Preflighting? Postflight? Is there a difference? Ask anyone involved in the exchange of digital files for print, and you’ll be quick to learn just how important these two terms are to print quality control in the digital workflow.
FlightCheck is the patented preflighting software by Markzware to check documents for print quality control before document output. Preflighting digital files is thoroughly handled with this Markzware preflight solution. FlightCheck can scan documents for potential printing problems so that they can be corrected for digital printing.
Digital Files Preflighting for Print Quality Control
FlightCheck can preflight Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, QuarkXPress, Acrobat and more, to ensure print quality.
The term ‘preflighting’ is the blanket term that printers have been using for more than a decade now, and it refers specifically to the process of verifying that the contents of a digital file are complete, accurately presented and prepared exactly according to the specifications of the file’s output intention – a printing press versus a Web document, for example. Preflighting occurs at the native application stage, during document creation and FlightCheck, the patented preflight solution, is the wise choice for preflighting digital files.
As the name may subsequently imply, ‘postflight’ is a term meaning essentially the same thing – that a file is submitted to a software application that scans its contents and reports on its findings – but it differs as to where in the workflow this verification happens. While preflighting suggests checking to scan file content before it leaves the content creator’s desktop, postflight can be used to describe what printers and service bureaus do to files that have been converted to prepress formats, such as an accredited standard like PDF/X-1a.
Why is it important to distinguish these two terms? Are we merely complicating matters? Indeed, not. As the print industry’s experience with digital file creation and exchange has matured, the paradigm has begun to shift. While many printers are quite content to continue to accept problematic digital files from their client base (and either charging or not charging for making any repairs), the smart ones have realized that to take full advantage of the benefits of digital workflows, it’s time to share the responsibility for quality control.
Therefore, it makes sense that printers begin to evangelize two messages to their customers:
1. It’s important to understand our specifications, which are in place for a reason, so the digital files you submit to us should be prepared according to these specifications, if you:
– want to ensure the best possible reproduction quality,
– would like to develop a streamlined and cost effective workflow, and
– wish to forego the cost and time it takes to fix your problematic files in favor of using these most valuable resources for other purposes.
2. Preflighting and postflight are no longer considered to be the sole function of the print supplier. It is a shared responsibility, and content creators should take advantage of some very low-cost and simple-to-use tools that will help them to ensure that the digital files they create are accurately prepared according to spec before they are forwarded to a print partner.
FlightCheck is the preflight solution for thorough preflighting of digital files. You can check out quantity discounts and purchase FlightCheck online at the FlightCheck page. See more printing solutions on the Markzware Products page.
Digital Files Preflighting with FlightCheck for Print Quality Control
