Guidelines & Tips
Electronic File Checklist
Job Component
- Is the electronic file information sheet filled out?
- Have you checked with Printing Spectrum to insure that the electronic media you are sending is compatible with our equipment?
- Is the electronic media labeled appropriately?
Proofs
- Make certain the proof you send is the latest version of your file.
- Did you output the proof at 100%? If you have tiled the output, please label this appropriately.
- Are all registration & crop marks included?
- Did you submit color proofs?
- Did you examine your proofs for any potential problems?
- Have all bleeds and trims been accounted for and properly indicated on the proof?
Electronic Components
- Have you indicated what program and version you used?
- Are files compressed?
- Are all files named appropriately?
- Have all linked graphics been included on the disk?
- Have any of the links been broken by renaming the graphics?
- Are there any nested graphics files?
- Graphic's file format should be saved as .TIFF or .EPS
- Are line-art files scanned in at the highest PPI (Pixels Per Inch)?
- Are your grayscale or color images scanned in at too high or too low of a PPI? (These should be scanned in at no more than twice the target Line Screen)
- Have any graphics been reduced or enlarged in the page layout program? This could adversely affect the final output if the PPI is not adjusted to compensate for this.
- Have you converted TIFF files to EPS files when appropriate?
Fonts & Text Components
- Are all fonts Adobe Type One fonts? If not, are they properly identified? In all cases, check to see if you need to send the fonts.
- Be certain to list the names, manufacturer, and version number of all non-Adobe fonts listed. (Check to see if they will print.)
- Are all fonts used in your graphics listed?
- Have you included both screen and printer fonts?
- Have Bold or Italic text been created using the style command instead of the Bold or Italic fonts? If so, change them.
- Have outline or shadow type been created with the style command instead of creating in Freehand or Illustrator?
Color Considerations
- Have all colors been clearly and correctly defined?
- Have all RGB colors been converted to CMYK? (Is the separation button turned "On"?)
- Will any spot colors print as process colors? (Note: The color will probably change when you print spot color as a process color mix.)
- Does your job require any trapping?
- Has the trap been properly applied?
- Will the prepress provider apply traps?
Ten Tips for Trouble-Free Electronic Output
Before taking your files to the Prepress Department, it pays to take a little more time to setup your documents the right way. These the tips will save you both time and money.
- Contact Printing Spectrum's Prepress Department First
Time and plate waste can be prevented with a simple phone call. Your document may look great on your computer screen, but that doesn't mean it will meet the Prepress and Press requirements. - Make Your Document/Page Layout the Same Size as Your Printing Specs
With the latest technology you can set up your page to the exact size
and you don't have to worry about creating crop marks by hand. It is
recommended that you let your application generate correctly positioned
crop marks. - Use Numbers
Most graphic applications give you two ways to position and resize elements. One way is to click and drag or by using your guides and rulers. The best way is by typing the exact number into the control palette. In this way, you achieve the most accuracy in the placement and sizing of your page elements. - Simplify Your EPS Graphics
Complex PostScript files are a major factor in creating jobs that print incorrectly. Paths or outlines that have too many points or flatness settings that are too low can hang up many laser printers and image setters. Freehand and Illustrator can split complex paths or save your document with high flatness settings depending on the resolution at which you intend to output them. Also, when working with Photoshop to create paths or when tracing an image in Streamline, use a higher tolerance value and clipping path flatness. And try not to nest EPS/TIFF/PICT files within EPS files. For example, chances of successful printing are slim when you have many layers of PostScript files embedded within each other. Instead, composite the graphics together within one program, or in the case of graphics created by multiple programs, save each element as a separate file and compose them within your page layout program. - Using Fonts
Don't apply style commands - the so-called "Short Font Menus" - such as "Bold" or "Italic" to a typeface. Only use style and weight directly from the font menu. If you don't have Bold or Italic fonts when you apply the style command, your computer will fake it on the screen, and may even print it correctly on your LaserWriter, but they will not output correctly to a high-end imagesetter. Another very important trick to keep in mind is not to use small, thin serif typefaces in four color process or any reverse type situation. This helps you avoid misregistration and broken type problems. - Give Your Fonts to Prepress
It is necessary that you provide your Prepress service with the desired fonts you wish to use. You must send the files containing both the screen (bitmapped) fonts and printer (outline) fonts for the PostScript typefaces you've used. Most page layout applications allow you to print out a list of all graphics and fonts being used, which you can then use to copy the necessary components to a cartridge or floppy - Make Smooth Gradients
Gradients generated on QuarkXPress, Illustrator or Freehand are fine for short gradients in a few inches. It will result in banding if you try to create a full-page gradient due to the limitations of PostScript. To make a smooth gradient screen it is best to create a Photoshop blend and then add three pixels of noise under Noise Filter and import into another layout application. - Using Color Correctly
Convert all RGB colors to CMYK, or, if it is a spot color job, it should be converted to a monotone with the right colors chosen. Check that you don't have Pantone color incorrectly specified as process color, or vice versa. This simple mistake can ruin output film or create major work for your prepress provider. All graphics must have the same colors named in their originating program as you have defined in your page layout application. The latest version of QuarkXPress and InDesign read and update to the color list any EPS files you automatically import. - Preflight
Check for any omitted elements, improperly defined colors or PostScript errors. Printing Spectrum recommends FLIGHTCHECK® The Industry Standard Preflight Software. It will warn you of over 150 potential prepress problems easily and automatically. FLIGHTCHECK® verifies all of the files' elements - its colors, fonts and images - and assures they are all present and properly formatted for output. - Laser Prints
Make laser prints of everything to indicate color breaks. The files should be printed as a color separation so you can check for colors, incorrect breaks, missing graphics or colors that should be knocked-out or over-printed. Always give your Prepress Department something to visualize and refer to. You know what you want; always provide enough written instructions to assist the Prepress personnel to achieve your desired results.
There are a number of compelling reasons to assess utilizing PDF's in your production workflow.
- Properly configured PDF's will speed the throughput of your jobs.
- They will decrease the likelihood of file mistakes in production.
- They can streamline the proof/approval processes both internally and with our firm.
The term "properly configured" is important as issues of color space, resolution and "distiller" options are imperative to a clean PDF. The following document provides the guidelines for producing a valid PDF from Quark, Pagemaker, Illustrator and InDesign. It is our hope that these pages will provide you with the information necessary to start creating "good" PDF's.
