Poster Design Poster Production and Print 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'screen printing' (serigraphy) and when is it preferred for posters?
- Printing directly from a computer monitor
- Forcing ink through a mesh stencil for each color layer, preferred for limited-edition art posters (Correct answer)
- An inkjet printing process for fabric
- A digital proofing method
Correct answer: Forcing ink through a mesh stencil for each color layer, preferred for limited-edition art posters
Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh screen for each separate color, prized for its vivid, opaque inks and tactile quality in art posters.
Question 2: What is 'color registration' in multi-color poster printing?
- Naming and saving color swatches in the design file
- The precise alignment of each color layer on press so they combine correctly (Correct answer)
- Choosing which Pantone colors to use
- The order in which CMYK inks are applied
Correct answer: The precise alignment of each color layer on press so they combine correctly
Color registration ensures each ink layer aligns perfectly with others so the combined print appears sharp rather than blurry or color-shifted.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'press proof' before a large poster print run?
- A low-resolution digital preview emailed to the client
- A sample print made on the actual press and substrate to verify color and quality before full production (Correct answer)
- A PDF for legal copyright registration
- A test print made with a desktop inkjet printer
Correct answer: A sample print made on the actual press and substrate to verify color and quality before full production
A press proof uses actual press conditions, inks, and paper to give an accurate preview before committing to the full production run.
Question 4: What does 'GSM' measure in relation to poster paper selection?
- Color gamut of the paper
- Grams per square meter — the weight and thickness of paper stock (Correct answer)
- Grid size for the modular layout system
- Glossiness scale measurement
Correct answer: Grams per square meter — the weight and thickness of paper stock
GSM (grams per square meter) quantifies paper weight — higher GSM means heavier, thicker paper, which gives a premium feel to posters.
Question 5: What is 'large format printing' in the context of poster production?
- Any print job over 100 copies
- Printing on substrates wider than 24 inches using wide-format inkjet printers (Correct answer)
- Printing using oversized offset presses
- A poster size smaller than letter format
Correct answer: Printing on substrates wider than 24 inches using wide-format inkjet printers
Large format printing uses wide-format inkjet printers to produce banners, trade show displays, and posters wider than standard commercial presses.
Question 6: In poster design file preparation, what is 'overprint' and when is black text set to overprint?
- Printing the same image twice for density
- Allowing one ink layer to print on top of another without knocking out the layer below; black text is set to overprint to avoid registration gaps (Correct answer)
- A Pantone ink technique for metallic finishes
- A digital filter mimicking letterpress texture
Correct answer: Allowing one ink layer to print on top of another without knocking out the layer below; black text is set to overprint to avoid registration gaps
Setting black type to overprint prevents thin knockout traps around small text, reducing registration problems that can make type look ragged.
Poster Design Poster Production and Print 2
What is 'screen printing' (serigraphy) and when is it preferred for posters?