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Correct Fonts Included
Make sure all the fonts you have used are included with the job. This includes all fonts used within illustration files. For postscript fonts the screen and printer files should be included. For TrueType fonts only one item is needed as this serves as both screen and printer font. Do not include any fonts which have not been used. |
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Converting Type to Paths
Converting type to outline paths is a useful way of providing a job without the need to supply fonts.
This has a double advantage of ensuring that the text will not flow incorrectly on output. To convert type to paths consult the manual for your specific package. This is not recommended for type in QuarkXpress files. |
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Emboldened/Italicised Fonts
Many layout applications allow you to Embolden (make bold) or italicise type, without using the PostScript font associated with the typeface, by clicking on a B or I icon or selecting from a Style menu. This does not work with every typeface and can result in the text defaulting back to standard or roman style on output. Please ensure you always use PostScript fonts wherever possible. Other style settings, such as outline or underline are acceptable and will work correctly. |
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All Picture files included
Please ensure that all picture files are included with the job. Also make sure that they are the most up to date files and that the links are properly established within your page layout software. Please remember to also include files which are embedded, nested or placed within other files. Failure to supply picture files is one of the most common faults, which delays production. |
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Correct Resolution (Effective)
The resolution of a file as the number of dots per inch (dpi) it contains. As a general rule between 350 and 450 is best for a high quality output, but 250 should be an absolute minimum. The effective resolution is not necessarily the same as the file’s native resolution. It is the resolution at which the file is rasterised on output. For example a 400dpi file reduced to 50% dimension in a page layout package will have an effective resolution of 800dpi, but the same file expanded to 200% would only have an effective resolution of 200dpi. The effective resolution can be quickly checked using a programme such as FlightCheck from Markzware. |
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Correct Colour Mode
The colour mode of a file is determined by its separate channels. The two main colour modes are CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (or Key) - and RGB - Red, Green and Blue. CMY and K are the process colours used for full colour printing. RG and B are the primary colours of light and therefore for on-screen display only. Use ONLY CMKY for print work (NB full colour work only, see colours section for spot colour usage).
Acceptable Colour Modes:
Bitmap
CMYK
Greyscale
Monotone, Duotone, Tritone, Quadtone (Make sure colours are correctly named)
Multichannel
Unacceptable Colour Modes:
RGB
Index Colour
Lab Colour |
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Paths
Paths can be used for a number of reasons when creating a picture in an image-editing program such as Adobe PhotoShop. One of the most common reasons is to ‘clip’ a picture, removing it from its background. When doing this, make sure all other paths are deleted and that the clipping path is correctly set in PhotoShop (see manual for exact procedure). Deleting extra paths causes less confusion for QuarkXpress, which can often pick up on the wrong path if not correctly set up. |
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Alpha Channels
Alpha Channels are used in PhotoShop to store selections, masks and extra colour channels temporarily. Make sure all extra channels are deleted prior to output. It is acceptable to use them in a Multichannel file for spot colour or extra colour jobs. In this instance, the file should be saved as DCS2.0 with Single file, Colour composite selected. Refer to the PhotoShop manual for further details. |
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Correct File Format
Pictures should be saved as EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) or TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files wherever possible. When saving as EPS do not use JPEG compression, use Binary. When saving as a TIFF file it is acceptable to save as Mac or IBM PC encoding and to use LZW compression. LZW is a lossless form of compression, which can reduce file sizes considerably.
Acceptable File Formats:
TIFF
EPS (Bitmap or vector)
Unacceptable File Formats:
JPEG
GIF
BMP
TGA (Targa)
PCX
Anything else |
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Not Hairline
A rule set to Hairline or 0pt will appear broken or not appear at all when output to a high-resolution imagesetter. This is because ‘Hairline’ is a vague measurement and can vary depending on output equipment. Desktop printers (even PostScript ones) will render a Hairline at between 0.3pt and 0.5pt, whereas an imagesetter will render it at 0.01 to 0.1pt. To be sure of rules appearing on the printed job please use 0.25pt as a minimum measurement. Also bear in mind that lines comprised of tints will not render as well as solid coloured lines. |
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Correct colours for job
It is essential that any colours you use in your job are named exactly the same in all applications. PANTONE 280 CV and PANTONE 280 CVU may look the same and have the same colour split, but because of the name difference it is read by the output RIP (Raster Image Processor) as two separate colours. You can ensure colours are set correctly in Duotones in PhotoShop by going into the general preferences dialog box and checking ‘Use short PANTONE names’. If your job is a CMYK job make sure all colours are converted to CMYK or they will not appear on the plate. |
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Trapping
Trapping is the relationship of one colour to another where they meet on the page. It determines which colours sit on top of other colours and which ‘punch’ through. It also determines how much ‘spread’ or ‘choke’ is needed to ensure a correct fit. If you are in any doubt about how to set trapping correctly, leave it alone. |
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Overprint
Black, being the darkest colour, will automatically overprint all other colours when it has a value of 95% or more. This ensures that there are no gaps between it and the base colour. Some other darker colours may also be set to overprint. For example a green comprising of 100% Cyan and 100% Yellow would be fine set to overprint a background of 100% Yellow (in a CMYK job). However a green comprising of 100% Cyan and 30% Yellow would need to be trapped against the background because of the difference in tint value of the Yellow. |
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Knockout
Knocking a colour out of another is mainly used for light colours set out of darker background areas. White will always knockout, as it is the lightest colour. All colours must also knock out of metallic backgrounds as coloured lithographic inks will not sit on top of opaque metallic inks. |
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Spread/Choke
Spread and choke are used to fit colours together when knocking out leaves a gap between the colours and overprinting results in the base colour showing through the top colour. Spreading is when the enclosed colour is expanded to go under or over the background colour and choking is when the background colour encroaches into the enclosed colour. The change is usually so small it is not noticeable to the naked eye. QuarkXpress will often over compensate on trapping on text, resulting in much bolder type. This can be overcome by selecting Trapping Preferences from the Edit menu and changing the default trap to a lower value. We suggest that you use 0.075pt. |
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