Release 0.3.0-draft.1 · Development standards
Translate the identity for the process. The goal is a recognisable, readable object, not a literal reproduction of screen colour or every digital effect.
Starting specifications to confirm
| Item | Design starting point | Required production decision |
|---|---|---|
| Business card | Simple light/dark face, mark and essential verified details | Supplier trim size, bleed, stock, finish, safe area |
| Letterhead | A4 light field; readable body and compact footer | Printer margins, stock, mono reproduction |
| Signage | Few words, large mark and strong contrast | Viewing distance, material, lighting, fixing and local constraints |
| Merchandise | Restrained placement, supplied logo | Imprint area, method, colour count and durability sample |
| Embroidery / engraving | Larger simple placement | Reproduction sample preserving counters and geometry |
| Packaging | Only for a confirmed use case | Dieline, substrate, statutory copy and supplier approval |
A 3 mm bleed and 4–5 mm internal safety margin can be working layout assumptions for a small print item. They must be replaced by the supplier’s specification before production. Do not infer business card dimensions from a mockup. Keep crop marks, bleed and production instructions out of ordinary digital viewing exports.
Use a colour-managed workflow agreed with the supplier. Confirm black treatment, total ink limits, transparency handling, image resolution at placed size and font embedding. “300 ppi” is a useful image starting target for many small print formats, not a universal rule for signage or vector work. Outlined type can be a supplier derivative; preserve the editable source and font licence separately.
Unprinted stock can stand in for an ivory/light field if its tone is accepted in the proof. Reversed fine text, foil, embossing and spot finishes should be sparing and tested. Do not redraw or thicken the mark to suit a process: change scale or process, or request a separately reviewed production solution.
Proof record
Record supplier, job, date, dimensions, profile, stock, process, finish, artwork version, proof type, reviewer and accepted deviations. Inspect actual-size output under ordinary light. A rendered mockup demonstrates a composition; it does not test ink spread, foil registration, stock colour or manufacturing tolerances.
Operating rules
PRINT-001 — Qualify print readiness
- Do: Confirm process, stock, profile, trim and supplier proof before production.
- When: Physical output
- Variation: Concept mockups clearly identified as such.
- Avoid: Calling unprofiled RGB artwork or an untested mockup press-ready.
- Check: Inspect production export and accepted proof record.
PRINT-002 — Adapt the application, preserve the identity
- Do: Change scale, placement or production process when detail cannot reproduce.
- When: Embroidery, engraving, signage and finishes
- Variation: Larger marks and simpler surrounding content.
- Avoid: Redrawing counters or distorting Logo v3 for convenience.
- Check: Check a supplier sample at normal viewing distance.
PRINT-003 — Separate viewing and manufacturing files
- Do: Deliver a readable review export separately from supplier-specific artwork.
- When: Print handover
- Variation: A documented supplier derivative with embedded/outlined type as agreed.
- Avoid: Sending crop-marked production art as the everyday digital document.
- Check: Check filenames, export settings and source/editability inventory.