Printed materials: preparing files for print

Designing your own publications

Complete the printer's job form and make sure it accompanies your file
Provide 100 percent size laser proofs (color if possible)
If you are having the printer scan images, mark them either "live" or "fpo" (for position only) on the proofs. A "live" image is the actual high-resolution scan that you want them to print from. An " fpo" image is a low-resolution scan you've created that allows the printer to pision the image until a high-resolution scan is made for it
If you FTP or e-mail the file, you must STILL provide a printed proof; don't rely on a fax
If your document is oversized, make sure it's set to tile (rather than reduce)
Include registration marks for trim
Include a printed directory of contents of disk or CD showing all fonts and images used in your file

Label the disk or CD with your name, phone, e-mail, project name, and date
Use STANDARD file conventions (.pdf, .psd, etc.,) not your own inventions
Each file should have a unique, useful name. Be more explicit than "poster" or "brochure"
Make sure revised files have new filenames
Include all image files: eps, tiff, etc.
Include the final file of your pdf, InDesign, Photoshop etc.
TEST the disk to make sure all images show up. Do this on a different computer than the one you saved and/or created the files on
If there is any chance text revisions will be made while the file is at the printer's, be sure to provide the native (original) file in addition to or instead of a pdf

Are all fonts compatible with printer's software?
Are fonts well organized? This means having a folder for each font, and screen and printer fonts for each if you're using PostScript fonts
If fonts are part of an eps file, have you converted the text to outlines and/or included the font?

Have you made sure your type is big enough to print properly on the equipment? Pay special attention to reversed type
Is text aligned with tabs and not spaces?
Have you used spellcheck on your file?
Have you styled the text correctly? In other words, have you selected Univers 65 bold instead of selecting Univers 55 and applying "bold" to it?

Are your rules (lines) big enough to show up on the equipment? Pay special attention to reverses, trapped colors, and mixed colors
Have you scaled and rotated your images in Photoshop instead of in the page layout program?
Have you made sure your blends and gradations will work on the equipment? It is wise to test this in advance or you could wind up with ugly bands of color instead of a subtle gradation
Are images provided in the correct formats? i.e., no pict files, no RGB images (unless you're using hexachrome printing)
Have you deleted extraneous items from the pasteboard?
Are your large black areas "rich" blacks? if so, do they exceed the printer's recommended percentage (often 320%)?

Does your document size exceed the limits of the equipment or paper?
Did you set up bleeds?
Have you included original art for any images that need to be scanned along with clear instructions?

Don’t see your question answered? Let us know.