At the moment, everyone is using AI. And it is AMAZING for some things. Unfortunately it doesn't have the capability to create print ready artwork. But, that doesn't mean you can't use it as part of the process! However, it is important to understand it's limitations, and where it can help you when it comes to designing your artwork.

AI is built for visuals, not production.

What this means - is it can create you an amazing looking design, but it isn't print ready. This means, it is great for showing you mockups for you to use as inspiration. It's a great starting point, however it isn't the finished product. It is a great way of showing your designer what you are hoping to achieve. They can then design your artwork with print specifications and limitations in mind..

AI Gives You an Image, We Need a Print-Ready File

When you ask AI to create something for you, it gives you MOCKUPS. These will be JPEGS or PNG files. Which means they are flat, low resolution and not editable. Kind of like a photo.

For printing, we require Vector artwork. This means it is perfect resolution, and editable.

AI also cannot design to size, so the artwork nearly always isn't the size you require (no matter how many times you tell it!)

An amazing end result, when it comes to print isn’t Just “What Looks Nice”

When a designer creates your artwork, they build all of the below into your design to make sure the printing is perfect:

• Bleed (so edges trim cleanly)
  
• Safe zones (so nothing gets cut off)
  
• Correct sizing (especially for labels)
  
• Readability at small scale
• No gradients, shadows, fake embossing, foiling or textures (and AI LOVES all of these)
  

AI is very good at mockups.

It can fake:

• Gold foil
  
• Embossing
  
• Texture
  
• Lighting
  

But when it comes to specialty label printing, a lot of this is done at the printing end, not the design end. We need the artwork to be editable, to be able to print it to a textured background. Or apply foil, spotgloss or other specialty finishes. If texture is showing in the artwork itself, and you print it on a textured vinyl - it will end up looking like a mess! If there is fake gold foiling in your artwork, it definitely won't look like real foil printed.

Not at all.

AI is amazing for brainstorming ideas, and collection inspiration to show your designers. It is a great starting point, but not the final product.

In summary...

AI is amazing for show you visuals of what you may want, but it won't be what we need to print a quality result.

It won’t give you:

• Print-ready files
  
• Accurate colour
  
• Proper layout for production
  
• Reliable, consistent results
  

At LSS we can help create your AI artwork into print ready artwork. Often this means we can't create the artwork exactly (due to IP reasons) but we will get a good idea of what you want, and create something with your mockups and inspiration in mind.

Contact our team and we will work our magic for you!