This is a great, often overlooked, feature of FlightCheck Professional v6- the ability to open or preflight two (or more) documents at a time. This allows you to very effectively compare the two and see the differences, if any. We have heard from users doing this and thought it wise to share with you in the form of a video… plus, a few other general preflight tips; showing how you *could* check each image in Adobe Photoshop seperately or just use FlightCheck to get the job done for you within seconds:

We work and live in confusing and complex times. This is especially true for those who are involved in graphic design, photography, illustration and the other dozen or so disciplines that make up the graphics world.

As we prepare digital files steps need to be taken to make sure missing fonts and images are included, fonts are with the files, colors are converted to CMYK, and trapping is correct. Preflighting all aspects of digital files before PDFs are created increases the chance of error-free output.

There is an interesting article titled, “When do you need to preflight; the ROI discussion” which has some excellent points about preflighting. for instance, they say;

“The need for preflighting depends on the workflow and the job type. Magazine publishers will want to preflight early in the publishing process because they have no idea where the layout files they receive (adverts, classifieds, etc., for example) come from, and what the skill level of the layout designer of the file was.

Have you ever had a QuarkXpress project go bad on you? Could not open it, was crashing or gave errors like bad file format [70] -70, [39] or [108]? You are not alone and you have no need to stand as such, for Markzware has a fantastic tool for fixing or recovery bad Quark files called MarkzTools. Watch how easy it is to salvage your damaged or dead XPress file via this video demo:

Here is an interesting article and related Google Trends comparison between QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign titled, “QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign - Google Trends Report“:

One thing is for sure; over here at Markzware, FlightCheck Professional can preflight both InDesign and QuarkXPress, as well as the resulting PDF… Plus, we have conversion tools such as ID2Q (InDesign to QuarkXPress) and Q2ID (QuarkXPress to InDesign) which could assist you no matter which layout application you choose today or in the future.

With all the various media available to today’s content creator, communicating with large groups has become a complex proposition. You have to scream to get people’s attention — especially when preparing documents for print.

The printed word is still the most reliable format for reaching potential audiences. Just a few years ago, it’s layout was created with paper strips of text that were pasted up on art boards, using either wax or rubber cement This was know as ‘cold type.’

It took until the early 1990s for most organizations to come to rely on page layout software. The freedom computer programs now allow designers can be as varied as one’s imagination.

A few years ago, printed pieces were created using strips of text that were pasted on art boards. These strips of paper were bound to the board with wax or rubber cement. Known as “cold type,” it wasn’t until the early ’90s that most organizations began to rely on page layout programs. Today, the freedom computer programs allow is as varied as your imagination.

Mistakes do happen. Fonts, color and images quality are the prime culprits that damage smooth print workflows. These problems are just some of the topics covered as part of the Graphic Arts Institute [GAI] training program in San Francisco.

Located in the Northern California Print Center, which also is home to the Printing Industries of Northern California [PINC] and a number of other print-related businesses, the GAI’s in-plant uses a four-color 20-inch Heidelberg Speedmaster press to produce fliers, brochures, booklets and envelopes in print runs up to 8,000 units. Many of these printed pieces include information about PINC’s and GAI’s health program and health insurance program.

Just over a decade ago the way we produce print was irrevocably altered. The offset world became enlightened by computer-to-plate (CTP) manufacturing, and among quick print and copy establishments, digital production printing revolutionized their business model.

The transition from analog to digital in the print process happened virtually overnight — at least for print suppliers. They had to make capital investments in new digital tools. For print buyers, content creators and retail customers, the learning curve has been significantly steeper. Suddenly, they weren’t being asked to submit camera-ready content; rather, they were being asked for digital files.