Real World Print Production

Real World Print Production

Released July 2006
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780321410184

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Book description

Translating inspiration to the printed page has always been a challenge. The advent of desktop publishing granted new levels of power and control to the layout artist and graphic designer, but it hasn’t eliminated the traditional pitfalls. In fact, it’s introduced a few new ones. Sometimes managing the disparate elements of fonts, images, colors, and more, while dealing with the quirks of various layout applications makes even the bravest designer and production editor long for the hands-on days of moveable type. Creating a great layout on your monitor is only half the battle; how do you make it work on paper? Print production expert Claudia McCue takes on the challenge of putting ink to paper, offering clear, authoritative guidance to print professionals and anyone else who has been frustrated by the obstacles of getting electronic documents to print perfectly. In this book, you’ll learn how to

  • Get the most out of page layout programs such as Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress, and decide which is right for your needs

  • Use image applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Macromedia FreeHand to reproduce the most complicated raster and vector images flawlessly

  • Understand how ink and paper work together, and learn how to prevent unwelcome surprises in tricky situations such as overprinting, trapping, and color registration

  • Use Adobe Acrobat to distribute your document in a universally accessible format while preserving your layout

  • Wrangle your fonts, and choose the best ones from among the huge array of available typefaces

  • Preflight, or prepare your job for submission to a printer or service bureau


    • “Claudia offers a deadly combination of wit and wisdom. If you’re involved with print, buy this book!”
    —David Blatner, co-author Real World InDesign CS2 and Real World Photoshop CS2

