What file type is preffered for submitting (recieving) artwork files for print?

[HeroicKB]

Hi all,

I've been a production manager at a Museum for several years now and we've been supplying files to our local print vendors for our four color offset printing a certain way (packaged native files + a PDF for reference only).

A new team mate of mine (a designer) has had a real issue with providing the native files to the printer and feels more secure only supplying a Print Ready PDF.

I'm pretty sure I understand his insecurities of having some other designers hands on his design work (Looking at you pre-press people!!) but I'm also aware of the aware of the advantages of allowing the press press the freedom of working with native files.

I'm curious to know how you prefer to submit or receive (if you're a print vendor) the design files for print projects?

Any further thoughts on this?

KB

 

[DCurry]

For me personally, I like a properly-prepared PDF with transparency intact in addition to the native files. This covers all possible scenarios without having to cause any delay in production. If the prepress op has a problem with the PDF that can't be fixed in the PDF, he/she can go right to the native files to keep the work moving.

No one is going to redesign the job - it's just that there are some things that are better done in the native file, like adjusting panels on brochures.

Because I have been a prepress operator for over 15 years, if I am submitting files to another vendor I will find out exactly what they prefer and follow their instructions to the letter, even if my way is different.

BTW, I hope this new designer is supplying Press Ready PDFs, not Print Ready!

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

I would discuss it with your printer. As long as the designer realises that HE takes responsibility for the product and prepress has their hands tied so that they CANNOT take responsibility for the product, then supplying a PDFx1a or a PDFX4 (depending on the printers equipment) is the best way to go. Also note that you need to be absolutely sure that you know the properties and limitations of the process and the material that you are to use for the job.

There are plenty of customers who are ready to create good print ready files, and also those who do (it's not difficult as long as you do it right, but complex to explain in a generic scenario)… there are also many customers who over estimate their own knowledge and think that they can by the skills of the trade.

My question to the designer how can you entrust your work to people you don't trust? If you don't work with your printer it's like playing soccer without a goalie. Prepress are an extra pair of eyes, that are trained to hawk down on potential errors (unless they been replaced by low cost button pushers) so the only sensible thing is to discuss it with your local printer…*or find some printer you can trust.

(Have a job at the moment a client has forced me to go through an overseas vendor via a broker and I am getting suspect information of what I am to supply, with colour profiles for coated for coated, and another coated profile for uncoated. The "CHECK" pdf that I received had forced overprint on black that was set to knock out so that there was a miss match between my Press ready PDF's and the "proofs" I was to approve. So sending press ready is no guarantee that no one will mess with your stuff.)

 

[davidmwe]

Preflight

Preflight

A press-ready PDF is what many printers prefer, yet if you look at any printing companies web site, they will virtually take anything you throw at them. The key is, whatever you send (native layout files or PDF), make sure it has been preflight checked and fully packaged with all needed parts of the puzzle (Packaged with all fonts, images or art-work, along with a copy of the native layout file).

A little quality assurance peace-of-mind on the native layout files will bring you closer to producing PDFs anyway...

Friendly Regards,
David Dilling
Markzware
Markzware FlightCheck (Preflight) Product Page
(We make FlightCheck a preflight and packaging tool)

 

[neleson]

Hi,



Nice discussion guys..I am totally agree with David.


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