By chantelle
You might think these words would be music to every designer’s ears. But this process can sometimes be a little stressful in making sure that no detail is overlooked.
Below are the steps that I use when prepping files for print:
1. Run spell check.
2. Proofread.
3. Have someone else proofread. I suggest having someone who hasn’t been working on the project do this. Fresh eyes can usually catch things that you overlooked or thought were obvious.
4. Create a 1/8″ bleed on all objects extending off the page. It’s an industry standard and helps guarantee that you won’t have plain paper showing at the edge of your print piece.
5. Convert all images and colors to CMYK, grayscale or spot colors depending on the specs of the job.
6. Color correct all images and save in the correct print format. TIFF and PSD formats are best for high resolution photos. EPS format is best for all vector images.
7. Check the resolution of all images. Print resolution is 300 DPI for photos. I realize it’s not always possible to have high resolution photos when you depend on others to submit them, but 300 DPI is the goal. You can still use lower resolutions for printing, they just won’t appear as crisp.
8. Make a mock-up for the printer. This is especially important for complicated pieces. It helps give them a visual for what they’re working on.
9. Collect for print. Most layout programs have a setting for this. What it does is collect your main document and any fonts and images used in the document and puts them in an organized folder.
10. Zip the files and upload to the printer’s FTP site.
Those are my steps for prepping files for print. Are there any other steps that you’d add?
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Tags: Color, designer, file format, print, printer, proofread, resolution
About the Author
Chantelle is our Assistant Creative Director, and she pretty much rocks at her job. Whether she’s deciding on color schemes or page layouts, she always bring professionalism to our workplace. When not thinking creatively, she’s either playing tennis or attending a wine tasting. She also has a cat nicknamed “Chicken,” which is pretty profound when you think about it.
