Preparing images for digital output on Canon 7000/6000

Discussion in 'Canon imagePRESS Digital Presses' started by ColorDave, Jul 6, 2011.

  1. ColorDave

    ColorDave New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    Lyndhurst, NJ
    What is the best way to prepare images for digital presses?
     
  2. Rmontague

    Rmontague New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2011
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    New York
    Hi dave!
    I see you are in Lyndhurst; I take the train there. We own two 7000's plus a Xerox 250, and other BW equip.
    Dave, your question is kind of broad. This is what we do in our shop...
    1 - All clients are requested to submit PDF files.
    2 - No Native files (ie mystuff.AI, mystuff.docx, mystuf.xls, mystuff.ind,etc.) We have printers and error omission insurance, and we charge a $125.00 and up fee to open ANY file that is not a PDF for a client. Over the past 20 years, we have gone through more than 2 dozen incidents where we opened an -for ex. Excel file, a corporate report was printed (over 1,000 booklets) then a numerical typo appear (it said 5K, when it should have said 5M)... guess who got blamed??? Exactly! We did!
    Strategically, I specifically requested the file on a CD-ROM -even though the client complained and wanted to send it via email; so I was able to take the CD-ROM back to the client and point out that it was his fault
    3 - ALL PDF files MUST be FLATTENED! before being submitted to us. Remember that most new versions of all graphic/typesetting programs save PDF with layers intact! So you MUST ask your clients to flattened the files.
    4 - All fonts MUST be embedded in the PDF (embedding a subset of a font sometimes causes weird problems with Fiery)
    5 - PDF security MUST be disable.
    6 - For books and other copyrighted material make sure your client signed a release form (indicating that he-she owns the material or has permission from the publisher; NJ has some very tricky laws! Also in the same form you can add a "Hold-Harmless" clause to protect you!
    7 - A lot of clients use PDF clones; we find OFTEN problems with such files.
    8 - All your clients who use Adobe products (InDesign, Illustrator, etc.) tell them to disable file compression when printing the PDF; otherwise you will have a lot of unhappy clients who will blame you and your equipment for their pictures printing in low-res.
    Dave unfortunately, duty calls! I am being summoned; hope this helps. Let me know through this medium if I can help.
    Best regards,

    Ralph
     
  3. billy

    billy Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2007
    Messages:
    43
    Location:
    Philippines
    Best way is PDF. the print buyer should know what color space they should work on during the file preparation.