Tips for Submitting a Print Project

May 19, 2009 by Brenda Bell
Filed under: Design, Educational, Preflighting, Prepress, Technology 

There are several simple guidelines that designers and file submitters can follow to avoid unnecessary prepress charges and project delays.

To ensure a file outputs correctly and consistently it is helpful to have the following:

  • The native art file (sometimes called layout file). This is the file that you would produce in a layout program such as Indesign or Quark.
  • All support files. A support file is anything brought into the layout program, such as an image. When you import a file (like an image), the layout program does not place the entire image; it only places a low-resolution preview and creates a link to the actual file. This means if the support file that is referenced in the layout file is not provided, we cannot output that image. Also be sure to update all of your links before submitting files for printing.
  • All fonts. Due to so many different variations and versions of fonts, it is best to have the font used to create the layout to ensure that your type does not re-flow and otherwise look different that intended. Also, it is worth noting not to use the italic and bold buttons within programs. Use the Italic and Bold versions of the actual font.
  • Lasers or a pdf of the file that you are sending us so we can have something to reference to ensure your file outputs the way you intended.

or….

  • A press quality pdf (such as a pdf built to the x1a-2001 standard) with bleeds

Providing us with all of the types of files is very easy these days with built in features in common layout applications. With the click of a mouse, these features will copy all the necessary files into a folder for you.

  • In Indesign this feature is called Package. Package is located under File > Package.
  • In Quark this feature is called Collect for Output. Collect is located under File > Collect for Output
  • In other programs such as Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw etc. the files linked in the layout program and the fonts will have to be tracked down and put in a folder manually.

Here are some other guidelines that will help your digital files not only become a printed reality, but look their best while staying on budget and on schedule.

  • Make sure all images are 250 – 300 dpi when placed at 100%
  • Make sure all images are converted to CMYK
  • Build files to final size and in reader’s spreads. This means if your intended product is 5×8, make the page size in your layout 5×8. If the project includes bleeds (where ink runs off the edge of the paper), extend your images or color 1/8 of an inch beyond the edge of the page where bleeds are intended. If your file is built in printer’s spreads, please inform us so that we can make sure your project is imposed properly.

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Comments

2 Comments on Tips for Submitting a Print Project

  1. What is bleed and why do I need it? | Craftsmen on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 12:42 pm

    2. [...] this mean to you as a designer? This means that, unlike your web projects, on your print projects you need to plan for bleed in your file when placing images and creating graphics by making sure you…. Indesign and Quark make planning for bleed easy by either setting your bleed margins or dragging [...]

  2. Zipping your files | Craftsmen on Fri, 7th Aug 2009 6:56 pm

    3. [...] you have finished your artwork, collected your files for output and need to send them over the internet to us to produce. You could just attach them to an email [...]

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