Getting a font to be clear when printing

[Nayantara5C19]

Hi Everyone! 

I'm creating a sticker for a brand (13cm by 4cm) with graphics and texts. However during print samples we've realized that the font is too thin and is therefore barely visible.

Any fonts/ tricks/ techniques to try to avoid this problem? 

Thanks!

[Bob_Hallam]

Save the document as a PSD file leaving the text layer as text or a smart object (your choice) Keep the image resolution at least 300 ppi  Font sizes below 6pt will not be readable so be careful of getting too small with the font size.  

Hopefully that helps!

[War Unicorn]

How thin is the font? I'm thinking that for a very thin font, you would need a high print DPI. That's not a very big set of dimensions.

The only other things I can think of: A black font is the most visible on a white background. Things get complicated greatly if the font is lying on top of, say, a pattern. They must contrast. Never use a thin font if you want to make the type visible from a distance.

I'm not a print guy so maybe others can chime in as well.

[Nayantara5C19]

Thanks so much for responding! 

Its a high print DPI, black font on a white background, with no patterns or anything. Once printed, its barely legible. 

From further reading online, apparently the font has rasterized? 

Anymore inputs are greatly appreciated!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What image format did you pass on? 

pdf can maintain vector data whereas tif (or jpg etc.) provide pixel data. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post a screenshot taken at View > 100% with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

[Lumigraphics]

You may need to use a different font or higher-resolution printer. I used to work for a business printer and text CAN be printed very small (think the microprinting on a check signature line) if its done properly.

[NB, colourmanagement net]

Hi

please post an image (clear photo) of the printed test sticker.

place it inline, do not attach because many will be unwilling to open an attchemnt. 

if the line of the text is too thin for the print resolution, that’s just not going to work.

Photoshop type layers are vectors (not pixels) so it's always best to flatten an image with a type layer at the last minute - to a relevant PPI resolution.

Does that help with the issue

neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
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[Trevor.Dennis]

Are you printing this yourself (in house) or is it going to a professional printer?

If the latter, what format did you send to them?  You mentioned the text might be raster which makes me wonder if you saved to JPG?  PDF using the High Quality Print option and keeping all layers is a good format to send to printers. 

If you are printing it yourself and doing so directly from Photoshop, then the format does not matter unless you have flatterned the document.  Always keep all layers intact, and that especially applies to vector layers like Type and Shapes.

Some fonts are designed to work better at a small size.  User Interfaces are an example.  If you tried to imitate the Photoshop UI at actual size, you'll find it difficult to match text clarity for instance.

Background is also obviously important.  As others have said, a screen shot of the stick at full resolution would help us to help you.

[Willi Adelberger]

1. Do not flatten the image, keep all text layers alive.
2. Save as PDF or PDP and print that or use that if you have place it into InDesign.

PSD, TIFF, JPG will always print vectors and text in the image resolution.

PDF and PDP will—if text layers are alive—in the much higher printer resolution.

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, if a bolder weight is not available, using a small stroke, either of the same color, or maybe of a contrasing color, if placed on a busy background, might be a solution, but it is far from being the most elegant one...