Delivering Files
to Your Service Bureau
Send proofs and disks
To ensure that what they print looks like what
you intended supply a laser-printed copy of your file. This can
help technicians immediately spot obvious font differences, missing
graphics, or changes in layout. Other items that you'll want to
include are additional artwork, font lists, and any special instructions
not previously conveyed to your printer.
- Send a PostScript laser proof of each color
separation.
- Make sure you generate a proof after making
any changes, otherwise your printer may see differences between
his output and your proof as errors which can delay your job.
- If you can't send your proof at 100% size
then mark it to show the percentage size at which you printed
it.
- Send original artwork or photographs to
replace FPO (for position only) placeholders, if any, in your
digital file.
- Include a list of all fonts used as well
as a list of all the files that appear on your disk.
- You may also need to include a dummy or
mockup of your finished project to show how it is to be cut,
folded, or bound.
Always talk to your service bureau or printer
first before sending anything.
They may have specific requirements and suggestions
that will may your project go more smoothly.
Delivering the File
Once you know what files to send you have to get them to your
service bureau. You'll need to find out from them what formats
they can accept. Some options include:
- 3.5 inch disks. These are suitable
only for small files or files compressed (such as with ZIP
archives). If you compress your files insure your SB can uncompress
them or send self-executing archives.
- ZIP, Syquest, etc. ZIP disks, Syquest
cartridges, Bernoulli cartridges, and Magneto-Optical Disks
allow you to send large application files and their accompanying
fonts and graphics without compression.
- Electronic Transmission. Some printers
will accept files as email attachments or by modem transfer
via their own bulletin board system or over the Internet.
You find it necessary to compress files into an archive files
first to speed the file transfer.
As obvious as it may seem one common error
is forgetting to clearly and completely label the disk.
Include your name, address, phone number, and if you have a
job number assigned, put it on the disk as well. Another good
measure, include a 'readme' file on the disk that also includes
this same information.
No
matter how beautiful your design or how carefully you've prepared
your files, if you don't include the necessary files and non-digital
materials you jeopardize your project. Avoid last minute surprises
and wasted time by making sure that you've included all application
files, fonts, and graphics in a format that your printer can
use.
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