How to Successfully Prepare Your Print Job
Minimum Scanner Settings
LINE ART (black & white artwork) - 600 dots per inch. If LINE ART images are to be resized, they must be 600 dpi after resizing to the final size that will be printed. In other words you cant scan in a 2 x 3 image at 600 dpi at 100% and later double its size to 4 x 6.
COLOR/GRAY SCALE - 300 dots per inch. When saving a gray scale image be sure any screen transfer options are turned off.
Use only CMYK images in your final file. We can convert RGB images but cannot guarentee color.
If CMYK or Gray Scale images are to be resized, they must be 300 dpi after resizing to the final size that will be printed. In other words you cant scan in a 2 x 3 photo at 300 dpi at 100% and later double its size to 4 x 6. INCREASING BOTH THE IMAGE SIZE AND IMAGE RESOLUTION CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT RESCANNING.
Images or photos taken off the internet are usually at 72 dpi and are unsuitable for printing
Fonts
Mac Postscript fonts: Include the font suitcase and the Postscript font portions of the typeface.
Mac TruType fonts: Only the font suitcase is necessary. Mac True Type fonts can be identified by opening the font suitcase and locating those with a triple - “A” icon.
Most Mac fonts are located in the Fonts folder within the System folder.
PC PostScript fonts: include the >PFB and >PFM portions of the typeface.
PC TrueType fonts: only the .ttf file is necessary.
Most window fonts are located in the windows/system/fonts folder or in the psfonts directory.
Fonts with the same name may be different from one manufacturer to another. Because of this we cannot substitute fonts, substituting a font that is not identical can affect line breaks and thus may change your layout. Supply all typefaces and styles i.e. swiss-bold, swiss-italic, swiss-bold italic.
Document Setup
The size of the final piece before folding should be the same as the document size listed under File: Document Setup. For example: a 4x6 postcard should be laid out on a 4x6 page - not an 8.5x11
Bleeds: Any bleed should extend off the page 1/8” (.125”).
Non-Bleed Items: Items not meant to bleed should remain 1/8” away from the edge of the page. Items not meant to bleed may include text, graphics, logos, images.
Linked Graphics: Please supply all graphic files listed under Files: Links... as well as any graphic which may have been placed or “nested” within them.
Trapping: We will apply all necessary traps to your document.
Colors
Remember that some PMS colors cannot be accurately matched from process colors. The most difficult colors to reproduce using CMYK are blues, oranges and metallics. Light background screens are also difficult to reproduce accurately on press.
Black solid backgrounds or color blocks are created using a new color specified as 100% Black, 60% Cyan, 50% Magenta, 40% Yellow. Do not use Registration Black as a background color. If using any background color that has less that 5% of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black, be aware that there will be a variation between proof and printed piece.
COLOR BUILDS:
For Pagemaker: all color fills, strokes and gradients must be converted to CMYK process. For each color listed under Element: Define Colors... select Edit Color: Type: Process.
For Quark: For each color listed under Edit: Colors... check the Process Separation box.
For Illustrator: File: Selection Info...: Spot Colors. Select all objects from the document that use spot colors and convert to CMYK process by selecting Filter: Colors: Adjust Colors.
For Freehand: For each color listed under Window: Color List... select Option: Make Process.
Because of differences in equipment, paper, inks, and other conditions between color proofing and production pressroom operations, a 5% variation of color between color proofs and the completed job is to be expected. When such a variation occurs, it will be considered acceptable performance.
Publisher Tips
Nudge Option: For control over the positioning of objects, select the object you need to move and use Alt+Arrowkey (up, down, right, left) and your object will move one pixel for each keystroke. Use Arrange-->Nudge to change the increment of movement.
Absolute Positioning: Go to Format-->Size & Position and use numerical values to position and size objects.
Grouping Elements: After you have a section of your layout positioned it is a good idea to select all the items (hold down the shift key and click on each one) and group them together using Arrange-->Group Objects or (Ctrl+Shift+G). This is especially useful if you will need to copy and paste the group to another page and you will have consistency throughout your layout.
Automatic Wrapping: Don’t press Enter (return) at the end of each line, just at the end of a paragraph. Simply type and let Publisher wrap the text automatically. If you need to make a line end shorter than a full line, use Shift-Enter.
Putting Items in the Background: Publisher uses foreground and background layers. Your work will go on the foreground by default unless you set it to be in the background. This is how to do it: choose View-->Go To Background.
Vector Files
Vector files are used primarily for logos, illustrations and other geometric graphics.
Vector based programs are: Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Aldus Freehand.
Vector files can be resized without loss of quality.
Vector illustration programs can incorporate raster information in their EPS files. For example a photograph placed into Adobe Illustrator.
Vector files that contain large amounts of paths, objects and gradient fills often will not print correctly.
Proofing
After you have copied everything to the Zip or CD, reopen the document from the Zip or CD. If you are missing fonts, a message will appear. Check the links in Pagemaker and the Picture and Font Utilities in Quark. This will save a lot of calls, time and expense in processing your job. Do not save Pagemaker files with graphics stored in publication. Link them outside publication. Organize your disk with 2 Folders: All fonts, All graphics & documents.
Finally print to your black and white or color laser printer with separations turned on to see if you can run four separate prints. Send copies with your disk.
If your laser printer can’t output four separate prints with all text and graphics in place, you may not have everything properly set to CMYK.
One free color proof is provided on all jobs, please review carefully as changes can occur. The proof will need to be signed and returned before printing can begin.
All our proofs are paper from a digital printer. We have found the colors to be extremely accurate, however if you want a press proof one can be provided for an extra charge of $200.00 per form. Keep in mind that the press proof is made from the final plates, so any changes after viewing the press proof will require new plates at an additional charge.
Proofs must be returned marked “O.K.” or “Revised Proof Required” and signed by the client. Until the proof is returned, no additional work can be performed. We will not be responsible for undetected production errors if:
• Proofs are waived by the client
• The work is printed per the client’s O.K.
• Requests for changes are communicated verbally
Requests for changes must be made in writing to avoid mistakes.
