Easy Customization with Print Layout Templates

Print layout templates are a must-have for any graphic designer who wants to increase efficiency and profits. While other types of templates distract from the creative process, print layout templates are perfect for customization because they contain no design elements whatsoever. Instead, print layout templates are pre-formatted and ready for design; they are, in essence, your blank canvas. At the same time, print layout templates eliminate the need for tedious and time-consuming setup and practically guarantee that your finished print marketing materials – brochures, postcards, business cards, flyers, menus and more – will look just as great off the press as they do on your computer screen. The following details what you need to look for in premium print layout templates.

Formatting

Your print layout templates should be pre-formatted in the proper color mode and resolution for your printer's presses. In most cases your templates should be prepared in the CMYK color mode, a four-color process printing method that utilizes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Your print layout templates must also be formatted with the proper resolution, which is usually 300 dpi for most print marketing materials.

Helpful guidelines

Some of the best attributes of print layout templates are helpful guides that direct your design positioning. Guidelines such as bleed lines and cut lines show how far your backgrounds must extend to display edge-to-edge color and approximately where your finished marketing materials will be cut, respectively. Safe area lines show you where your design elements must be to be included in the finished piece. Other guides such as fold and scoring lines, drilling and binding dots, and die-cut lines are also helpful in layout out your design. The value of such helpful guides in terms of time-saving is priceless.

Compatibility

Always make sure your print layout templates are compatible with your favored graphic design program. Most popular design software, such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, are capable of opening PDFs so this format is often preferred for pre-formatted print layout templates.

Customer service

The quality of your print layout template maker's customer service must be top notch, especially if you often work on deadlines with highly intricate projects involving die cuts, foil stamps and other advanced printing techniques. It is important that you, as the designer, are on the same page with your printer to ensure any marks they've made on the template – or that you make in the final design – are interpreted universally for best results. If there is any question, you need to be able to call a customer service line or email support personnel for clarification. Never underestimate the value of great customer service, especially when it comes to online printing.

Price

The price for pre-formatted print layout templates comes into play, but is not as important as quality templates backed by superior customer service. Luckily, you can have the best of all three worlds when you get your print layout templates from PsPrint. The online printing company has print layout templates for dozens of products – brochures, business cards, flyers, postcards, calendars, menus and many other products – at the best possible price: free.