Pre-press checklist for print
Guide to the main considerations when preparing print files for a worry-free print job.
A Digital Print File Checklist For Handing Over To Your Printer
Despite the huge and varied technological advances that have been made in both computer and print technology, our experience at Fineprint is that issues still remain at the pre-press stage that get in the way of a trouble-free print job.
It’s important to bear in mind that the commercial print process is much more complex than the typical small office/home office print environment and needs to be treated very differently.
Happily, ‘glitches’ during the pre-press stage are very rare and are usually very easy to rectify. But while totally eliminating all problems during the handover of digital files to a printer may be a tall order, it’s possible to reduce much of the risk by carrying out a few simple checks that will help your printer enormously during the pre-press process.
Documenting the appropriate items from the list below and providing that information to your printer will be of huge benefit and help create a successful outcome for everyone involved.
Select and supply the following information:
- Platform: Macintosh / PC
- Transfer Method: CD/DVD / FTP / e-mail attachment / other
- Software Used: Quark XPress / Adobe Illustrator / Adobe InDesign / MS Publisher / MS Word / Freehand / Other
- File saved as: Postscript / PDF (Portable Document Format) / Native format
- Fonts: Fonts on disk / List fonts used
- Images: EPS and/or TIF / Scanning required from:
- Photo original(s)
- Promotional Items
- Desk pads, Jotters, Menus, Tickets, Invitations and Postcards
- 35mm slide
- File Information: Filename(s) to output. (Specify)
- Bleed: Do any images extend to the edge of the sheet?
- Colour: Process colour (CMYK) / Spot colour(s). (List those used)
- Proofing:
- Colour-separated laser proofs
- Composite laser proofs
- Black & white laser proofs
- Colour laser proofs
- Composite proofs
- Friendly advice to help you get it right... every time!
If you have any questions or doubts concerning the preparation of your print job for pre-press, don’t hesitate to contact Fineprint who’ll be able to help you with most aspects of creating digital print files in ‘plain English’.
Alternatively, if you prefer to telephone, call us on 01256 814 144.
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