Preflighting 101 - Part 1; Preflight Overview
Preflight Overview
I a. What is Preflighting?
Preflighting is the process of checking digital files for potential problems prior to output (Exporting to PDF or Printing). This can also be a process best done on native or source file types, such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator or QuarkXpress, everytime before saving or sending the job onto another party- simple quality assurance. Special software such as FlightCheck Professional from Markzware or PitStop from Enfocus can be used, or the process can be done manually, often called the eye-ball method.
Specialty software automates the preflight process and reduces the chance of human error. Preflight software scans documents for problems with images, colors, fonts, and other issues detrimental to print reproduction. It then creates a report that itemizes the problems and suggests how to correct them. To preflight without software assistance, one must first acquire and understanding of the problems that can arise during film output and printing.
Whether using software like FlightCheck or checking files manually, the goal is the same: to get great print results from source digital documents.
I b. Why do we Preflight?
When a digital document is output, there is usually an expense involved. Be it the cost of time, plates, paper, or an actual press run, these costs can be substantial. Preflighting helps minimize the risk of wasted money and time by catching errors in digital documents before they ruin a print job. By checking he document while it’s still in the application, we can fix errors before spending time and money on output. Another advantage of preflighting is that it can identify problems that often go unnoticed until proofs or even press sheets are made.
By getting in the habit of preflighting, many of the headaches involved with digital prepress and creating PDF’s are neutralized. Preflighting files before sending them to a service bureau, repro house or printer can greatly improve the efficiency of the prepress workflow.
I c. Who should Preflight?
Anyone involved with creating or outputting digital documents really should be preflighting. If you are responsible for creating documents, you’ll save time and avoid frustration by preflighting them before they reach a service bureau. Preflighting will also improve the way you build documents by teaching you how these problems arise.
If you are responsible for the output of digital documents such as the print-shop or print-provider, preflighting will help ensure that the documents and all their collected elements are ready for final output- wether it is a PDF or a native InDesign, CorelDraw or QuarkXPress print-job, preflighting will be well worth the relatively small effort. Catching mistakes and problems before sending a document on to the next step benefits everyone involved. (Please note; many term the process of preflighting the PDF file more of a Postflight process.)
In Part II, we will go over “Common Problems.” Stay tuned!
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