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PREFLIGHT
"Avoiding Costly Printout Problems Through Proper File Preparation"
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Foreword
Preflighting is not just a trend, it is a necessity. As we move into automated digital workflows, the need for
proper file preparation becomes more and more important. Also, consider that we want to embed a job ticket that automatically directs files through multiple program functions. Those files must be right the first time. This is a deceptively simple book in that it covers all of the basics of understanding and preparing files for responsible printout. But simple is good—if you follow the common sense and pragmatic advice of Peter Muir. This book is also written the way Peter teaches. It is fun and
meaningful, and always informative.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements iii
Intellectual Property iv
Foreword v
Author vi
Introduction 1
Purpose of this book 2
This book discusses 4
Chapter 1
Workflow
Workflow for conventional prepress and printing 5
Workflow for digital prepress and printing 8
Software ties it all together 11
Creative 11
Prepress 12
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 12
Chapter 2
Planning
Variables in document creation and digital prepress 13
The most important step 14
Establishing workflow and document standards 15
Defining expectations 16
Price 16
Quality 16
Turnaround time 17
Defining document responsibility 18
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 18
Chapter 3
Applications for Digital Prepress 19
Text 20
Bitmap image editing 21
Vector illustration 22
Page layout 24
Jack of all trades 25
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 26
Chapter 4
File Formats BMP 27
DCS(Desktop Color Separation) 27
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) 28
GIF(Graphics Interchange) 29
JPEG(Joint Photographic Expert 29
PDF(Portable Document Format 29
PICT 30
ScitexCT (Scitex ContinuousTone) 30
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) 30
Which one is the best? 31
Digital ads 32
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 32
Chapter 5
PostScript 33
When you press the "Print" button, what happens? 34
The 25 page period 36
Digital type 39
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 40
Chapter 6
Demystifying the Dot 41
SPI (Samples Per Inch) 44
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) 45
EPI (Elements Per Inch) and LPI (Lines Per Inch) 45
Wrapping up the demystification 47
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 48
Chapter 7
Fonts 49
Types of Type 51
Bitmap Fonts 51
ATM 52
Type1 54
Type 3 56
Multiple Master 56
TrueType 57
Font usage in documents 58
Don't locally stylize type 59
Convert type to outlines when possible/necessary 60
Don't rename fonts 61
Font license agreements 62
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 63
Chapter 8
Bitmap Images & Editing Programs 64
Issues with bitmaps 65
Quality of original 65
Quality of capturing device 65
1. Resolution 65
2. Bit depth 67
What is the difference two bits makes? 67
3. Density range 68
4. Dynamic range 70
RGB to CMYK 70
Be prepared! 71
RGB to CMYK-5 W's& How? 71
The quality of the operator 74
Resolution, munipulation & file size 74
Transfer curve embedding 76
Halftone screen embedding 76
Working with duotones & other tones 77
Understanding a process black 78
Don't forget about gray balance 79
Clipping paths 79
Clean up unused paths, layers, alpha channels 82
When saving bitmap files, which file format is best? 82
Open Prepress Interface 83
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 84
Chapter 9
Vector Illustrations & Programs 85
Issues with vector illustration programs and files 85
Basic construction 85
The path looks filled 86
Compound paths 86
Excessive grouping 87
Placed images 88
Masks 89
Text considerations 90
The difference between a blend and a gradient? 91
Gradients, patterns and plenty of PostScript 92
Banding 92
Fixing banding (the long way) 93
Fixing banding (the short way) 95
The moral of the banding story 95
Color considerations when using vector files 95
Clean up when you're done 96
Limit export area 96
Vector files have flatness too! 97
Getting all the details 98
Which file format to use? 100
Guidelines for efficient files and
preflighting 100
Chapter 10
Page Layout Applications 101
Issues with page layout applications 101
Correct file creation program for task at hand 101
Do not manipulate images 101
How thick is a hair? 104
Design with the end in mind 104
Add bleeds please 105
Color check 105
Use style sheets and delete unused ones 106
Look for more text to place symbols 107
Check text threads 108
Look for spaces and returns with unused font calls 108
Use text tools to help you 109
How much is auto leading? 109
Avoid white box cover up and clean the pasteboard 110
Delete unused pages 111
Make sure images butt against keyline 112
H&J's, tracking and kerning 112
Unlimited downloadable fonts 113
Larger print area 113
PageMaker 114
Do you have all the pieces and in the correct format? 114
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 116
Chapter 11
Proofing to Aid Preflight 117
Turn on separations and crop marks 118
Print 100% size 120
Remote proofing 124
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 124
Chapter 12
Collecting all the Pieces 125
Tools within page layout applications to help you 126
QuarkXPress 126
Adobe Pagemaker 127
Utilities can help report and sometimes collect 132
Other collection utilities 133
Markzware's Flight Check 133
Extensis' Collect Pro 138
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 142
Chapter 13
Electronic File Submission Forms 143
What's in the forms 144
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 146
Chapter 14
Defining Preflight Further 147
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 150
Chapter 15
Level 1 Inventory Preflight Hardcopy analysis 151
Platform 152
Submission method 152
Output requested 152
Specifications 152
Art to scan 152
Files submitted 152
Disk mountable 153
Appropriate file creation programs and version 153
Text 153
Page Layout 153
Bitmap Art 153
Vector Art 153
For each piece of art 153
Guidelines for efficient files
Chapter 16
Level 2 Technical
Efficiency Preflight 155
Examine proofs 156
Fonts 156
Page Layout Document Issues 157
Check page setup within page layout program 157
Color 158
Trapping 158
Images 159
General Page Layout 159
Placed Art 160
Vector 160
Bitmap 160
Results of the preflight 161
Recommendations for action 162
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 162
preflighting 154
Chapter 17
Preflight Applications 163
Here are some preflight packages 164
FlightCheck by Markzware 164
Preflight Pro by Extensis 173
Chapter 18
Troubleshooting
PostScript Errors 181
Troubleshooting PostScript Errors 182
Using the PS error message for Troubleshooting 185
PostScript error types 186
PostScript offending commands187
Isolating printing problems 189
Application-specific problems 189
File-specific problems 190
Element-specific problems 190
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 194
Chapter 19
Trapping and Imposition 195
Trapping 195
Imposition 196
What is imposition 197
What should the content creator do? 197
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 198
Chapter 20
Creating a Digital File
Submission Guide 199
What do you have? 199
What can you do with what you have? 200
Publish 200
If the variables change 200
Creating achievable expectations200
A digital file submission guide 200
Digital File Submission Guide
Part I Document Creation 201
Part II Preflight 201
Part III Output 201
Part IV Technical Considerations201
Part V Back Matter 201
Guidelines for efficient files and
Preflighting 202
Chapter 21
Content Creator Education 203
Customer education 203
When in doubt 204
Guidelines for efficient files and preflighting 204
Chapter 22
Conclusion 205
Resources 207
Key Terms 211
A Sample Report 221
From the Author 237
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