Tips & Techniques

Many production hang-ups that cause interrupted workflow can actually be corrected in pre-press. Take a look at some common production problems and the simple fixes that will make your print job go more smoothly.

For dots and screen plugs – try setting your screen values lower than the desired percentage depending on paper surface, color, and relative placement of elements. For example, when using a halftone or tint next to or surrounded by a solid, set screen values 20% to 30% lower. If using opaque, metallic or fluorescent ink, then try reducing the screen 40% to 50% lower.

For dull or washed out solid colors – consider adding a screen under your primary color or a double hit to intensify a solid. For example, if using black, create a "rich black" in Quark and define the color as 40C 20M 0Y 100K in your color palette. This allows the black to have the strength it needs without plugging the photos or screens that may be in close proximity to the solid. For heavy solids, separate plates are recommended to control ink interference.

Rules that refuse to trap – don’t use ‘rule above/rule below’ in Quark if you intend to trap rules to a background color. Trapping cannot be applied to rules created in this manner.

Screen grabs fail to register – after converting your RGB screen grabs to CMYK, remove the CMY under the black type in the window areas of your screen.

Photos raster in windows – when importing grayscale or 4-color process TIFFS into Quark, the background of your window cannot have ‘NONE’ selected. Select WHITE or 0% BLACK for window background.

Mixed messages from drop shadows on type – don’t create drop shadows on type by stylizing the font if the shadow and type are two different colors or if the background color is different. Because the type is still in the same text block, stylized shadows cannot be trapped. Stylizing also distorts the letter spacing which makes it difficult or impossible to recreate exactly. Instead, create a new text block, copy the line of type, offset the 2nd box to the degree of drop shadow desired, and colorize according to your design palette. This allows the operator to simply select each text block and apply the trapping strokes.

FPO (for position only) photos or graphics are either replaced inaccurately or not replaced at all – First, note on your laser printouts what is "live" art and what is "FPO." Keep a log of your images. Record the percentage that you scanned them in. Make note of how you may have distorted or resized the image, as this will help us accurately replicate your desired effect. Output the final version of your file at 100%.