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Spring 2005

CE 1450 01
continuing studies
Pre-Press Production for Graphic Designers

Lou Fuiano

DOCUMENTS
Design is only the beginning of the process. You be able to output and print the completed document.

Document checklist: Typeface management, definition and choice of colors, management of images and logo types, knockouts overprints and spreads and bleeds. Also the final checklist.

SOFTWARE used to produce originals:
WORD for text
PHOTOSHOP for pixel based images / EPS, DCS (five file EPS) or TIFF
ILLUSTRATOR & FREEHAND for object based image files / EPS
QUARK, INDESIGN & PAGEMAKER for page layout

FONTS: POST SCRIPT LEVEL 1 Most appropriate and standardized of the two TRUE TYPE Not Post Script based. When printed on a Post Script printer such as those used to output film, the type is converted to Bezier Curves. This conversion may cause changes in the typography.

COLORS:
PROCESS four color inks that mix on press to create millions of color possibilities
SPOT single color inks mixes before printing and applied based on the designer¹s specs. Metallics and specific logo colors are often spot. Use spot colors to print small text in color to avoid misregistration of the four process colors. Also used for reversing small type out of a color field.
BOTH 5 or more colors can be used

Creating a deeper black with process.
Since the process ink, including black, is transparent, mix 100% black, 50% cyan & 50% magenta you can create a deep rich opaque black.

IMAGES: Scales the images to be the final size use in the page layout. More than 120% image enlargement will be noticeable. Skewing and scaling can be done in page layout, but becomes time consuming and expensive to output. Make these changes in the pixel program.
RGB must become CMYK
In page layout, placed images are LINKED or referenced to the original. Don¹t rename the linked image after you¹ve placed them or the link will be broken.

KNOCKOUTS AND OVERPRINTS: You can print a tint of a color over another color or Œknockout² a hole in the tint area the same shape as the object. Most layout programs automatically create the knockout for you unless you specify otherwise.

TRAPS: Trapping is the process of creating a seamless bond between object and background. Traps are generally handled by the printer.

PROOFING AND HANDING OFF DOCUMENTS: Proof all of your work. Make sure all rules are buttoned up and all text is visible. Print a color sepertated laser print if necessary. Always review if your images are in the best possible condition for a faster RIP. In Quark you can ³collect for output² in InDesign you can ³package². Once you do this you will have everything together in one folder. Check to see if the folder contains everything in your file. Do not compress your file.