Printing jpg's?

[Wyndra]

My client wants a small catalog (8.5x5.5") saved as .jpgs to be printed in Peru. Will this work?

I've never heard of printing from this file format.
Will they be able to separate the color?

Seems I can work well enough with the text & images in PhotoShop then save as jpg. But don't want to spend twenty hours on something that's doomed.

Thanx Graphic Gurus!

[Jade Dragon]

techically yup.

The problem arises in how you set up your jpg files. The standard 72ppi (web ready) does not print well for catalogs. Most printable items need to be at least 300ppi to get good results.

There the problem comes of space. You are going to have about 16 MB per image page. If you can, I suggest burning to a CD and then mailing to a customer.

Also jpg is a loss compression file. Meaning that when compressed it will lose the data of the file, when the viewer looks and the uncompressed version then the jpg uses the next closest color to fill in the blanks. Even using the "1" compression ratio this will happen, depending on quality, you might get away with it.

Tiff is one of the more preferred formats for printers as this type of file is lossless.

=)
Jade

[Wyndra]

OMG these files areHuge.

Thanx Jade Dragon. I don't want to make something yuky.

I'm used to the (American) online postcard printers. They give elaborate file prep instructions. And don't take jpgs.

Unsure,

[Jade Dragon]

What printer is your client using. This is sometimes the key on how you set up your graphics.

If he is using his office printer then you could probably get away with 150dpi as most laser and injets will produce quality prints with a bit lower resolution.

If he is going to be using an actual printer then the 300dpi rule applies, because of the different processing the biger printers have. If he is asking for jpg to do a dual setup in print and online for convienence then you may need to send him both formats.

I usually ask the client to send a list of acceptable file formats that the printer will accept. I then will take what works out best with the programs I have.

Some printers have been known to request 1600ppi for glossy print as they are the most keen on not showing any pixellation wat so ever.

Most mass publications that I've come across run in the 300 to 600 ppi. Again it all depends on what the printer wants.

=)
Jade

[Wyndra]

You are right, I need to know the target I'm designing for.
Perhaps the "bottom line" (saving money on printing costs) is not as important as getting the expected result.

Noticed Kinkonet uses PDFs.