David Koteski, VP, Arandell Prepress
When choosing a printer, many clients overlook the importance of how it might impact their prepress production workflow and specifications. Although most large commercial web offset printers have similar prepress and plate requirements, there are inherent differences that need to be addressed prior to preparing your final files and proofs.
A variety of conditions need to be taken into consideration when preparing your photography, separations and proofs prior to printing. Here are just a few that come to my mind:
1. Will this job print sheetfed, web offset or possibly gravure?
Proof and file requirements change with each printing method. You will have to ask your printer the best practice methods to ensure the best possible quality.
2. Will these materials be repurposed for other media, i.e. newspaper, web, VDP, etc.?
Different media requires different quality images. When in doubt, always err to the side of critical quality. You can always repurpose your materials for a lower quality standard more easily than you can repurpose your materials for a higher quality standard.
3. What type of paper will I be printing on?
Changing papers, even if it is the “same paper” produced at a different mill, can create a different effect. Make sure you know the best prepress practices for your paper choice.
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David Koteski, VP, Arandell Prepress
Everyday at Arandell we encounter files from multiple sources that will not reproduce well on press. The cause may be a mismatch between the color separation and printing process, the amount of black generated when converting RGB to CMYK, or a disparity between the ink values in the file and the press and paper requirements.
Often times a printer does not know far enough in advance which press a job will print on; therefore it is not possible to provide press profiles for the CMYK separation process.
CMYK Optimizer allows a prepress provider to automatically check and correct, and dynamically balance the colors and ink weight characteristics of incoming files. Files are adapted to suit the printer’s actual press conditions to ensure accurate rendering of the approved proofs.
The advantages to preparing files/images to specifically fit a printer’s specifications include:
- Preflight and CMYK file standardization
- Output files compliant with the printing requirements
- Improved color balance
- Reproducibility of proofs by the printer
- Standardization of files in accordance with ISO standards and ICC profiles
- Generation of files that are compliant with PDF/X1a and PDF/X3 formats
It is important to begin having these discussions with your printer prior to your photo shoot. With proper preparation and communication among the photographer, separator and printer, the final printed results will exceed everyone’s expectations.