What is a Finished Artist?
What is a finished artist? Isn’t it just a fancy name for graphic designer? Absolutely not, though you can be forgiven for making this mistake. People often bundle graphic design with finished art not realising the very different performances of each role. It is like asking an architect to build your house. Whilst they are integral to the plans - you need someone that is a master craftsman/craftswoman to actually complete it. Think of finished art like the builder to your brand. The person that will make sure the structure is sound and will hold up in the physical world.
A finished artist plays a critical role in the design and print process. Their job is to take a layout or design that is intended for print and make sure it is "print ready" before it heads to the presses. This involves checking and adjusting things like color, resolution, bleeds, and file formatting to ensure the files will print properly.
You may not have even heard the term before, let alone know what we do, but a finished artist can save a company from costly printing errors and headaches down the line. Nothing is worse than getting thousands of copies printed only to discover blurry images, colours that are off, or text cut off at the edges. This waste of money and resources can be prevented by the careful eye and expertise of the finished artist.
A finished artist will know the requirements and restrictions of the intended printing process and make adjustments accordingly. They are like a final quality check to make sure everything is just right before sending the job to print, but a good finished artist will be able to advise you on what needs fixing before it happens.
By taking the time to "finish" the files, they ensure the final printed piece will match the intended design. This prevents surprises, saves money and frustration, and helps the project run smoothly. So while it's not the most glamorous job, the finished artist's expertise in printing helps companies avoid easily prevented printing mishaps. Their keen eye for detail ensures a beautiful final product that does justice to the original creative vision.
While a graphic designer focuses on the 'why' of a brand, a finished artist focuses on the 'how' of production. In my Sydney-based studio, I treat every project with a master craftsman’s eye for detail, ensuring your brand integrity isn't lost during the transition from screen to press. It is a highly technical discipline that involves more than just 'cleaning up' files; it’s about preparing print-ready PDFs that account for the unique restrictions of different manufacturing processes.
When I take on a project, I perform a rigorous technical audit, for example checking:
Resolution & Sharpness: Ensuring all images are at least 300 DPI to avoid pixelation.
Color Precision: Converting RGB designs to CMYK and managing Pantone swatches to prevent unexpected color shifts on the press.
Structural Integrity: Setting up accurate bleeds (usually 3 mm), safe margins, and complex dielines for packaging that requires folding or custom cuts.
Typography Safeguards: Outlining or embedding fonts so your carefully chosen brand typefaces don't 'break' when opened by the printer.