How to send design to printer

[Cass54321]

Hello all!

I must admit I am a little embarrassed not knowing this but how do you send designs to printers. I am doing a brochure for a friend's company and am unaware on how to do this (the things they should have taught me in college). In college, I would just print it out from my computer and take out the x-acto and cut away. How does one go about doing this? Once again, sorry for the stupid question.

Cassy

[jimking]

What programs are you using to create your brochure? How many colors?

[Cass54321]

In Design, not sure about color, I believe she wants 4 color

[rickself]

Don't be embarassed to call the printer. I prefer you call first. And if they make you feel inferior to them, find another printer.
The prepress guy or gal at the printer should be more than happy to talk to you.

[balou]

My advice is to find your printer and then ask them how they want the files. If you're using InDesign, make sure you preflight the file to make sure no missing fonts or graphics. Also checks for RGB images. If it's a CMYK job, make sure any Pantone colors are process and not spot in the swatches palate.

I generally send a CD with the native files (the folder and contents when packaged in InDesign). I will also create a press quality pdf from InDesign and send that on the CD. I also create a mockup of the brochure and print out separations.

Some places let you upload a pdf for print. I'll do that for very simple files but I like to send the CD and mockup 9 times out of 10.

[balou]

It makes me angry that colleges don't teach this. It's a basic function of GD! There should be at least one class on taking a project from beginning to end - REAL WORLD style.

You should go back to the college Cass and tell the department head where they're lacking in basics.

[Cass54321]

Tell me about it...it is extremely frustrating for me also. Right now I am sitting here taking notes, reading sites and figuring out all there is to know (as best I can) on my own. All I keep thinking is someday I would love to teach design at my college so I can teach kids all of the real world important things that profs leave out. It is absolutely amazing to me the things they didnt tell you in college. How to go about getting a job, how to send things to press, etc. It is a little frustrating I wont lie :)

[Cass54321]

I am so greatful for this site. I am learning more here than I feel I did in 4 years of college.

[balou]

You're in a good place - stick around. I've learned a lot here too. Have you been searching the past threads here too? There's oodles of info out there.

[Cass54321]

Oh most definately--there are so many great resources. I have another quick question...when sending to a printer is it better to use process or spot color?

[rickself]

that's a loaded question. depends on your job. process takes 4 colors and may (or not) be more expensive than spot colors. depends on how many spot colors.
Again, CALL YOUR PRINTER. (not yelling, just trying to make a point)
There is not a person in this forum that can give you the answer that your printer can give you. If you don't have a printer yet, you need to call even more so. You're gonna need some quotes so you know what kind of money yer looking at.

[urstwile]

If you're doing a 4/C piece, it's generally going to be better to use process. Some of the spot colors don't convert all that well to process, so if you start with process you won't be unpleasantly surprised. AGFA makes a great CMYK tint book (coated and uncoated in one book), that shows you how many of the mixes of percentages of CMYK will end up looking.

Or at the very least, check the Pantone book and make sure that the transition from spot to process isn't dramatically different.

In other situations, like a 2/C piece, you're going to want to go with spot. It all depends on the specific piece.

Definitely as the others have been saying, talk to your printer! He/she will guide you as to the best way to approach the piece, not only in terms of file setup, but colors, etc. I've very rarely had a situation where the pre-press person was unwilling to talk to me before I had started preparing the files and sent them over.

[urstwile]

Or

what Rickself said. :o

:)

[Cass54321]

once again, thank you for your help. (sorry if I am frustrating anyone, what seems like common knowledge to know isnt so much to me so thank you)

[urstwile]

No worries! Everyone here is glad to help, that's what the forum's for, mostly. ;)

[morea]

that, and screwing around. lol.

[rickself]

once again, thank you for your help. (sorry if I am frustrating anyone, what seems like common knowledge to know isnt so much to me so thank you)Hay, cass, if this is the most frustrating thing of my day, it's been an easy day!! haha! I don't mean to sound harsh in my posts, it just gets me when someone posts and asks what the best way to do something for the printer, my response will always be...CALL THE PRINTER! You wouldn't ask us for the best way to fix your car or plumbing, we may give you an answer but would you trust us? You'd call the place that knows the answer.

SO please, call someone that knows. :D

[balou]

RICK'S PHONE NUMBER IS: 999-ALL-CAPS

lol! :D

[PrintDriver]

Please call the printer for any new or unfamiliar print process. Cuz for wide format, everything they said, is wrong.

[rickself]

RICK'S PHONE NUMBER IS: 999-ALL-CAPS

lol! :DOr ***-***-****!
And if it's a wide format job, printdriver's number is 1-***-***-****!

[PrintDriver]

Lol!

[urstwile]

You guys crack me up! :D

[Logo-Mechanix]

I am so greatful for this site. I am learning more here than I feel I did in 4 years of college.

