Questions to ask BEFORE you prepare the file
- Is your service
provider's hardware and software (including
versions) compatible with yours?
- Does the output
provided by the service provider meet your
needs?
- What different
types of media can the service provider support?
- What modem
protocols does the service provider support if
files are transmitted?
- What compression
programs does the service provider support?
- What font
libraries does the service provider support?
- Who will trap
the files?
- Should the file
be prepared as printer spreads or reader
spreads?
- What does the
service provider include in the base cost?
Responsibilities: File Originator (The Designer)
- Build the job in
the most efficient manner so that the service
provider can produce output that is accurate and
cost effective.
- Call before you
leap. Good service providers have specialists on
staff to answer desktop dilemmas as well as help
you to plan your job. Call often and ask
suppliers for their advice.
Send a test disk before full production begins.
- Be sure to note
process color or spot color. Ask yourself, "Have
I converted the file from RGB to CMYK?"
- Be sure that the
page layout is the correct size and an allowance
is made for bleeds.
- Establish crop
marks correctly from the page setup or
references. Do not place them manually.
- If the original
requires extreme cropping, ask the provider to
scan only the image area that you are using.
This saves storage space and processing time.
- Be sure to let
the service provider know if they are to provide
trapping.
- Identify the
graphic file formats (TIFF and/or EPS).
- Never change the
name of files.
- Limit resizing
of scanned images in Photoshop to 120 percent.
- In drawing
programs, limit anchor points to the smallest
number possible in order to minimize RIPping
problems.
- Do not use
"Style" menu for type styles (bold, italic,
etc.); use the actual font in the "Font" menu.
- Check all
spelling/layout before releasing job to service
provider.
- Always make a
backup file before sending media to service
provider.
- Include all
application and source files including EPS
files.
- Include screen
and printer fonts.
- Name all FPO
images for APR with the same names as the
scanned images.
- Remove any
extraneous versions or files from the disk that
do not pertain to the job being output.
- Supply the
following information: File names, applications
used, fonts used, directories, due date,
contact's phone number.
- Provide
composite proof of the file provided for output.
Retain a copy.
- For color jobs,
provide proofs of each individual color,
properly labeled. Retain a set.
Responsibilities: Service Provider (Printer/Color
Separator/Service Bureau)
- Be available to
file originator for any help in
building/planning job.
- Open job and
analyze (preflight/preview) as soon as possible
to ensure all data is provided for processing
the job.
- Completely
review each job with originator and assist with
the completion of the transmittal form. The job
cannot be started without the following
information:
Is the file
Mac or PC?
Is laser 100 percent or reduced?
Applications used/version number.
Process color or spot?
File Name.
- Is provider to
do trapping?
- Fonts noted.
- Composite or
loose color?
- Number of pages
and size of pages (bleed/trim).
- Film or Disk
Output?
- Who will
outline/create shadows?
- Low res/high
res?
- Single or
two-page film output (reader or printer
spreads)?
- Be sure to get
printer's specs (sheetfed or web, RRED/RREU,
negative or positive, L/S, density, etc.).
- Type of proof
desired (lasers, Rainbow, Iris, etc.).
- Establish a set
of procedures for promptly contacting the file
originator when problems are discovered.
- Establish norms
for RIPping times for various jobs as
benchmarks.
- The following
should be included in the basic costs:
Installing
fonts included with the job.
Setting up applications based on file
originator's supplied information.
Preflight file examination for obvious file
problems.
Final image output.
Proofing of file output.
Quality control to meet printing
requirements.
- These items are
not included in the basic cost:
Additional time
associated with jobs containing incomplete or
missing elements.
Creating proofs if not provided with file.
Trapping.
Scanning images not provided in file.
File editing, including conversion from RGB to CMYK.
File originator's alterations.
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