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Before
Introduction
the advent of desktop technologies, the graphic arts
industry consisted of a range of highly specialized
jobs. Designers concentrated on design, typesetters set type
and printers and color separators handled the typical prepress
responsibilities. Then desktop entered the picture and changed
the way in which design and production were handled.
As a result, many of the more technical aspects of prepress that
were formerly handed off to specialized tradespeople have become
the responsibility of the designer. Designers must now address the
specifics of the prepress process and are required to fully understand
the new technologies. Without technical understanding, the designer
is disadvantaged when it comes to making informed decisions on
project cost, schedule, and quality. In today’s highly competitive
marketplace, a total understanding can make the difference between
success and failure.
Gerald Printing has been a leader among printers by recognizing the
shift in methodology and embracing the new technology. We have
a firm commitment to the graphic design community to provide an
interface for the latest desktop techniques. By offering leadership
and guidance, we can assist designers who have embarked on
making the transition.
one
The purpose of this brochure is to explain step-by-step how to submit a
desktop file for printing and what kind of work flow can be expected. Our goal
is to provide an overview which will enable a smooth flowing and organized
printing experience. By synchronizing our efforts, we can expect the same
high quality results that have been the Gerald Printing trademark.
No doubt, desktop processes can save time and money by offering a greater
control over your project. However, by taking more control of the project,
the designer also accepts a greater responsibility for the outcome. Making
uninformed decisions can result in unacceptable results. Much can be done
by the printer to correct an improperly conceived and executed project, but
doing so may offset any time or dollar savings the desktop process might
have been able to provide.
The key to success is in working closely with us and providing files that are
created in compliance with our standardized specifications.
At Gerald Printing, we are constantly perfecting
our methods as technology changes.
Any requests that are made of the
designer to provide files in a
prescribed manner are due
to a proven success rate
in our production
methods.
two
Acceptable Software
Gerald Printing can accept files from the following programs:
MACINTOSH
Adobe Illustrator®
Adobe InDesign®
Adobe PageMaker®
Adobe Photoshop®
Macromedia Freehand®
QuarkXpress®
WINDOWS
Adobe PageMaker®
Microsoft Publisher®
Microsoft Word®
Another way we can accept files is a Portable Document File (PDF). This file
is created by Adobe Acrobat®. The PDF is quickly becoming a standard for
output services since it can reduce pre-flighting and increase the speed of
output.
If your software is not on this list,
please call us for other possibilities.
three
Document Layout
Your document should be set up in your layout program in single pages.
On books, it is suggested to always use page numbers when possible to
avoid problems with page misplacement. The Prepress Department will
put your job into the necessary printers spreads for efficient printing.
Helpful tip...
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If you are sending a PDF file, be sure that
it includes the bleed on all edges. We can
not add a bleed to your PDF file.
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If your design calls for an image or text to extend to the edge of the paper,
you should extend (bleed) the image 1/8” past the trim edge of the paper.
This is included as a margin of error - to
ensure the image will extend to the edge of
the paper even after the paper is trimmed.
Document Size - 5x5
1/8 inch bleed
Try to keep your text at least 1/4” away from the trim edge of the paper.
This ensures that all your text should appear on your document even
after it is trimmed.
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Image Guidelines
Gerald Printing supports the following graphic file formats:
Tiff1, EPS, JPG and PDF2.
Full color or grayscale (halftone) Tiffs should be 300 dpi or greater and line art Tiffs at 600
dpi or greater.
2
PDF files should have all fonts embedded. PDF files created by other means may not work
properly.
1
Tiffs should be used for process color or grayscale images only. EPS files
should be used for jobs that require spot colors. JPG (JPEG), GIF, and BMP
files are designed for display and are usually not suitable for reproduction.
Images downloaded or copied from the web are not generally meant to
be printed and will appear with fuzzy or choppy edges. Remember, what
looks crisp and clear on screen may not print that way!
For the best results, scan photographs at 300 dpi at the approximate size
it will be used. If needed, images may be resized up to 120%. Keep in mind
that enlarging images more than 120% may result in poor quality. Black
and white line art should be scanned at 600 dpi.
Using digital photos in printed materials has become the new technology
standard. When taking pictures with a 3 - 5 Megapixel digital camera, be
sure to use the highest quality setting. Many images taken with lower
settings are not suitable to use when creating high-quality printed pieces.
On cameras with higher megapixel capabilities strive for at least 1200 x
1800 pixels (for a 4x6 image), 1500 x 2100 pixels (for a 5x7) and 2400 x
3000 pixels (for an 8x10).
five
Colors Standards
Full color images should be saved as CMYK. Be aware that digital photos
and most scanned images will begin as RGB and will have to be converted.
RGB images may have a color shift when printed.
Be sure all colors that are supposed to process out into four colors are
designated as process colors, not spot colors. If your job requires using
spot colors, you must use Pantone colors. Talk to your Sales or Customer
Service Representative if you have any questions on custom ink colors.
Please note that the names of colors are very important. For example, if
your quote calls for your job to be a two color job of black and PMS 186,
but your document uses black and
three different versions of red (red,
Pantone Red, Pantone 186 C),
we would now consider this a
4-color job. When the Prepress
Department sends your job to
proof or to plate, our RIP* will
treat it as 4-colors, not just
black and red.
*See page 10 for information about the RIP and computer to plate process.
six
Trapping
Be sure to use only the necessary colors in your document. It will not only
help ensure a correct finished piece, but help with a faster turnaround time
as well!
When two colors print side by side, trapping is usually required. Trapping
simply takes the lighter color and expands it so that slight variations
in the press or paper will not cause the paper to show through due to
misregistration.
