PRE-PRESS top tips

What kind of printer wants you to spend less on print? An enlightened one! We are here to help you make your printing more cost effective overall by cutting out all those time-wasting, costly pre-press problems. We hope you’ll find the following tips extremely useful.

Top tips

:Delano supply

Increasingly :Delano is becoming the supply and approval tool of choice for printers and publishers alike. By using :Delano you are able to upload page files using an internet browser, view post Ripped page files within minutes and securely approve or replace each individual page. And this can all be done from anywhere at anytime.

Other benefits include:

• No need for hard copy proof supply from either party
• File naming protocols are taken care of by :Delano automatically
• All files are ‘flight-checked’ for suitability for the print process and any potential problems are flagged immediately, i.e. low res images or missing fonts.

Speak to your Business Development Manager or your dedicated Title Manager about moving to Delano now.

Non :Delano supply (FTP, e-mail, ISDN or disc)

• For smooth transition from file to print ensure your files are named containing the publication and page number. For more information on file naming conventions, please refer to our FTP guide.
• If you supply PDFs you should maintain the best turnaround possible by supplying up to date hard copy with your files and not requesting new proofs back. We will highlight any discrepancy between hard copy supplied and final image. You’ll only be approving what you’ve already seen!
• 100ppi images or less are more and more common as images are taken from the web. If you are including these images please let us know when supplying the job so that we do not have to go through the process of placing the job on hold to obtain authorisation to run with low-resolution images.

All supply methods

• Never include images which are more than 300ppi – any more is a waste of storage and file transmission, and adds nothing to the quality of the final image.
• Always add 3mm of image outside the trim area for images that run up to the edge of your finished product. This is called bleed.
• Get your printer to check the advertising specs you send to your advertisers. Many we see are very out-dated and are compromising the quality of received material.
• Where possible, try to obtain a colour copy from your advertiser.
• Avoid placing text and important imagery within 10mm of the trim of a page
• Please alert your Title manager of any double page spreads (DPS), especially from cover to text. They will then ensure best colour matching from page to page

REMEMBER: If in doubt, send a trial file prior to production to your printer or ring and ask for advice. Advice costs nothing – press time is expensive.