Pre Flight Check your files before printing

Avoid Touching or Almost Touching Colors

Colors that are very close can create registration problems too

Colors that are not touching but very close can cause registration problems too.

Design with the intention of avoiding the need for trapping. If you are printing letterhead with red and blue elements make sure that the two colors never meet each other. If there is enough space between the two colors then any slight misregistration won't usually be noticeable.

Sometimes your design may have close or tight registration even though the colors don't touch. A shift on the press could cause those colors to overlap. Talk to your printer if you are unsure about just how close is too close.

Articles & Resources

Trapping - When Colors Touch How to Prevent Gaps and Avoid the Need for Trapping
Trapping digital files is the process of compensating for misregistration on the printing press by printing small areas of overlapping color where objects meet. Learn the basics of trapping and alternatives to trapping.

Trapping - Almost Touching Color
Tight registration can occur when colors come close even when not touching.

Knockout
Find an explanation and illustration for knockout and how it applies in trapping.

Chokes / Spreads
Find explanations and illustrations of these trapping terms.

Manual/Auto Trapping
Learn how different types of software handles trapping in this brief overview.