7 Printing Mistakes That Cost SA Businesses Money
Printing Mistakes questions answered by the team that prints it every day. Platinum Digital Printing runs its own presses, embroidery machines and large-format printers in Randburg, Johannesburg — this guide shares what we tell our own clients, with no sales fog.
Skipping the Proof
The unproofed typo prints a thousand times. Approving a proper digital proof costs two minutes; reprinting a spelling error costs the whole job.
Read proofs backwards — errors hide in familiar sentences.
RGB Files and 72dpi Logos
Screen-grabbed logos print as blur; RGB neon colours shift dull in CMYK. Supply vectors and 300dpi, or budget for the disappointment.
Supply a print-ready PDF with 3mm bleed at 300dpi where possible. Not sure? Send what you have — our prepress team checks every file free and flags problems before they cost you money.
Wrong Material for the Job
Paper posters outdoors, unlaminated menus, indoor banners in wind — material mismatches die young and reprint often. Say where it lives; we spec what survives.
For exact numbers, send your brief to Platinum Digital Printing — quotes come back within the hour on business days, with a free artwork check and digital proof before anything prints.
Panic Ordering
Every deadline compressed into same-day pays priority premiums and forfeits choices. The calendar is the cheapest print tool you own.
Because production happens in-house at our Randburg centre, Gauteng clients can collect same-day on many products, and national orders courier within 1–3 working days.
Need Printing Mistakes Handled?
Exact quote within the hour — free artwork check, digital proof, same-day options in Gauteng.
Printing Mistakes — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common printing mistake?
Approving without properly reading the proof — typos survive familiarity; read it backwards.
Why do my printed colours look different from my screen?
Screens are RGB light, presses are CMYK ink — convert before export and proof critical colours.
How do I avoid rush fees?
Order against the calendar, not the deadline — standard turnaround pricing beats panic premiums every time.
Related Services
Further reading: proofreading.
