Convert to PDF 3 Share the Responsibilities 3 Manipulate Images Prior to Importing 4 Invest in Preflighting Software 4 Convert RGB to CMYK 5 Include

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2 Convert to PDF 3 Share the Responsibilities 3 Manipulate Images Prior to Importing 4 Invest in Preflighting Software 4 Convert RGB to CMYK 5 Include Fonts Don t Subset 5 Consider a Collaborative Workflow 7 Handle Transparency With Care 7 Check Your Image Resolution 8 Investigate Online Proofing 8 Include All Images 9 Use File Naming Best Practices 9 Set Correct Trims and Bleeds 9 Send Only the Files You Want to Print 10 Create Files Using Actual Page Size 10 Stuff Those FTP Files 10

3 Convert to PDF PDF is clearly the defacto standard of the graphic arts and all of the major workflow systems are PDF based. PDF files are compact, dependable and secure. They are platform independent and can be opened by anyone, anywhere in the world with free Adobe Reader software. Get your PDF skills up to speed and convert your workflow today. For best results, contact your printer for their preferred settings. Share the Responsibilities The trend today is for customers and printers to share premedia responsibilities. You don t want to take on more than you can handle, but you ll also miss out on some of the savings opportunities if you don t learn to do some basic tasks like creating PDFs that work or being able to keep your monitors and proofers color calibrated. 3

4 Manipulate and Size Images Prior to Importing Page layout programs are not the place to perform image manipulation or sizing. Use Photoshop or Illustrator, then import the file to avoid excessive memory consumption and potential output problems. Invest in Preflighting Software Virtually every printer is going to preflight your files upon receipt, but you can save yourself a lot of time, headaches and potential expense by sending the files correctly the first time. Studies show that nearly half of all supplied files have problems, so the odds are that some of your files aren t perfect either. Another good practice is to send a test file so that you can make sure you are complying with the printer s requirements. 4

5 Convert RGB to CMYK You will have more control over the appearance of your printed materials if you convert images from RGB to CMYK before sending them to the printer. RGB has a broader color gamut than CMYK, so you could be seeing colors that are not possible to match in CMYK. Plus, you can do any tweaking to your liking. Additional tips include: Make sure RGB is converted to correct colorspace, either grayscale, CMYK or spot color. Convert CMYK to either grayscale or the appropriate spot color if the job will be printing black plus one color. Send only spot colors that you intend for the final output. Be sure to eliminate colors you were evaluating in the design process. For spot colors in CMYK projects, convert to CMYK in native files before releasing or converting to a PDF file. 5 Include Fonts Don t Subset Missing fonts are the number one file problem. With all the versions that exist of the same typeface, it s common that your printer will not be able to make font substitutions to fix errors. Using the wrong font can result in a different appearance or a complete text reflow.

6 The Way We Were To appreciate the digital age requires some recognition of the past. For those of you who only know the Mary Tyler Moore Show from reruns, here is how designers likely in bell-bottom pants and listening to the Bee Gees created ad files back in the day: Drew thumbnail sketches and then created marker comps Marked up writer s typewritten copy with typesetting specs Received galley proofs back from the type house Created mechanicals complete with keylines, pasted down type, cut Rubylith or Amberlith masking film to indicate photo placement and color fields, and a tissue overlay to indicate color breaks Printers shot line art and photographs with giant graphic arts cameras, created screen tints and then stripped all the pieces of film into a flat for each color Flats were made into a composite piece of film for each color and paper-based proofs were then generated from the film sometimes actual press proofs for high-end work Color corrections meant you essentially started the process over for any piece of composite film impacted When approved, plates were burnt from the composite film

7 Consider a Collaborative Workflow Collaborative workflows are ideal for catalogers with a lot of repetitive work. These unified systems automate previously manual steps and deliver the ultimate in premedia speed, accuracy and efficiency. Generally the only requirements are a shared responsibility in the production process and a Web-enabled computer to be able to track job activity, proof projects online, collaborate with customer service and prepress staff, submit changes and approve work from any location, anytime. Handle Transparency With Care Transparency creates special effects such as drop shadows, feathering, blends and layered see-through artwork. It simulates how objects in artwork show-through when they overlap. Ensure your raster and transparency settings are set to high resolution. A final tip is to be certain you arrange type on the uppermost layer. 7

8 Check Your Image Resolution The best bet for keeping files from getting unwieldy is to use dpi that is times the actual linescreen used when printing. This will vary by printer as well as by the print production method and paper being used. But a good default standard is dpi. Investigate Online Proofing Systems are getting better everyday, and there are real time and cost savings when you consider the materials and courier trips involved in traditional proofing scenarios. You ll gain greater flexibility in dealing with late closing pages or last minute changes, plus the ability to access and monitor projects at any time, from any location using only a standard Web browser. 8

9 Include All Images It sounds like a no-brainer, but like missing fonts, failure to include one or more images happens more frequently than designers would like to think. Like anything that causes a file to be incomplete, the result can be costly delays. Use File Naming Best Practices Clarity helps everyone throughout the entire production process. Use these best practices for naming files and images: File names should be kept short 30 characters or fewer recommended. File names should be as meaningful as possible. Include a recognizable form of company name and avoid purely generic file names such as spring catalog. Files should be labeled with the correct extension.tif or.eps for Photoshop,.indd for InDesign,.qxd for QuarkXPress,.ai or.eps for Illustrator and.pdf for PDF. Indicate the software version used in preparing the file. File names should be in lowercase. File names should never start or end with a space or special characters. 9 Set Correct Trims and Bleeds Be certain to set your pages to the correct trim size. Most printers will request 1 / 8 " or 1 / 4 " margins, 1 / 8 " or 1 / 4 " bleeds and tic marks offset with 5 / 8 " margin or more if your catalog drills. Check with your printer for exact specifications.

10 Send Only the Files You Want to Print Duplicate files or last year s catalog only lend confusion. Send only the files that you intend to print. Create Files Using Actual Page Size Many workflow systems work with pages, not spreads, so create your document using pages. For example, if your brochure is 8½ x 11, then your page set up for your file will also be 8½ x 11 (not 17 x 11 spreads). Additionally, any bleeds will extend into the gutter and stop exactly on the gutter margin. 10 Stuff Those FTP Files You should then use file compression software to reduce file size and speed transmission. PC users should zip their files using WinZip and Mac users should stuff their files using StuffIt. Both software programs must be purchased, but there are also freeware/shareware versions of each. Here s where you can access the software: WinZip: Freeware/shareware: StuffIt: stuffitstandard/index.html Freeware/shareware: es/~spd/bzip2

11 Use Ripon Printers Ripon Printers provides a wide range of services coupled with an industry-leading customer education program. Inquire about Premedia Digital prepress Automated page production Collaborative workflow Soft proofing Printing Web heatset Web coldset Sheetfed Digital Bindery Folding Saddle stitching Perfect binding Layflat binding PUR binding Tipping Dot whacking Mailing & Inkjet Imaging Postal consultation CASS-certified list processing Inside, outside & thumb-edge inkjet imaging Addressing & coding CoMail Fulfillment & Distribution Internet-based fulfillment Real-time reporting Cost-efficient shipping 11 Contact your Ripon Printers representative today, or send an inquiry to sales@riponprinters.com.

12 Ripon Printers 656 S. Douglas St. P.O. Box 6 Ripon, WI toll free phone fax