Help Center

We invite you to take advantage of our state-of-the-art digital imaging and printing capabilities.

We have prepared the following pre-press tips to help you achieve the best possible end results.

If you think of anything we've missed - just Contact Us.

Pre-Flight Checklist

Our staff has adopted a "Preflight Checklist" that describes the steps needed to create and output a successful service bureau job.

It is up to you to provide all of the components that create your printed piece. That includes all fonts (regardless of how basic or standard), all graphic images and the source or document files. Covering the basics, such as the elements of a printed piece, to more advanced concepts such as trapping, multiple color jobs, using different programs, and scanning resolution, this Preflight Checklist is truly a valuable resource to have. Please refer to it when submitting your files for output.

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Preflight Checklist Items For File Prep
1. ___ Printing Setup
Check placement of crop marks and bleed allowances.

1/8" for bleeds is typical but could vary by printer.

2. ___ Font Styles
Use only the actual fonts for bold, italic, and other font styles.

3. ___ RIP
Avoid problems that keep files from printing by cropping images before placing in document, simplifying blends, avoiding nested graphics.

4. ___ Bleeds and Trapping
Remember to increase the size of elements that need to bleed off the page by one-eighth of an inch past the crop marks in the side(s) that should bleed.

If you have colors touching in the document, or type printing over a color background, please be sure to trap these elements so they will print correctly. If the elements are not trapped properly, we will have to adjust the document which will incur extra charges.

5. ___ Clipping Paths and Cropping
When silhouetting images - please try to limit the number of points (or nodes). Clipping paths consisting of too many nodes may not image properly when outputting to film. Also, we recommend that you resize, rotate or crop artwork in your graphic program rather than in your page layout. Altering your images after they have been imported causes the page layout program to recalculate for the changes each time your file is output.

6. ___ Imposition
Find out in advance whether file is to be submitted in reader spreads or printer spreads.

7. ___ Extraneous Elements
Remove references to unused fonts and colors. Remove non-printing items from the pasteboard.
 

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Preflight Checklist Items For File Submissions
8. ___ Digital File / Camera Ready Artwork
Use a digital format preferred and accepted by DIGI-TYPE. Verify software version and platform, PostScript or PDF requirements. If supplying artwork for scanning, prepare it in accordance with DIGI-TYPE's requirements.

9. ___ Fonts
Send both screen and printer fonts for Type 1 fonts. Send the same format (Type 1, TrueType, and OpenType) as used in the document. Send all the fonts used, including fonts in EPS graphics (or, convert fonts in graphics to outlines before placing in page layout application).

10. ___ Graphics
Send all graphics used, in the right format and at the proper resolution for the output device. Convert graphics from RGB to CMYK. Supply original source files for graphics. If providing images for scanning mark them for cropping, include required size and placement information. Include FPO (For Position Only) placeholders.

11. ___ Media / Transfer Protocol
Label disks with your name, address, phone number, and job request number supplied by DIGI-TYPE. When sending files on disk, use a type of media supported by DIGI-TYPE, properly formatted, and using a supported compression method. Include only the most current version of the document to be printed and no unneeded or alternate versions of text files, fonts, or images on the disk. Verify preferred compression method (ZIP, etc.) when transferring files electronically.

If possible, after you've copied everything to your disk, try to open it up on another computer. If you are missing fonts, a message will appear informing you of this. Next, try printing the file. This will also tell you if you are missing a font. Many times EPS files placed in a publication contain fonts not used in your source document which will appear as "missing" when you attempt to print. Check the Picture Utilities in Quark Xpress or the Links Manager in Pagemaker to see if any images are missing.

(TIP: Please do not save Pagemaker files with graphics stored in the publication. Link them outside the publication and include copies of the original images on the disk.)

12. ___ Backup Copies
Never send your only copy of a file. Make backups. Keep copies of all application files, fonts, images, PostScript, and PDF files.
 

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Preflight Checklist Items For Hard Copy
13. ___ Job Request
Please, send a filled out Order Form that includes your name, company name, address, phone number, directories and file names, and descriptions of everything on the disk: name and version of software used, font names, and printing instructions.
Pre-Press and Printing/Finishing Order Forms can be found in "Submit Files" section.

14. ___ Proofs
Mark color breaks clearly and label all spot colors.
If you include composite laser or color proofs, make sure they are printed after ALL changes and corrections. Check proofs to ensure they accurately reflect the graphics, fonts, bleeds and include crop marks if required. Note on proof if it is not a 100% size representation of final product. Label all proofs with your contact information.

15. ___ Dummy
Indicate folds, die cuts, etc.

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Please, refer to this Preflight Checklist before submitting files to DIGI-TYPE in order to avoid printing and finishing delays and added expenses.

There is also Preflight Software which helps to automate the preflight process. However, it should never be used as a substitute for manually checking your files and submissions.