Trapping
If you use page layout software, be sure to turn all trapping off. Our RIP
has trapping software that will take care of most trapping issues. Any
trapping your software adds may cause conflict with this process.
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Sending a\File
We can accept files on CD, DVD, 100 MB Zip Disk,
250 MB Zip Disk, jump drives or jobs may be
uploaded through our website at geraldprinting.
com. The preferred method of submission is to
upload the electronic file through our website
at geraldprinting.com. The website is quick
and because we have a powerful T-1 line and a
file upload site, 100MB of data can be received
in one transmittal. The file will be reviewed
carefully (preflighted) by a Prepress Operator and the customer will be
given the option of fixing any significant problems.
To ensure that we receive all necessary files, it is suggested to use the page
layout program’s internal method of gathering files. They are as follows:
• Quark XPress — Collect for Output
• Pagemaker — Save for Service Provider
• InDesign — Package
• Publisher — Pack and Go
If you choose not to use this method, we ask that you package all files into
three necessary folders: fonts, links and layout.
Because fonts vary between computers, you can not assume that the fonts
on your computer are the same as on your print provider’s computer...even
if they have the same name. To be sure that your document is correctly
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reproduced, make sure you supply all the fonts used in your document,
including any used in EPS graphic files. Postscript, Type 1, True Type and
OpenType fonts can be accepted. Be sure to include both the screen font
and printer font for Postscript fonts.
Be sure to include all artwork and photos, or links, when packaging your
files. If you have created a file in Photoshop, be sure to include the PSD
with layers as well as the Tiff file in case you request us to make any
changes to your file. Do not embed images into your file.
When a job is submitted to Gerald Printing, whether via disk, internet, or
personal visit, it is very important that a hard copy is supplied. If the file
is sent via the internet, a hard copy should be faxed to us or include a PDF
in your upload labeled “example”.
A print out is necessary for several reasons. Just because it prints a certain
way from your computer does not mean it will print that way after the file
is ripped. Also, colors may vary from printer to printer. We need to see how
you think the colors should look.
Copyrights
You are responsible for ensuring that all copyrights have been acquired for
your work.
nine
Proofing
After receiving your files, a proof will be generated and submitted to you
for approval. The proof may be sent online, mailed, faxed or provided in
person. A hard copy proof is preferred for critical color projects.
Our Prepress Department generates a hard-copy proof by printing your
file to our Raster Image Processor (RIP) which converts PostScript page
description language to actual pixels. It’s kind of like converting a precise
description of a drawing or painting to the real image itself.
These pixels are much like the spaces in a window screen, but much finer.
There are 2540 pixels per linear inch, that’s about 6.5 million in a square
inch. Each one of these pixels has a value which corresponds to the amount
of ink, or inks that will be printed on a sheet of paper in that area.
This file is then used to output a proof to one of our Epson Stylus Pro
plotters. If you approve the resulting “contract proof,” the same file is used
to generate a digital metal printing plate. Using the same base file ensures
that the same thing that appeared on the proof will appear on the plate.
Because of differences in equipment, paper, inks and other conditions
between color proofing and production pressroom operations, a minor
variation in color is to be expected. When a variation of this kind occurs, it
will be considered acceptable performance.
Proofing is the responsibility of the customer. Proofs should be legibly
ten
marked if any corrections in positioning, spelling, punctuation or color are
needed. The proofs and signed release will be retained by us and final output
generated if no additional corrections are indicated on the proofs. Gerald
Printing assumes no liability for customer errors, omissions or oversights.
The correction stage is a very critical part of production
because it is the last step before printing. For this
reason, compliance with our specifications is essential.
Failing to submit the necessary materials could cause
problems which would make it necessary to reschedule
the press date.
In most cases, corrections are handled by the Prepress
Department. However, when significant changes are
required, your designer may make the necessary
corrections and submit a new file.
To avoid confusion, please send only the files that have changed and indicate
the new file with a new name. For example:
Original file:
Corrected file:
brochure.qxd
brochure2.qxd or brochurecorrect.qxd
Also, we require a new hard copy that reflects corrections that have been
made by you. We will generate a new proof for your approval.
eleven
Summary
The guidelines we’ve given you are very general and are not intended
as a complete education in desktop techniques. We know we can’t cover
everything in this book. No matter how specific we get, there will be a
problem file out there. There is one simple rule that will always work....ask
us! Most problems occur when people just assume things and go ahead
with their project. We often will not find that there’s a problem until it’s too
late and deadlines are compromised.
Gerald Printing is a Certified Printer and participates in Certified Printers
International – CPrint™ - an organization of printers throughout the US
and Canada dedicated to providing exceptional quality and service to the
business print buyer by using innovative technology and continual staff
training. This means we must continue to upgrade our equipment, software
and services so we will have the best production tools to serve you most
effectively. It also means we have been specially selected to participate
in both the Adobe Solutions Network and the Microsoft Publisher Service
Provider Programs.
Total customer satisfaction comes from exceptional print quality, efficient
production and attentive support. With Gerald Printing, your satisfaction
is not just implied, IT’S CERTIFIED! Please help us provide you a quality
project by providing electronic files that follow these guidelines. Success
depends on a combined effort.
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checklist...
•Did I use software that
GPS accepts?
• Did I set up my document up in
single pages?
• Are my bleeds 1/8” past the
trim edge?
• Did I set up my colors correctly?
• Are all my graphics high enough
quality?
• Did I include all my links (artwork and
photos)?
• Did I include all my fonts?
• Do I have an accurate print out to hand in or did I
generate an accurate pdf as an example?
•Do I have any questions I need to ask my Sales or Customer
Service Representative?
Gerald Printing
105 Hunter Court
Bowling Green, KY 42103
phone
270.781.4770
toll free
888.781.4770
fax
270.781.5403
www.geraldprinting.com