| Preflight for Graphic Design and Prepress, an | | | | process, Postflight is not. This may be a nice topic |
| Application or Process? | | | | for later. Take my word on it and avoid Postflight |
| Designers and prepress operators often think of | | | | workflow schemes. Real craftsmen and professionals |
| Preflight as an application. An application that runs on | | | | find and fix all problems at the earliest possible point. |
| files to verify files and identify potential problems. I | | | | Many of these tools below are actually post-flight |
| have trained hundreds of operators in how to | | | | oriented tools. |
| prepare First Time Right Postscript and PDF files. | | | | Preflighting, The Older Expensive Applications for the |
| That's the first thing that I set folks straight on. | | | | job at hand: |
| Preflight is a process. It's a process of going through | | | | Markzware FlightCheck Classic: This preflight software |
| every predictable problem that can happen with your | | | | is developed by Markzware Software. Markzware's |
| printing job. If you think it's a software that you run | | | | FlightCheck Classic is a standalone application that |
| and that's it, you are not going to be able to produce | | | | scans, verifies and collects each job for output. |
| First Time Right PDF files. There are many, many | | | | Currently available as version 5.8 (6.0 was due out |
| things that software cannot even check for, and | | | | this fall), Although it was the gold standard for years |
| things unique to YOUR jobs, customers, company | | | | and is still a great tool, the software is not staying |
| that are important. Things that MUST be checked to | | | | current with releases of software. Example Quark |
| ensure success and accuracy. | | | | Xpress 7. Markzware's FlightCheck Classic will preflight |
| 50% of commercial printing is headed for a delay or | | | | a wide range of digital file formats, including PDF |
| additional costs: | | | | documents and those created in most popular native |
| Publishers and printers regularly report more than 50 | | | | application programs (QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, |
| percent of the digital files they receive are improperly | | | | PageMaker, etc.). Ground Controls enable users to |
| prepared to spec. Thus, these files will need preflight | | | | highlight potential problems, out of more than 150 |
| & then repair to go forward. This may be done by a | | | | choices, for which to search. Single-user licenses for |
| publisher, printer, or kicked back to the graphic | | | | Windows and Mac users are available for about $400. |
| designer. At stake is the budget and schedule of the | | | | This software is no longer recommended because |
| print project. Now, think about that... 50% of | | | | development does not stay current with the support |
| commercial printing projects are destined for a delay | | | | of new application versions that it's users face every |
| in schedule or additional costs when submitted! | | | | day like Quark Xpress 7. |
| A graphic design project may be made for print, | | | | Markzware FlightCheck Collect!: This preflight |
| web, and or video. Depending on the type of media, | | | | software deemed the "lite" version of Markzware's |
| documents must be prepared exactly to | | | | FlightCheck Classic, FlightCheck Collect! inspects for |
| specifications based on final output media. Common | | | | common file problems, like improperly assigned color |
| file flaws include fonts not embedded or supplied, | | | | space, missing fonts and image or resolution conflicts. |
| color space(CMYK vs. RGB, or inappropriate use of | | | | Once preflighted, the application can then collect the |
| Pantone or specialty colors), and resolution conflicts. | | | | document, including images, extensions and screen |
| These are some of the many things that can be | | | | and printer fonts, for output. Markzware offers |
| identified quickly by Preflight tools. A Preflight tool is | | | | Windows and Mac versions for around $180. This |
| utility software that is specially suited to help identify | | | | software is no longer recommended because |
| these file issues. | | | | development does not stay current with the support |
| Preflight Software, helpful, required, but not a Whole | | | | of new application versions that it's users face every |
| Solution: | | | | day like Quark Xpress 7. |
| So there are tools that help. But what about things | | | | Markzware HawkEye: This preflight software from |
| you have to identify by visual inspection? What | | | | Markzware is HawkEye, a preflighting tool designed |
