PREPRESS SERVICES
What Is Prepress?
Prepress is the process of preparing digital files for printing. As part of this process, we thoroughly review and prepare every file to perfectly align with your desired printing substrate.
Our prepress workflow ensures that your projects meet the highest quality standards by carefully “preflighting” each file.
Preflighting involves reviewing design files to identify and correct potential issues, such as low-resolution images, incorrect color definitions, missing bleeds on elements that meet the edge of the page, and much more.
We evaluate your PDFs or native design files to confirm they meet optimal printing standards. This includes examining the files for any missing elements and ensuring the specifications match your order before outputting optimized PDFs for printing.
To streamline this process, we use cutting-edge Adobe and Pitstop tools to analyze the files and generate the workflow PDFs. Once preflighting is complete, we address any small issues or contact the client to discuss solutions for larger problems.
In addition, TrueFlow and Equios Preform workflows guarantee the highest quality in every printing job. These time-tested software systems receive regular updates to provide the most innovative tools in print reproduction technologies. For example, TrueFlow utilizes the Adobe Print Engine to seamlessly handle advanced features such as native transparency in the latest design programs.
By following our rigorous prepress processes, we ensure your files are optimized for the best possible results with your end users.
Preflight & File Preperation
It is always a good idea to perform a final spell check and proofread – things get by the best of us! We recommend printing out a hard copy as well. It is often easier to proof, and it can be included with the job, so we have a reference for output. A PDF is also a good idea to send with the files.
The leading layout programs have utilities built right in to collect or package your files to go. They will also alert you of many potential problems. Before collecting your files, we recommend the following:
- Remove any extra/unused colors from your swatch palettes. Confirm the remaining colors are what you intend to use, and you define them properly for the type of print job.
- Include all file links. Links are not broken by renaming graphics after placement. There are no nested files. For example: you place a photo in an Illustrator eps, then you place the eps in InDesign – the program will omit the photo in this case.
- Scan line art at the appropriate DPI, we recommend 1200 dpi. Scan grayscale and color art at the appropriate DPI, we recommend 400 dpi. Check to ensure that the DPI for enlarged or reduced graphics has been accounted for.
- There are no ‘hairlines’ or rules less than .25 points in thickness.
- Bleeds have been extended past the page edges at least .125”.
- Check your color separations if possible. This is quite easy with InDesign as it has a Separation Preview palette to let you see what colors are used where. In Quark, you currently must print out your separations to check them or make a PDF that can be viewed as separations in Acrobat.
- Supply both screen and printer fonts for Type 1 postscript fonts.
- TrueType or OpenType fonts are acceptable.
- Format bold or italic text using the font menu and NOT the style menu.
- Define colors clearly and correctly for the type of print job you are doing. A common problem is importing type from Word or another text editor that is RGB ‘black’ or Auto. This text color appears black on screen but actually separates to CMYK as a very dark muddy brown. It is best to make sure black type is exactly that – 100% black only.
- Provide images in CMYK for process color printing. Provide black and white images as Grayscale.
- Define spot colors as Pantone colors for spot color printing, not process or RGB colors.
- Discuss color concerns, if any, with prepress.
Color Management
R.C. Brayshaw & Company is proud to be a certified G7 Master printer. We calibrate both our presses and proofers to the most current G7 specifications and methodology, ensuring precise color reproduction. Additionally, our equipment undergoes regular maintenance to maintain strict adherence to the G7 standard.
For coated print projects, we highly recommend using the GRACol ICC profile with your publishing and image software. This will ensure accurate CMYK color conversion and enhance the quality of your prints. On the other hand, for uncoated print projects, we offer our own ICC profile, which we can provide for installation into your system. This will help guarantee optimal results across your entire project.
File Transfers
On our website, within the customer tools section, you’ll find our convenient file transfer system, which offers a fast and easy way to upload your files. To start, simply select your Consultant or Customer Service Representative from the list, fill out the form with your contact details, and browse to your file for selection.
For optimal results, we strongly recommend compressing your file into a single ZIP or Stuffit archive. This not only helps protect your file but also reduces its upload size. Once the upload is complete, your contact will receive an immediate email notification with your files attached. Meanwhile, you’ll also receive an email confirming that your file transfer was successful.
In addition, we offer an FTP server which is accessible via any standard FTP program or via many web browsers. For security purposes, you must compress files sent via FTP in either Stuffit or ZIP format before sending. After uploading, please contact us with the EXACT filename(s) so we can verify your submission.
For added flexibility, we also allow guest access and can create separate accounts for users. Contact your customer service representative to receive the necessary connection information.
Additionally, we accept file transfers via WeTransfer or Dropbox for your convenience.
Software
You can always rely on us to support the latest versions of all the preferred design software programs, including the Creative Cloud suite with Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, QuarkXPress, and Microsoft Publisher.
In addition, we work with a wide range of other applications, such as Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia FreeHand, Adobe FrameMaker, Apple Pages, CorelDraw, Corel WordPerfect, and Microsoft Word.
If your project involves any of these applications, feel free to contact us for expert tips on preparing your files for commercial printing. We can also guide you on how to create Adobe Acrobat PDF files for output from these programs.
Scanning
While the introduction of digital photography is changing the way we capture images, there are still times when scanning traditional originals is necessary. We offer scanning services for flat originals up to 13 x 18 inches using our large flatbed scanner, as well as for smaller originals, such as slides and transparencies.