PREPRESS CHECKLIST FOR ALL OUTPUT JOBS:
USE THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR THE JOB:
Use QuarkXpress or InDesign for laying out pages. This is especially important on multi-page jobs. Using drawing programs like FreeHand, Illustrator, or Corel Draw to lay out pages with photographs and columns of text is NOT reccommended. These programs often take lots of extra time to output files and can cost extra for the additional time needed to produce the job. They also tend to grow VERY large and are hard to manage.
The same is true for PhotoShop. Now with the addition of vectored text in PhotoShop, we are seeing a lot of files where the entire page is created in PhotoShop. Although this works, vectored text pages are considerably larger than they would be if done in a page layout program with the photos proplerly placed. As a result, output times increase.
Using these programs for single page ads is fine. Sometimes complicated die-cut or tri-fold brochures are difficult to do in the normal page layout programs and are easier to produce with Illustrator, but most jobs are better off being done in a page layout program.
We have seen jobs that were estimated for 3-4 hours of output time jump to 8-10 hours or more because the job was done in PhotoShop or a drawing program. Also, the number of problems increase with these programs and changes or corrections can take longer to do.
Multi-Page Freehand or Corel Draw files take an extra long time to produce. All files created in these programs should be saved as an .eps and placed in a page layout program for output.
If doing an entire job in a drawing program or PhotoShop, make sure the job is estimated that way to account for the extra time needed to produce the job. If not, you will likely get additional charges.
PHOTOGRAPHS/IMAGES:
• Should be 300 dpi resolution at 100% size.
• Images that are to be enlarged need to either be scanned at the correct size or need greater than 300 dpi resolution.
• Color images should be in CMYK color format. Not RGB.
• Grey Scale images should be in Grey Scale format. Not RGB.
• Pure Black & White images should be bitmap B&W images and saved as TIFF or EPS.
• Bitmap B&W images should be at least 600 dpi at 100% size. Preferred to be 800 to 1200 dpi.
• Images should be saved as EPS, TIFF or JPG file formats only. (Not WMF, WBM, or any other format!)
• If the document is to be printed black & white or with spot colors, photos should be converted to greyscale.
• Do not "over-res" images. In other words, don't use a 500 dpi color image at 100% size. You will only have a huge file that will give no greater quality.
• Do not create or edit clipping paths within QuarkXpress. Create all clipping paths in PhotoShop and save the image as EPS.
• If creating a duotone, do not use "flat" curves. We recommend that you use a reference like the Pantone Duotone Guide.
• Do not create silhouettes by "deleting" to a white background unless you intend to place the image on a pure white background within your page layout program. You must use a clipping path for this.
• Keep clipping paths simple. Make sure that the path is placed at least 2 pixels WITHIN the colored area of your image to prevent edge halos.
• Do not use the STYLE menu to edit ANY images in Quark.
PLACING PHOTOGRAPHS/IMAGES IN PAGE LAYOUT PROGRAMS:
• Please provide all images separately, even if they are embedded in the final file. This helps us greatly if there are any printing problems.
• Do not embed graphics into any program. When placing graphics in PageMaker, always choose "NO" when asked "...Include complete copy in the publication...". Choosing YES causes PageMaker to embed the graphic in the document. All graphics need to be sent separately.
• If placing images in Corel Draw, FreeHand or Adobe Illustrator documents, those images are embedded automatically. Be sure to send us each image separately so, if needed, we can make changes and corrections to your documents.
• Never COPY and PASTE images from any program into your page layout program.
• Make sure you fill picture boxes with "White" when importing TIFF files into Quark Xpress. Do not fill the picture box with "NONE". Doing so will cause jagged edges.
• Do not reduce images more than 30% if possible. This causes the file to take longer to output and can cause some images to lose quality.
• Always keep in mind what happens to the resolution when enlarging or reducing images. A 300 dpi image enlarged 200% becomes a 150 dpi image. The same image reduced 50% becomes a 600 dpi image.
• Placing images that are way too large and reducing them (50% or less) may result in extended processing times and extra fees. It is especially important to place images at 100% size at 300 dpi when the images are repeated multiple times on the same page or on multiple pages.
• Rotating Images is OK to do in most cases. Images with lots of detail will sometimes lose quality when rotated in a page layout program. If you are concerned about this, rotate in PhotoShop.
• Do not save multi-layered .tif files. Tiff files must have a single layer (be flattened) and should have no extra alpha channels. If you need extra channels, the file should be a DCS/EPS file.
• Transparencies in Illustrator and Freehand will need the Raster Effects Setting to High Quality, and saved as an EPS with High Resloution selected.
• In-Design users can achieve transparency by placing a native PhotoShop file with transparency. Although this works, use with extreme caution. This method has been known to cause serious problems and delays if used inappropriately or excessively.
• Transparencies in any program need to be set to at least 300 dpi for the Transparency Flattening Resolution.