| about bleed and trim margins, placement and position, | | | | specifically for designers and content creators. It runs |
| checking dates on event ads and coupon ads. What | | | | as a plug-in to most popular desktop publishing |
| about checking every full page ad that is a repeat to | | | | applications like QuarkXPress, Illustrator, Acrobat, |
| be sure that the folio (page number) is deleted or | | | | FreeHand and more. Before content is created, |
| updated. What about copy flow from 2 successive | | | | designers can create specifications (known as |
| documents in a publication. These are all things that | | | | TrueFileSpecifications) for each job they plan to |
| must be checked visually by a human. So, if you | | | | create. For example, an art director can choose the |
| want to be a top notch designer or prepress | | | | color schema or font set to use. If the designer |
| operator, there is a list of important Preflight items | | | | mistakenly places an element into the document that |
| that you, the human, must check. I always advise | | | | doesn't meet the TrueFileSpecifications, he or she is |
| people to develop and update THEIR LIST every | | | | immediately alerted to the discrepancy. Users can |
| time a mistake is found or caught. Use the list as a | | | | also choose to forbid saving or printing a file that is in |
| checklist often enough that it becomes completely | | | | a "failed" or "unfixed" state, helping to better manage |
| automatic to you as you prepare and process | | | | revisions, versions and cut down on consumable |
| graphics files. If you get burned on a project, think of | | | | waste. This product from Markzware was advertised |
| making that a part of your preflight checklist. An | | | | and was on a seybold Hot Picks 2002 but may have |
| example or beginning preflight checklist can be found | | | | been pulled or may have never made it to market, |
| at this URL, review it and use it as a starting point. | | | | unable to confirm at Markzware's site? |
| Preflighting Applications, Help, and History of Preflight: | | | | PDF/X-1 Verifier 2.0: This preflight software |
| I once read an article that stated Preflight | | | | developed for the DDAP (Digital Distribution of |
| Applications were invented in the 1990's. Actually, | | | | Advertising for Publication association, this application |
| preflight applications are nothing new at all. The early | | | | verifies the integrity of PDF/X-1a files, the |
| layout applications like Quark Xpress, Aldus | | | | professional format of choice for print advertising. |
| PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop, Ready Set Go, were | | | | This application is suited for both digital ad designers |
| the first preflight applications. Preflight applications | | | | as well as file recipients like publishers, prepress |
| were invented in the 80's, and have been improved | | | | suppliers and printers. It offers pass-fail results or |
| upon and developed since. Today there is a Free | | | | more comprehensive preflight reports. DDAP |
| Preflight Tool available called FreeFlightâ„¢ at | | | | members can purchase single-seat licenses for about |
| the URL below, you can download the software free | | | | $95; non-members pay about $125. |
| and get free help and support. | | | | Apago PDF/X-1 CheckUp: This preflight software |
| There is also an online community at that has | | | | developed by Apago offers PDF/X-1 CheckUp 2.5, a |
| extensive and free, user to user support. I help folks | | | | plug-in to Adobe Acrobat that preflights and |
| there most every day and the site is chock full of | | | | produces PDF/X files. It supports both ISO |
| great insider tips, tricks, problems and solutions. I | | | | (International Standards Organization) PDF/X-1:2001 |
| would encourage any designer, publisher, or printer to | | | | and PDF/X-1a:2001 standards. Mac and Windows |
| join and participate, teach or learn. All experience | | | | versions are available for Acrobat 4.0.5 and 5.0, for |
| levels are welcome to post and answer questions at | | | | about $250ea. |
| this site. | | | | Enfocus PitStop Professional: This preflight software |
| Examples of First Preflight Software Tools: | | | | developed by Enfocus Software, PitStop Pro |
| Example (A) PageMaker has a links palette that | | | | preflights and edits PDF documents. It checks for 140 |
| scanned through the document providing a report | | | | potential problems and offers 70 automated |
| about images linked/missing, RGB/CMYK, Tiff/EPS, | | | | correction features. After running the document |
