The Professional Repeat — Print Production for Surface Designers

Navigate Print Production Like a Pro

Creating surface designs is fun — but setting up production files? Not so much. With all the file formats, printing jargon, and technical specs, the excitement of seeing your art on a product can quickly turn into worry about setting up production files correctly. Is it supposed to be in CMYK or RGB colors? What about Pantone? How do you prepare files for digital printing versus rotary printing—and what is rotary printing anyway?

I've been there! It’s intimidating when clients use terms you've never heard of or assume you know exactly what they need. 

The Professional Repeat is your ticket to easing print production anxiety with:

Step-by-step instructions for making your art files print-ready

• Introductions to common printing methods used in surface design

• Clear explanations of CMYK, RGB, Hex, and Pantone color systems

• Straightforward tips for working with clients and printerss

What’s Inside?

This 58-page fully-illustrated digital guide puts everything from The Professional Repeat Skillshare class right at your fingertips — in a handy, easy-to-navigate format. A clickable table of contents means you can quickly jump to just the right info — even when you’re in a hurry.

Topics Include:

Printing Methods: Offset, Digital, Screen, Rotary, Pad Printing

Color Systems: CMYK, Pantone, RGB, Hex Color, Index Color

Illustrator Production Files:
- Checking for Pattern Flaws and Errors
- Exporting Files
- Setting Up Vector Production Files
- Working with Pantone Colors
- Scaling Repeats in Illustrator

Photoshop Production Files:
- Setting Up Layered Photoshop Files
- Scaling Repeats in Photoshop
- Color Indexing

Glossary & Index: Over 100 definitions of printing terms, plus a detailed index

And more!

Use this guide as a stand-alone resource or as a companion to The Professional Repeat online class. Each page includes a sidebar link to the corresponding video lesson, so you can easily go back and forth between the class and the guide. (Skillshare membership required.)

Why Print Production Matters

The whole point of surface design is getting art printed on products — which makes production a super important part of what we do as surface designers. Knowing how to make your art print-ready not only makes projects go more smoothly — it also shows clients you’re a trusted professional. Plus, setting things up correctly means a better chance for your art to look as good on finished products as it does on screen.
 

Who Is This Guide For?

The Professional Repeat digital guide is for surface designers of all skill levels who want to confidently prepare their artwork for print. Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced designer, The Professional Repeat is for anyone who wants to make it easier to communicate with clients and successfully create print-ready files in Illustrator and Photoshop — whether you're working with repeat patterns or standalone illustrations.

From the Author

Hi, I’m Kris Ruff. I have a Fine Arts degree and a background as a graphic designer, surface designer, and business owner, as well as a Skillshare Top Teacher. I’ve created hundreds (maybe thousands!) of production files for apparel, bedding, wallpaper, rugs, ceramics, and lots and lots of traditional print jobs on paper.

With each project, I’ve gained a better understanding of print production processes, learned how to navigate their limitations, and refined my production files to help projects go as smoothly as possible.

I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find reliable production information, and that's why I created The Professional Repeat — it’s the comprehensive resource I wish I'd had years ago.

Get immediate access to a wealth of production knowledge, ready to help with every project that comes your way.

What Professional Repeat Students Are Saying

“Kris’s superpower is breaking down technical information into simple, easy-to-understand terms. Highly recommend for all designers.” — Kali

“The Professional Repeat made my file prep much better. We just got the samples back from the factory, and everything printed correctly on the first try, and looks fantastic.” — Miriam

“Kris is a teacher whose information I trust wholeheartedly.” — Delores

Ready to Get Started?

Download The Professional Repeat: A Surface Designer's Guide to Print Production now and get instant access!