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| The "Flawless File Preparation" Checklist |
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| General Project & Document Considerations |
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- Unwanted items have been deleted, not covered with a white box.
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- 1/8" bleed and trim properly applied?
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- Panel sizes and fold lines clearly indicated?
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- Document page size is 100% of final trim size?
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- If diecutting, is your dieline file included and indicated on your proofs?
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- If your project foils or embosses, have you followed our file preparation recommendations for die art creation and FPO placement? More Info >>
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- If your project contains multiple pages, is your document built as single pages (not spreads)?
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- Have you verified that your art was created in an application that is PostScript-compatible OR supplied as a reliable PostScript or correctly-formatted Press-Ready PDF file? More Info >>
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| Graphic Elements and Linked Images |
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- Are borders and rules properly built?
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- No "hairlines" (less than .5pt) used?
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- Is the flatness value of your clipping paths and vector art properly set?
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- Placed images are at 100% of output size?
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- Placed images are scaled and/or rotated in their source application? More Info >>
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- Blends and gradients properly built in Illustrator?
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- Any UPC codes placed have been correctly built and electronically verified?
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- Text used in placed images spell-checked and converted to outlines?
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- Hi-Res raster images are at least 225 ppi and no more than 300 ppi? More Info >>
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- Trapping vs Overprinting considerations have been made?
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- Were page-to-page cross-over images placed by "X&Y coordinates" and verified as accurate?
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| Color Space Considerations |
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- No RGB images or colors used in document or placed files?
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- Color space of placed images either Greyscale, CMYK or PMS spot color with attention to Separations On/Off? More Info >>
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- Rich Black process builds use correct percentages (C:60% / M:40% / Y:20% / K: 100% ) and used where appropriate?
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- Color names used in placed images match those used in your page layout application?
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- Process color build values used in different applications are the same percentages?
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- Have trapping/butting color considerations been made?
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- Are duotone (EPS) or process + spot color images (DCS) correctly built? More Info >>
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- Any special colors such as spot varnish, varnish tints, flourescent or metallics clearly indicated as such?
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- If metallics are used, has overprinting been avoided?
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- Have the limitations of CMYK procees color builds vs Pantone spot color swatches been discussed and understood? More Info >>
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| Text Considerations |
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- Have fonts been properly selected? (NO Style Attributes applied?) More Info >>
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- Have reversed/knockout text and outlines been properly built?
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- Have small type (less than 8pt) reverses/knockouts been avoided?
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- Have small type single-color screens and process color builds been avoided?
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- Has use of small type in bitmap/raster images been avoided?
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- Has all text been properly aligned as intended?
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- Has all text been spell-checked and verified (including text in placed images)?
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- Has text in placed images been converted to outlines, or has have you verified that you are providing all fonts used in placed images? More Info >>
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- Has any foreign language text been thoroughly proofread and converted to outlines?
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| Font Usage and Collection |
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- Are all fonts used either PostScript, OpenType or TrueType?
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- Have both the Screen and Printer versions of each PostScript font been included in your collect-for-output fonts folder. More Info >>
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- Don't assume that the printer's versions of fonts used in your project are the same as yours. Supply your versions of ALL fonts used, regardless of how common they are.
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- Have you included a keyboard map for any foreign language fonts used that have not been converted to outlines?
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- Have you followed our general font management and collect-for-output recommendations?
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| Digital File Trasfer / Media Considerations |
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- If sending files via FTP, have you included an accurate PDF proof or faxed black & white lasers and a File Directory to us?
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- If sending files via FTP, please contact us to verify that they were received and are intact?
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- Is your media clearly labeled with information relevant to your project and contact info?
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- Does each file on your disk have a unique and obvious name?
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- Have all revised image files been updated and verified as present in your layout application before transferring your files to disk?
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- Are all linked-image source files included? (Don't trust you software application's Embedded Image or Collect-For-Output utilities!)
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- Have you provided a File Directory printout of your disk that shows ALL final files used, where they are located on the disk and which file is you final intended output file?
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| Printed Proof / PDF Documentation |
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- Have you furnished either printed proofs or hi-res "Print Quality" PDFs that accurately reflect your final art. More Info >>
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- Do the proofs clearly indicate whether your job prints as CMYK only, Spot Color only or CMYK + Spot Color? More Info >>
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- Are any PMS spot colors or special inks, varnishes or coatings clearly indicated?
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- Do your proofs clearly indicate whether the image is shown at 100% of final size or what percentage they are scaled down to?
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- Do your proofs clearly indicate bleeds, final trim and fold lines?
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- If your piece diecuts, is the dieline shape and registration clearly indicated?
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- If your piece foils or embosses, is the die shape and registration clearly indicated? More Info >>
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| As always, please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding file preparation for your print projects. |
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