Got a question for Bravo?
Here are our most frequently asked...

How long will my design project take?
This really depends on the individual project. Bravo will work to a pre agreed timetable, wherever possible, occasionally  the unforeseen happens and schedules will change during the job, when this happens Bravo will make every effort to adjust work schedules to accommodate the customer’s needs.

TIP: To avoid possible problems or even higher charges to get the job done quickly, do not wait until the last minute!


Why does Bravo use PDF files?
We use PDF files because they enable us to send you documents that look like the final product. They are compatible with all major platforms – PC, Mac, Palm, Pocket PC... You can enlarge to read small text and you can print it. And they are usually small files and don’t take time to arrive or leave, if you are sending them back.


How can I open them?
You need special software to read the PDF file, but that software is FREE.
You can download the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site: Click here...


Will the final product look exactly like this PDF?
The colours won’t match exactly. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main one is that ink on paper is not quite the same colour as seen on a monitor.

Bravo Design will always make sure the colours used in your project are consistent and correctly reproduced where possible. We check colours and apply our experience to ensure that you get the best possible results.


Can I use my own commercial print company?
Yes of course, we are perfectly happy to hand over a disk to you containing finished artwork, but a few words of caution. Bravo only uses print Companies that we have ‘tried and tested’ and enjoyed a relationship with. This ensures the best results, and can sometimes help in avoiding additional fees associated with your project. (Our files are prepared to a strict set of specifications, any requirements set by your printer may incur additional charges.)


Which print process should I use?
There are a number of commercial print processes available, each one suitable for different applications.

‘Litho’
What it’s good for:
Excellent for a large number of copies of the same thing, allows flexibility in paper and inks. It is the most cost-effective method for a long print run.
Against:
It is important to realise that there are initial costs involved in setting up a printing press – making plates, cleaning the press, mixing and loading inks etc. Set up charges are not cheap! therefore Litho printing is not suitable for short runs.

Digital Print
What it’s good for:
Digital print is a cost effective way of printing small quantities of full colour material.
How it works:
Digital presses are like large, fast, high quality laser printers capable of handling various paper weights. Files are output directly from a computer, and can be individually personalised. This makes it an ideal solution for short run direct mail.
Against:
Digital presses only use the four colour process, not 'Pantone' colours.

Large format inkjet
What it’s good for:
Excellent solution for short-run or one-off posters, exhibition display and point-of-sale stands. Will print onto different materials, allowing you to make custom full-colour banners, window graphics, and wall hangings to name but a few.
How it works:
An inkjet printer, prints quickly on wide rolls of various materials. Special inks may be used which can survive long-term exposure to weather.
Against:
Usually priced per copy, with no volume discount.

Screen printing
What it’s good for:
Good for a number of copies of a large poster, has the advantage that you can print onto solid plastics, cloth and even metal and allows the use of 'Pantone' colours.


Why don’t the colours match exactly?
Lots of things affect the way colours appear and so it is not always possible to get an exact match.

Printing inks
Spot colours (pantone) don’t match process colours (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). Spot colours are individually mixed. Using spot colours enables you to achieve special colours like metalics, and fluorescents. Process colours are used when you print in full colour. Tiny dots of various sizes are printed on the paper – these mixed dots make up the different colours. Process colours allow you to reproduce photographs.

Spot colours and process colours (although you can get very close) will not match.

Papers
The same ink colours will look different when printed on different papers.
Colours printed on a non-coated paper will look dull compared to the same colours printed on a coated paper, this is due to the non-coated finish of the paper allowing the inks to be absorbed.

The same ink on different papers will not match.

On-screen
Colours you see on screen are not the same as the colours on the printed page. Screens make up colours by using glowing phosphors in Red Green and Blue.
Full colour printed material uses Cyan, Magenta,Yellow and Black inks.

What you see on screen is different to printed material.

Variation from monitor to monitor
Colours vary from monitor to monitor. There's a number of reasons for this: different brightness and contrast settings, the age of your monitor, the manufacturer, software colour-matching settings...

The same file viewed in different applications can look different.


So what can be done about it?
Bravo Design make sure the colours used in your project are consistent and correctly reproduced. We check process and Pantone colours and apply our experience to ensure that you get the best results.

Whatever type of printed material you require, Bravo Design will advise on the most cost-effective print process for your project. We can advise on usage of different inks, papers and finishing processes that will enhance any project. Our pre-press knowledge and attention to detail, experience in choosing the right print processes along with the sheer volume of print we purchase through local printers help us to save you money.


The Dreaded Brief!!
We know it’s a job some clients just do not want to do and sometimes the project doesn’t get started because of that. But a good brief is vital for us to successfully fulfil your expectations and produce a piece of work that fits the bill and of course does the job you want it to.

What do we need to know for most jobs, on-line or off-line?

•	Do you need a brand, a new identity, digital or off-line, a logo, or maybe you have those already?
•	The output medium, so is it a brochure, a web site, a poster, or something else or maybe a combination of various things.

Identity

•	What are the messages your customers need to see and feel?
•	Who are your customers?
•	Who are the target customers?
•	Do you need a logo also?
•	Ideally we would like you to be very closely involved with the Identity creation process, have you the time to do that?

Print

•	Quantities of posters, brochures, etc. Or the approximate size of the web site if you have an idea.
•	The purpose, why you need these pieces?
•	The print quality you are looking for? ( Digital or Litho, etc.)
•	Paper quality and finish inside and outside, including images, etc.(glossy, matt, etc)
•	The size of the pieces?
•	The time available, when do you need these things?
•	How will they be shipped to the place they are going to be needed?
•	Have you examples of previous pieces of a similar type, if so may we please have a couple?

Web Site

•	The purpose, what is the site for, brochure, catalogue, shopping, registration for an event or events, one off event, wedding, etc?
•	How important is design to you, the way it looks and feels?
•	How big will it need to be, how many sections do you need?
•	Do you have a site map already? (A diagram showing the navigation flow from menu to sub menu to pages)
•	Do you need to be able to update the site yourself /from within your organisation?
•	Will you be investing in Search Engine activity?
•	Would you like to have some special features, such as multimedia, flash presentations, music or voiceovers, etc?
•	Who is the target audience and how many visitors are you expecting or do you want?
•	Have you a domain name already, or do you need one?
•	Do you require hosting for the site and any database?

Get in touch with us today for a no obligation chat, and see how we can help you.

01442 822215 or email tony@bravodesign.co.uk