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
      1. Dedication
    2. Preface
      1. Who Should Read This Book
      2. What This Book is Not
      3. About the Author
      4. Acknowledgements
    3. One. Life Cycle of a Print Job
      1. The Olden Days
      2. Brave New World: Desktop Publishing
      3. Job Submission
      4. Scenic Tour of a Typical Printing Plant
        1. Sales
        2. Customer Service
        3. Planning, Estimating, and Scheduling
        4. Preflight
        5. Prepress
          1. Production
          2. Scanning
          3. Image Work
          4. Raster Image Processor (RIP)
          5. Trapping
          6. Imposition
          7. Proofing
          8. Corrections
        6. Creating Plates
        7. Pressroom
        8. Finishing
          1. Trimming
          2. Folding
          3. Stitching
          4. Die Cutting
          5. Binding
          6. Gluing
        9. Fulfillment and Shipping
      5. Glossary of Printing Terms
    4. Two. Ink On Paper
      1. Fundamentals of Black-and-White Printing
      2. Fundamentals of Color Printing
        1. Limitations of CMYK
        2. Spot Colors
        3. Approximating Spot Colors with Process
      3. Press Issues
        1. Registration
        2. Trapping
        3. Large Ink Coverage Areas
          1. Rich Black
          2. Problem Inks
          3. Specialty Inks
          4. Custom Mixed Inks
          5. Coatings and Varnishes
      4. Digital Printing
        1. Digital Printing Advantages
          1. Short Runs
          2. Variable Data
        2. Digital Printing Issues
          1. Registration
          2. Spot Colors on Toner-Based Digital Presses
          3. Paper Requirements and Limitations
          4. Cracking and Flaking
          5. Resolution and Screen Ruling
      5. Your Monitor is Not Made of Paper
        1. A Quick Overview of Color Management
        2. Control Your Environment
        3. Realistic Expectations
        4. Contract Proofs
    5. Three. Binding and Finishing
      1. One Size Does Not Fit All
        1. Rule Number One: Build to the Correct Trim Size
        2. Rule Number Two: Provide Bleed
        3. Rule Number Three: Stay Away From the Edge
        4. Rule Number Four: Follow the Print Specifications
      2. Folding: High-Speed Origami
      3. Imposition
        1. Basic Imposition
        2. Multipage Imposition
      4. Binding Methods
        1. Saddle Stitching
        2. Perfect Binding and Case Binding
        3. Comb Binding
        4. Coil Binding
        5. Other Binding Methods
      5. Moving Beyond Two Dimensions
        1. Die Cutting
        2. Embossing
        3. Foil Stamping
    6. Four. Preparing Raster Images
      1. Ancient Times: B.P. (Before Pixels)
      2. Now: A.P. (All Pixels, All the Time)
        1. Scanners
        2. Digital Cameras
        3. Imaging Software
      3. Resolution and Image Fidelity
        1. Scaling Up
        2. Scaling Down
        3. Planning Ahead
        4. Digital Photographs
        5. Cropping and Transforming Images
          1. Cropping
          2. Rotating Images
          3. Where to Transform: Image Editor versus Page Layout Application
      4. Appropriate Image Formats for Print
        1. TIFF
        2. Photoshop EPS
        3. Photoshop Native (PSD)
        4. Photoshop PDF
        5. Moving to Native PSD and PDF
        6. Special Case: Screen Captures
          1. Converting Screen Captures to CMYK
        7. RGB versus CMYK
      5. Inappropriate Image Formats for Print
    7. Five. Vector Graphics
      1. Vector File Formats
        1. Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)
        2. Native File Formats
        3. Adobe PDF
        4. Vector Formats Not Appropriate for Print
          1. Microsoft Windows Metafile Format (WMF)
          2. Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF)
          3. Raster Formats
      2. Handling Text
        1. Embedding Fonts
        2. Outlining Text
      3. Incorporating Images into Vector Files
      4. Avoiding Unnecessary Complexity
        1. Simplify Your Paths
        2. Recommended Approaches to Document Construction
          1. One Piece Per Page
          2. It’s a Drawing Program
          3. Creating Multiple Pages in Illustrator
          4. Creating Multiple Pages in FreeHand
    8. Six. Fonts
      1. Font Flavors
        1. PostScript (Type 1) Fonts
        2. TrueType Fonts
        3. OpenType Fonts
        4. Macintosh OS X System Fonts
        5. Windows System Fonts
        6. Multiple Master Fonts
        7. Substituting One Font Species For Another
      2. Activating Fonts in the Operating System
        1. Apple Font Book
        2. Windows Control Panel
      3. Font Management Programs
        1. Automatic Font Activation
        2. Font Conflicts
      4. Font Licensing Issues
        1. End User License Agreements (EULAs)
        2. Embedding Fonts in PDFs
        3. Converting Text To Outlines
        4. Sending Fonts to the Print Service Provider
    9. Seven. Cross-Platform Issues
      1. Crossing The Great Divide
      2. File Naming
        1. Let’s Have a Lot of Brevity
        2. Filenames Don’t Need Punctuation. Period.
        3. Watch Your Language
        4. Include File Extensions
      3. Fonts
      4. Graphics Formats
    10. Eight. Job Submission
      1. Preparations During the Design Process
      2. Talking with the Printer
      3. Planning for Print
        1. Checking Raster Images
        2. Checking Vector Artwork
        3. Checking Page Layout Files
      4. Sending Job Files
        1. Submitting PDF Files
        2. Submitting Application Files
          1. Platform Issues
          2. Sending Files
      5. Preparing for Proofing Cycles
        1. Checking Image Proofs
        2. Checking Page Proofs
        3. Checking Corrections
        4. Checking Imposed Bluelines
        5. Signing Off on Proofs
      6. Attending a Press Check
    11. Nine. Photoshop Production Tips
      1. Off to a Good Start
        1. Know the Fate of the Image
        2. Image Resolution
        3. Color Space
        4. Converting RGB to CMYK
      2. Working in Layers
        1. Don’t Erase that Pixel!
        2. Color Corrections with a Safety Net
        3. Should You Flatten a Layered File?
      3. Transparency
      4. Silhouettes and Masking
        1. Creating a Path: Right and Wrong
          1. Path Flatness Settings
          2. Paths that Aren’t Clipping Paths
        2. Alternative Silhouetting Methods
      5. Beyond CMYK
        1. Creating Duotones
        2. Adding Spot Color to a CMYK Image
      6. Beyond Pixels
        1. Vector Elements
        2. Saving as a Photoshop PDF
      7. Saving for Other Applications
    12. Ten. Illustrator Production Tips
      1. Why Versions Matter
      2. Saving for Earlier Versions
        1. Quirks in Save Dialogs
        2. Document Color Mode
      3. Simplifying Complex Artwork
      4. Using Filters and Effects
        1. Filter versus Effect: Vector Shapes
        2. Filter versus Effect: Generating Pixels