SUBMITTING FILES:
Please provide multiple page documents in single pages or reader spreads, not printer spreads. Multiple page document files should be built in Quark or InDesign.
FONTS:
ALL fonts used should be sent in on a disk with the rest of the job. Failure to do so will result in delays and possibly extra charges.
Type 1 fonts: Are preferred because they cause the fewest problems on both PC and Mac.
TrueType fonts: Although we accept them, they are known to occasionally cause output problems. We recommend avoiding TrueType fonts.
OpenType Fonts: This is a new font type. So far we have seen no problems with OpenType fonts, however, it is a new format and some problems may still show up in the future.
Bitmap Fonts: NOT usable- these are some of the standard fonts with windows.
OSX .dfonts: Macintosh OSX introduced a new font type called .dfont. Currently we do not support these fonts since they only operate in OSX. Due to compatibility issues, we do not currently use OSX for any production work. We will substitute any .dfont with the corresponding postscript font.
Keyboard commands for BOLD, ITALIC, and BOLD ITALIC, Although most any font can be made to appear bold or italic on the screen and even on your printer, the only way to guarantee that the fonts will operate properly when output to film is to choose the font from the font menu. Choosing BOLD, ITALIC, OR BOLD ITALIC from the STYLE menu in any program may result in bad proofs and wasted money!
• Avoid "cheap" fonts. Use Fonts from reputable companies. You often get what you pay for with fonts. Many cheap fonts do not handle letter spacing properly and may not print at all on the Imagesetter. (Even if it printed fine on a laser)
• Avoid Multiple Master Fonts from Adobe.
• NOTE: Font problems are the MOST COMMON causes of delays and problems with a job!
BLEED:
Any element that extends to the final trim edge needs bleed extended to at least .125" (1/8"). Do not include the bleed when setting up your document size. Bleed should be opened up past the edge of the document. All live matter needs to be at least 3/8" from the trim.
TRAPPING:
Do not trap any files, Weatherall Printing has software that will insure trapping at its best.
PROCESS COLOR JOBS:
If your job is printing in CMYK, be sure to convert any Spot Colors to process. This is especially important in illustration programs such as Illustrator and Freehand. You should not have any spot colors in any of your files UNLESS they are actually printing a spot color ink. Never use RGB, HSL or any other non standard color models. Delete any unused colors.
SPOT COLOR JOBS:
On jobs that will be printing on the press with several specific 'spot' colors, we ask that you specify these colors using a PANTONE CODED model. All linked images / text / colors in your document MUST be assigned one of the Pantone colors (or black) chosen for your job for it to separate correctly. Anything in your files / images left as CMYK or RGB will not print the way we need for it to run on the press. Sorry, Microsoft Word files will not separate.
NAMING FILES:
Name your files logically. Limit your file names to as few characters as possible. Leading and trailing spaces should not be used. Never name two files or images the same, even if they are on different pages. Never put (slashes /) in file names.
PRINTED PROOF:
We ask that you always include a printed copy of your job with your files, so we can have a way to make sure everything looks as you intended it.
FTP INFORMATION:
If you have high-speed Internet access, you may choose to upload jobs to our FTP site using software such as Fetch for the Mac, or Cute FTP for the PC. Start by requesting an account using our FTP request form. We will respond with the following information:
FTP HOST: ftp.weatherallprinting.com
USERNAME: will be assigned
PASSWORD: will be assigned
DIRECTORY/FOLDER: will be assigned
We must be notified when a file is sent and complete. All files MUST be Stuffed/Zipped, if they are Mac files please use (.sitx). The FTP site may be used to transmit full jobs, corrections, fonts, images or any other files needed for a project. Any correction files sent in via FTP for jobs already in progress will not be processed until the correction stage. Direct digital file transfer cannot be used to extend the deadline on receiving jobs unless prior approval has been given.
ARCHIVES:
We can archive your job to CD-ROM or DVD to return to you after it is complete. This will insure you will have all the latest changes and corrections that may have been done during the production process. Please request this service before we begin production on your job. The charge for this service depends on the size of the job.
As a convenience, we archive all jobs after they have been printed. However, every type of media has a certain percentage of failure and there is no guarantee of file integrity of archives. We do NOT guarantee that we will have copies of files in our archives and are not responsible for data integrity of stored files.
Retrieval of files from archives for reprints is a free service. There is a fee for retrieving files to be re-archived to disk to be sent to customers. The fee depends on the size of the job.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Be sure to let us know of any special instructions necessary to the completion of the job (numbering, diecuts, embossing, padding, perforations, carbonless paper, etc.).
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
Don't be afraid to call us and ask if you have any questions! We are here to help you! Thank you in advance for your help in following this list of guidelines to make all jobs run as smoothly as possible!
For additional information, please call: (662) 842-5284, 800-273-6043 and ask for Jeff Senter x229 or email jeff@weatherallprinting.com
|
