1. Only place files for the piece you want to be printed on the disk you give to

    your printer or service bureau. If not, count on paying for whatever else is

    output.

2. Always provide a hard copy "style sheet" which shows everything on your

    disk, including file names, images, font usage, operating system and any

    other info that will help direct your printer or service bureau with your output.

3. Along with your disk always provide a hard copy of your artwork that is to be

    printed. "A picture is worth a thousand words" when your printer or service

    bureau can see what you are attempting to output.

4. Always provide a folded dummy of your work. There is no reason for your

    bindery to guess at your printing and folding requirements, because many

    variations are possible but only one is correct.

5. On your disk along with your document file, always provide an image

    folder with all the images you will be printing and a font folder with all the

    fonts to be used when printing your piece. Do so even with programs that

    embed them. If a fix is required of your printer or service bureau it is more

    difficult and costly to you to work with embedded files and not all programs

    embed fonts and images properly.

6. Never use JPG, GIF or other internet type file formats; they are usually low

    resolution and JPG files have a built in compression that can be visible on

    larger printed projects such as posters. These formats will print poorly

    because they generally have about 5% of the information required to print

    high resolution images. Generally stick with TIFF or EPS files for your

    images. The average printed piece on a small press is 266 dpi and on a large

    press 300 dpi (dpi is approx. 2X the line screen). If printing process color, be

    sure to convert your RGB images to CMYK or you will have shifts in color

    you might not like.

7. Work backwards from the last step of your printing job and you will avoid

    making mistakes that, as they say in the music business, "can be fixed in

    the mix". They usually cannot and might require you to reprint. Plan your

    print job from the bindery portion of the printing process (if that is your last

    step) and make sure that all requirements necessary in bindery, such as

    folding, die cutting, etc can be met in the prior process of printing and film

    output. (An example is "creep" which is preparing your page sizing to fold

    accurately).

8. Understand how pages print and what a "press efficient form" is: 4 for small

    press, 8 for a 28" press and 16 for 40" large press. This will allow you to

    keep your project within budget. (If you have 5 pages of information and can

    reduce or compact your information to 4 pages you are being press efficient).

9. Do not try to reinvent the wheel. Work with the most efficient press and

    bindery layout for your project. If you don't use the best machine for your

    requirements you will suffer in quality or costs.

10.The most important of the commandments: REDUNDANCY IS YOUR

    FRIEND! Cover your bases and watch the details in every area.