          1. Using Filter > Stylize > Drop Shadow
          2. Using Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow
          3. Document Raster Effects Settings
      5. Creating 3D Artwork
      6. Transparency
      7. Flattening Transparency
      8. Linked and Embedded Images
      9. Blended Objects
      10. Changes in Pantone Recipes
      11. Saving for Other Applications
    13. Eleven. FreeHand Production Tips
      1. Fonts and Graphics
        1. Keeping It All Together
          1. Font Handling
          2. Images: Link or Embed?
          3. Modifying Linked Images
          4. Importing Images
          5. Importing Multiple Images Simultaneously
          6. Suitable Image Formats
          7. Special Handling: DCS Images
          8. Scaling Imported Images
          9. Importing or Opening Adobe PDF Files
      2. Special Effects
        1. Live Vector Effects
        2. Live Raster Effects
        3. Lens Effects
        4. Special Fills and Strokes
          1. Gradient Fills
          2. Pattern Fills
          3. PostScript Fills
          4. Textured Fills
          5. Tiled Fills
          6. Custom Fills
          7. Custom Halftone Settings
        5. Extrude, Smudge, and Shadow
      3. Simplifying Complex Artwork
        1. Clean House
        2. Smooth and Simplify
        3. Trim Off the Fat
      4. Exporting Freehand Files
        1. Exporting Raster Formats
        2. Exporting Vector Formats
          1. Providing Correct Bleed for Export
          2. Exporting Documents Containing Multiple Pages
        3. Exporting PDF Files
          1. Exporting Directly to PDF
          2. Print to Adobe PDF
            1. Distill PostScript or EPS for Best Results
            2. Macintosh OS X: Save As PDF
    14. Twelve. InDesign Production Tips
      1. Graphics
        1. Placing Graphics
        2. There’s Good Drag and Drop...
        3. ... and There’s Bad Drag and Drop
        4. Copy and Paste
        5. Embedding and Unembedding Graphics
        6. Updating Missing or Modified Graphics
          1. Finding Missing Graphics
          2. Updating Modified Graphics
          3. Replacing Current Graphics
        7. Editing Graphics
        8. Transforming Graphics
      2. Using Native Files
        1. Photoshop Native Files (PSD)
          1. Drop That Shadow
          2. InDesign CS2: Object Layer Options
        2. Illustrator Native Files (AI)
        3. PDF Files as Artwork
      3. Swatches
        1. Stubborn Swatches
        2. What to Do About All Those Extra Swatches
        3. Ink Manager
        4. Colorizing Images
      4. Converting Legacy QuarkXPress and PageMaker Files
        1. Preparing for Conversion
        2. What to Expect
          1. PageMaker Conversion Issues
          2. QuarkXPress Conversion Issues
          3. Cleaning Up
          4. When Not to Convert Legacy Files
      5. General Document Issues
        1. IDLK Files
        2. Automatic Recovery
        3. Going Back in Time
        4. Reducing File Size
        5. Let It Bleed
        6. One Size Fits All: Layout Adjustment
        7. Checking Out of the Library
      6. Transparency
        1. Transparency Flattening
          1. Put Text on Top
          2. Choose the Appropriate Transparency Blend Space
          3. Choose the Appropriate Transparency Flattener Preset
            1. Rasterizing Text and Vector Content
            2. Generating Shadows and Feathered Edges
            3. Appropriate Flattener Settings
          4. Invoking Transparency Flattener Presets
          5. Special Case: Spot Color Content
          6. Spot Colors and Transparency: Overprinting at the Print Service Provider
          7. Drop Shadows: The Sun Never Moves
      7. Finding & Fixing Problems
        1. Forensic Tools
        2. Info Palette
        3. Preflight and Package
      8. PDF Creation Methods
      9. PDF Creation Settings
    15. Thirteen. QuarkXPress Production Tips
      1. Versions
        1. Saving QuarkXPress 6.5 Files to Earlier Versions
          1. Synchronized Text
          2. Projects: Convert to Individual Documents
          3. Font Issues
          4. Photoshop Native Files
          5. QuarkVista™ Picture Effects
      2. General QuarkXPress Cautions
        1. Beware the BIOS
        2. Graphics
          1. No Pasting from the Clipboard
          2. Clipping Paths
          3. Portable Document Format Files (PDFs) as Artwork
        3. Specifying Colors
        4. Creating PDF Files
          1. Export to PDF: QuarkXPress 5.0
          2. Export to PDF: QuarkXPress 6.0 Through 6.5
          3. Print to Distiller/PDF Printer (QuarkXPress 5.0 and Above)
          4. Print to PostScript, Distill Manually
          5. Save as PDF
        5. Collect for Output
      3. QuarkXPress 7.0
        1. New Features
        2. Improved Support for Photoshop Native Images
        3. Exporting PDF Files from QuarkXPress 7.0
      4. Troubleshooting
        1. What a Drag
        2. Divide and Conquer
    16. Fourteen. Acrobat Production Tips
      1. Acrobat Product Line
      2. Where Do PDFs Come From?
      3. Creating PDF Files
        1. Determining Which Type of PDF You Should Create
        2. PDF Settings and Some Important Standards
        3. Acrobat Distiller
        4. Handling Image Content
          1. Resolution Settings
          2. Compression Settings
        5. Font Embedding
      4. Editing PDF Files
        1. Editing Text
        2. Editing Graphics
      5. Print Production Toolbar
        1. Forensic Tools: What’s Wrong with this PDF?
          1. Output Preview
          2. Preflight
          3. PDF Optimizer
        2. Repair Tools
          1. Convert Colors
          2. Ink Manager
          3. Add Printer Marks
          4. Crop Pages
          5. Fix Hairlines
          6. Transparency Flattening
          7. PDF Optimizer
          8. Trap Presets
          9. JDF
      6. Using External PDF Editors
    17. Print Production Resources
      1. Organizations
        1. User Groups
        2. Online Communities and Forums
        3. Printing Industry Organizations
        4. Packaging Organizations
        5. Technical Education Organizations
      2. Conferences and Trade Shows
        1. Printing Industry Events
        2. Design Conferences
        3. Acrobat/PDF Conferences
      3. Design and Printing Books
        1. Desktop Publishing
          1. General Design
        2. General Printing
        3. Typography
      4. Software-Specific Books
        1. Acrobat
        2. Adobe Creative Suite
        3. Freehand
        4. Illustrator
        5. InDesign
        6. Photoshop
        7. Photoshop Specialty Topics
        8. QuarkXPress
      5. Publications
        1. Desktop Publishing
        2. Design
        3. Printing Technology
        4. Tutorials
      6. Destinations

    Product information

    • Title: Real World Print Production
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: July 2006
    • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
    • ISBN: 9780321410184