And how can I avoid them?
A.	While PDF files allow for faster and more accurate processing of files, there are often problems that result in delays. Very often, the fonts are either not embedded or missing. Make sure the embed all fonts feature has been turned on before you send the file. Another common problem is the low image resolution of the file. We recommend setting your resolution at 72 dpi and line screen at 60 lpi. For web use, we recommend selecting the composite RGB feature. For four-color printing or copying, we recommend composite CMYK. Other common problems are wrong page size, no bleed on file, wrong color spaces or spot color converted to process and overprinting and trapping problems.

Q.	What about my artwork, including photographs?
A.	We scan photographs at 300 dpi if the scan will be used at its original size or smaller. If the scan is to be enlarged, the resolution must be adjusted proportionately. For example, a scan that is to be increased by 200 percent must have the scanning resolution increased by 200 percent. Line art is scanned at 1200 dpi if used at 100 percent. We recommend saving these files as TIFFs.

Copy Center 617-773-7477 Printing and Prepress Center 617-773-7605 617-471-8810 fax	673 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02170 40 Oval Road, Quincy, MA 02170 inkspot@theinkspot.com
© 2004 The Ink Spot