The most discouraging part of this for the colleges is this site is free. I have stated on here many times in many threads that it really gets my blood boiling when these kids pay all this money to go to a college (even a big name one) and they teach them nothing about prepress. This is GRAPHIC DESIGN you morons, it helps to know how to send a file to a printer. Thanks for letting me rant a little.

[slowpockets]

when sending to a printer is it better to use process or spot color?

Well, how was the job quoted? As a process job or spot color job?

[Cass54321]

It wasn't quoted to either. I was simply reading up on different sites on the internet and found that either could be used and was wondering which one is cheaper, easier, etc. I understand the way both work, I just dont understand what would make someone choose one over the other. Is it because spot colors are more vibrant and saturated than process?

[balou]

consistency in color

[morea]

depends on the printing process.

If you are printing a logo that is black and green, you would have to pay for extra press plates and ink to print if as 4CP in the world of offset printing.

Our print shop had a couple of big 4 color presses, but we also had some smaller, 2 color presses. The 4 color press was usually pretty packed with work, to the point that sometimes the spot color jobs would come in after, and ship sooner.

Also, as balou said, pantone (spot) colors are consistent from press run to press run, whereas process color can vary based on the percentages of cyan, yellow and black used to make up the green.

This is especially important with a company that has strict corporate identity standards.

[PersonasBinar]

I totally don't to come across as a bastard but what school did you goto? I seriously want to call them up and give them a blast.

[jimking]

I totally don't to come across as a bastard but what school did you goto? I seriously want to call them up and give them a blast.
Give'em a kick in the ass for me too! :)

[rickself]

^ ^ ^ ^yes, there comes a point.......

[PrintDriver]

I say we all go pay a visit to this 'School'...
The Night of the Printers' Revenge.
Oooo. Scary movie. LOL!

[balou]

You guys should start an organization - Society of Prepress Professionals - and make it a mission to educate schools of the need to include this subject in their GD programs.

(Lol! S.O.P.P.)

[rickself]

ve do...and ve know vhere you live!

[rickself]

(Lol! S.O.P.P.)
Or PP-PU

:eek:

[balou]

lmao!

[slowpockets]

If any of this has already been said, my apologies.

The decision on wether to print the job in spot color or four color process is between you and the client. Things to consider are price (four color is generally more expensive), consistency of color , so on and so forth.

The most important thing is that if you send the job to print in spot, make sure your color tables reflect this. Don't send a job that's built out of:

Cherry red
Cherry red 2
C100 M97 Y62 K12
PMS 292 C
PMS 292 CV
PMS 292 CVC
R150 G72 B200
Registration

Figure out which colors you want and only use those. If you are only using Reflex Blue and PMS182, then only use those two colors. If you get a whole bunch of different names in your tables it's a pain in the ass and some people will charge you extra for fixing it. If it's going to be sent to print four color, it doesn't matter so much but you should still try to keep an orderly list of colors because it's more professional. Also if you are going to have the printshop convert spot to process find out if they are screening with Pantone Color Bridge or not. Get one of these if you don't have one already http://www.pantone.com/products/products.asp?idArea=1&idProduct=304. It makes a difference, if you're looking at an old swatch and they are using the new screening you will see a difference.

Anyway this could go on forever, so I'll end it here. Just talk to the prepress department that is going to work with your files. They'll give you their standards that they work with. Good Luck with your job and thanks for taking an interest in prepress, such a rare thing in designers.

[balou]

Here ya go Cass - gold from another thread: http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=241534&postcount=4

[rickself]

Didn't have to go back far for that one, hu Balou?
Jimking is gonna start asking for royalties!

[PersonasBinar]

There is more to Pantone than meets the eye. Learn it love it, get the Pantone to process guide to show you which PTones can and cannot be hit in CMYK.

[Gromit801]

once again, thank you for your help. (sorry if I am frustrating anyone, what seems like common knowledge to know isnt so much to me so thank you)


Oh, believe me, it's NOT common knowledge! Different printers will want different things depending on their capabilities. There's no one answer.

[Eraser Nubbin]

I asked pretty much the same question a while back here Cass and got a tonne of help:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11574

[jimking]

I asked pretty much the same question a while back here Cass and got a tonne of help:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11574
Eraser Nubbin, how did that job turn out anyway?

[Eggles1]

I just dont understand what would make someone choose one over the other. Is it because spot colors are more vibrant and saturated than process?

Cass

The bottom line is - are there photos included in your layout? If there are, you should use Process colours. You cannot print realistic looking photos with spot colours. Mind you, you can get some pretty funky effects printing photos in spot colour combinations e.g. sepia tones. But if there are photos that must look like photos, you need process as a minimum. You can add more inks if there are certain elements that MUST print in a certain colour and the process equivalent is not close enough (only 50% or so of spot colours have accepatable process equivalents).

