Optimizing Your Files | Preparing Your Files for Delivery

As you know, preparing files for print output is a complicated process with countless details to keep track of. Thanks to our many years of experience -- and some speedbumps along the way -- we have plenty of insights to share. Here are are a few. And check back again, because we'll keep adding new tips from time to time.

Also, feel free to contact us as you begin a new project. We may be able to make suggestions to streamline the process.

Optimizing Your Files ...

Design and Image Manipulation

If you plan to resize or rotate an image, do that in the design application. Using a layout program for that purpose will result in excessive RIP (Raster Image Processor) time -- which may increase costs.

Extend all bleed objects past the final trim by .125" -- not by more, unless there are special circumstances.

If a graphical element or text handle isn't intended to bleed, make sure it doesn't extend beyond the page edges. If it does, even by as little as .001", it may cause pagination problems.

Use tabs, rather than spaces, for alignment.

Avoid running heavy-percentage screens within solids of the same color.

If possible, use actual page numbers instead of program defaults.

Color Issues

Delete all unused colors from your document and its support files. (This applies both to PMS and process colors.)

If you are using spot color -- or a 5th or 6th color -- make sure the color palettes match exactly between layout, illustration and photo programs. For example, if you're using PMS 300 CV in Quark, use PMS 300 CV (not PMS 300 CVC) in Photoshop. Otherwise, Pantone colors will default to process screen builds.

Only 60 percent of all Pantone colors can be made accurately from process screen tints, so instead of using pure Pantone colors, choose screen values from a printer's color book or Pantone Process Color Simulator.

In most situations, both in illustration and in page layout programs, set black to overprint. There are exceptions, however, so you should run color-separated laser proofs to verify that you're getting the desired result.

Imported graphics will always knock out background colors, so you may want to add a small piece of background tint in your illustration or photo program, and make the object overprint.

Fonts & Rules

Always use the correct font, not font styles from the styles menu. This applies to outline style as well. (Font styles are often dropped by the imagesetter.)

To ensure readability, try to avoid using reverse type in tint areas less than 70 percent. Likewise, try not to overprint type on tints greater than 30 percent.

Make sure that reverse or light-colored type and rules have sufficient weight to allow for choking and spreading to multi-colored tint backgrounds. The fewer tints used, the better.

Avoid using hairline rules. It's hard to trap to them, since they're only .0035" thick. Hairline rules default to .5 point (.007") on a laser printer, and often produce undesirable results on film.

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Preparing Your Files for Delivery ...

Specify if any illustrations are FPO (For Position Only), either on the laser prints or on the illustration in the file itself.

If possible, send us a sample page for evaluation, before handing off the completed job.

Always send copies of your files -- never the originals

Print your company and job name on each disk, and number them sequentially (1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc.).

Try to avoid breaking files into small page quantities. One complete document is easier to handle, and can be compressed to fit on multiple disks for transport. If you must subdivide files, it's best to include page numbers in the file names.

When sending us your files for print, include:

All support graphics and EPS files, whether or not they're included in your layout program.

All raw illustration files, such as the files used to create EPS files.

Laser prints (composites and color separations) of the file supplied. When applicable, send color proofs or color-separated laser prints to show color breaks.

All printer and screen fonts used in the project.

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