Print is far from dead. Offset, digital or three-dimensional display printing capabilities can bring a wow factor to your next trade show booth, impress an investor or convert a lead to a customer. Here are three timeless best practices to ensure your next print project is a success:

Invite your printer to meetings, early and often. Include your print partner early in the project to ensure alignment and meet deadlines. Your partner will double as your logistics expert when it comes to a complex drop-shipment schedule or coordinating global postage rates. Consider these questions to help start the conversation.

Specs done right means a project well done. Getting a printer’s advice on specs can help your project stay on-time and on-budget. It helps to think through some possibilities ahead of time. Here are 10 design terms you need to know.

Don’t skip the press check. Want to ensure a specific PMS or spot color is consistent throughout a piece? Having a physical proof to review on-site at the printer is invaluable, especially when you have your creative director or graphic designer by your side — they know what they’re talking about if something seems “off.”

Every print project is different, but you don’t have to navigate a maze in the dark every time. Close attention to detail, spirit of collaboration, and due diligence around cost and timelines will result in a well-produced, professional piece.