Spot colours are usually used when colour is critical e.g. in a company logo on a letterhead. Even then, process colour equivalents for the logo's spot colour(s) can be used in more complex layouts that also include the logo e.g. catalogues that contain photos.

Generally speaking, if the design contains only two colours, then it is usually cheaper to get it printed in spot colours. If there are 3 colours, then it becomes debatable whether it is cheaper to stay with 3 spots or go process. It all depends on how critical the colours are.

[Cappy]

They build 5-8 color presses and "some to most" mid-size shops ( have a 6 color on the floor by now) so you can run your process and two spots. That is why it is important to know your printer and find out their capabilities. You should be using three to four printers, if you are a print designer. You have your short run business card letterhead shop, your mid-size brochure - process color shop and then your big guy. But to get the big guys to deal with you, you need to have some pretty big work and you will be more advanced than it sounds like you are, because you will be bringing in catalogs or Annual Reports, etc. The fourth printer would be the large format print shop running 44" to 60 or 72" inkjets for trade show POP signage and the like, they will probably have a Canon CLC 1000 for short run color fliers and an Imagerunner like the 110 or a Xerox Docutech for short run multiple page (72 pages on up) reports or booklets.

Just talk to your printer and don't let them sell you on their equipment. If you have a color critical job and the branding is important then you need to run the appropriate spot color. I have a saying, "Make the printer fit your work, don't make your work, fit the printer". This, of course, is within reason.

http://photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/printing/printing.htm you might find this article helpful. Good Luck.

On a final note: Colleges have difficulties teaching the Graphic Arts because everything changes so fast. Just look at what has happened with Adobe, Macromedia and Quark and the acceptance of Acrobat and Distiller and what they can "Really do"./ By the time the Professor gets educated and the books get printed for the class they are obsolete. There are standards and the last thing I have to say is "Talk to your Printer". Your relationship is going to make or break you and they are the best friend you will ever have.

[Eraser Nubbin]

Flawless JimKing.
Thanks again for all the input. That thread comes in handy all of the time. I go over the checklist that I made from it everytime that I send a brochure, design some new business cards, or go to the store for groceries.

[style]

cass. i totally sympathis with you, i came out of college and i bless the day i found this forum!
the only way i know anything about sending anything to printers is through this place!!!
also i learnt through mistakes!!
i have worked with many differant printers and each one has different specs so best bet is like the others said call your printer before! be on the safe side! dont be embarressed to ask questions from the printer, even if you feel like a fool! its worth it in the long run!

[style]

p.s good luck

[morea]

dont be embarressed to ask questions from the printer, even if you feel like a fool! its worth it in the long run!

I'll tell you what, asking questions - even questions you might feel silly asking - will get you more respect from your printer than sending in something that will give them headaches.

Check out this article, on how to develop a relationship with your printer - it's great!

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/articles/printer_relationship.htm

[urstwile]

I'll tell you what, asking questions - even questions you might feel silly asking - will get you more respect from your printer than sending in something that will give them headaches.


Not to mention how much money you'll save!

[Cass54321]

I want to thank all of you for taking the time to respond to my questions. I really appreciate it. I have learned so much from hearing all your responses and the main thing Im taking away from this is to talk to the printer. It is funny because the girl I am doing the brochure for told me she had a printer that will print them for her so I dont need to deal directly with them. However, I want to get their information so I can still call them to make sure it is all set up correctly for her. However, in the future dealing with printers I feel a little less lost and a lot more prepared for dealing with printers. Thank all of you so much!

[style]

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/about_us/latest_issue/computer_arts_projects_issue_85

i know that this thread is officialy ended. but thought i would recommend to you and to anyone else who has the same isssues discussed in this thread. this mag. that computer arts project bought out this month. it discusses print and colour in depth. and tells you all the stuff you never learnt in college. it is fromthe uk. but might be availble in barnes and nobles or borders. good luck.

[Ovaltine]

I just wanted to add another option to the mix :)

Jobs done in Hex are absolutly gorgeous when properly applied. Usually only applied when using really bright greens and oranges, since regular 4color doesn't do a spectacular job with those colors.

How do the printers feel about hex jobs?

[Painbunny]

Just one more point...

Most of the time you CAN use more colours than the press can handle with one run. CMYK+Pantone, can be done. It comes down to cost of course.

We have a 6-color press here (and a 2-color), but until recently we had some competition with a guy doing 4-color jobs with a 1-color press. (The quality of his work was fine but naturally he couldn't compete as it took so much time/work to clean and prepare the machine four times / job.)

[echoflynew]

Quark, Adobe Illustrators, Hi resolution PDF files, Freehand.... are acceptable for the printers.

www.book-printing.cn (http://www.book-printing.cn)