How to Prepare Digital Files for Letterpress Printing
I want to make sure your design and letterpress printing yields the best results. Contact me if you have any questions about prepping your files for letterpress printing.
The Basics
In general I prefer a Press-ready pdf output from a file that has had its type converted to outlines and the color(s) selected as 100% Black (CMYK) or Pantone Spot. Any bleeds need to extend 1/8" (.125") beyond the finished size of the document.
Raster Graphics
Raster graphics must be true bitmaps; all pixels either black or white. Antialaised artwork will not work for the platemaker. Half-tone bitmaps can be letterpress printed as well but they will need to have a more coarse line-screen setting.
Vector Graphics
Vector graphics are the easiest to work with but you're not restricted to them if you're able to create a usable bitmap.
Trapping
In most cases I recommend over-printing rather than trapping colors that overlap each other. If there will be colors that overlap please supply each color in its own Press-ready PDF.
Saving a Press-ready PDF out of Adobe Indesign
I have created a pdf export profile for InDesign users.
Download Indesign Presets for preparing letterpress files
- Download: jazyrain-letterpress.pdfs
- Open Adobe InDesign
- Go to File > PDF Export Presets
- Select Define…
- Select Load…
- Navigate to, and select, the downloaded .pdfs file
- Click Ok
Now, when you prepare your press-ready art be sure to select Jazyrain-Letterpress from the File > PDF Export Presets menu and follow the Viewing recommendations below when the file opens in Adobe Acrobat.
Or, follow the manual instructions below:
Select File > PDF Export Presets > [Press]... and make the following changes and selections in these sections of the dialog box:
General
Select > View pdf after saving (I'll explain why in a moment)
Compression
Select >"Do Not Downsample" from the drop-down menus
De-select the "Compress Text and Lineart" checkbox
Marks & Bleeds
Printers Marks > select > Crop Marks and Registration Marks. Even if your job is one color and has no bleeds please select these. If your job does have a bleed select the Use Document Bleed Settings checkbox.
Advanced and Security
No changes or modifications needed here
Click "Save preset..." give it a name like "jazyrain files" so you don't have to keep making these selections for every file you send to us.
Viewing the pdf
Now that your pdf is open in Acrobat please view the Output Preview (Advanced > Output Preview) to ensure proper color separation for the plate making process. Make sure there isn't any artwork showing up in the Process Cyan, Process Magenta, or Process Yellow channels by deselecting the Process Black and/or Pantone checkboxes. It's okay that the Printers Marks show in these channels. If the CMY channels are clear you've output a file that can go directly to the platemaker.
Saving a Press-ready PDF out of Adobe Illustrator
Select File >Save As... and select Adobe PDF from the Format menu. Make the following changes and selections in these sections of the dialog box:
General
Select: View pdf after saving (I'll explain why in a moment)
Compression
Select "Do Not Downsample" from the drop-down menus
De-select the "Compress Text and Lineart" checkbox
Marks & Bleeds
Printers Marks > select >Trim Marks and Registration Marks. Even if your job is one color and has no bleeds please select these.
Advanced and Security
No changes or modifications needed here
Click "Save preset..." give it a name like "jazyrain files" so you don't have to keep making these selections for every file you send to me.
Viewing the pdf
Now that your pdf is open in Acrobat please view the Output Preview (Advanced>Output Preview) to ensure proper color separation for the plate making process. Make sure there isn't any artwork showing up in the Process Cyan, Process Magenta, or Process Yellow channels by deselecting the Process Black and/or Pantone checkboxes. It's okay that the Printers Marks show in these channels. If the CMY channels are clear you've output a file that can go directly to the platemaker.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email or call the shop at (360) 608-2827.