| etc. This was a preflight results report covering the | | | | through preflight, users can edit existing objects and |
| main document AND many support document files | | | | text, or add new elements. It's also equipped to |
| combined. Thus Pagemaker was a preflight tool that | | | | re-map color space or tag/detag images with ICC |
| could report on files originating from other | | | | (International Color Consortium) profiles. The |
| applications, like scans. It would give the user a list of | | | | software comes with several common PDF profiles |
| confirmations and or problems identified that was to | | | | to select according to a file's final destination. |
| be used to repair and prepare files prior to output. | | | | Windows and Mac versions of PitStop Professional |
| Example (B) Quark Xpress has had a usage palette, | | | | are available for about $550. Enfocus Pitstop is a |
| when called, it scans through the open document | | | | great tool for repairing bad PDF files. However, it is |
| providing detailed reports about fonts used/missing, | | | | not recommended as a Preflight solution. Since the |
| images used/missing/modified, image types, image | | | | PDF is the end result, to check a PDF files is really |
| colors, image paths. This was a preflight results | | | | Postflight, a good preflight workflow is about making |
| report covering the open document AND many | | | | good PDF in the first place. |
| support document files combined. Thus Quark Xpress | | | | Extensis Preflight Pro: This preflight software is |
| was a preflight tool that could report on files | | | | developed by Extensis, Preflight Pro inspects entire |
| originating in other applications, like scans. It would | | | | folders of native application documents created in |
| give the user a list of confirmations and or problems | | | | popular desktop publishing applications like |
| identified that was to be used to repair and prepare | | | | QuarkXPress, Acrobat, Illustrator, PageMaker, |
| files prior to output. Additionally Quark Xpress may | | | | Photoshop and FreeHand. Following preflight |
| have started collect for output, a feature mentioned | | | | inspection, the software then collects the job for |
| in other patents from the 1990's regarding preflight | | | | output. Mac version is available for about $400. |
| software invention. | | | | TIFF/IT-P1 Checker: This preflight software |
| Example© Adobe Photoshop was used to | | | | developed for DDAP by Congruent Development, |
| inspect and verify images. Back in the day, a user | | | | TIFF/IT-P1 Checker is a bundle of software tools, |
| would grab all the Tiffs and Eps placed into a job. | | | | that includes TIFF/IT-P1 Preflight. Suited for both |
| The selected files drag & dropped onto Adobe | | | | digital ad and packaging designers, it also represents a |
| Photoshop would automatically open and display the | | | | low-cost tool for any manufacturing partner that |
| color space in the title bar of each file, CMYK/RGB | | | | receives a large number of TIFF/IT-P1 files. It's |
| Grayscale etc. Thus Adobe PhotoShop was a | | | | available in both Mac and Windows versions and |
| preflight tool that could report on files originating | | | | costs about $100 for DDAP members, $180 for |
| from other applications. An operator could open the | | | | non-members. |
| Image size palette and verify resolution before | | | | Asura & Solvero: This preflight software created by |
| closing each document. Thus a semi-automatic | | | | OneVision Software AG, Asura eliminates frequently |
| preflight of graphic images was performed. So, yes, | | | | occurring production problems in PDF, EPS and |
| Adobe Photoshop was and still is a preflight | | | | PostScript files, with the help of hot-folder |
| application and a file repair application that could | | | | specifications. Asura preflights incoming files, while |
| inspect and identify problems in files which it did not | | | | Solvero automatically repairs common problems. The |
| originate. | | | | system keeps a log of all changes made to a file. |
| Preflighting, Today's Hottest Current Applications: | | | | According to the developer, this coupled solution is |
| QuarkXpress 6.5, QuarkXpress 7, Adobe InDesign | | | | most popular among newspaper publishers, which |
| CS2, these applications have built in preflight function | | | | receive a wide range of digital file formats. |
| these days. Unlike all other preflight software, these | | | | AdCheck: This preflight software developed by Total |
| are native function that is fast and effective. Best of | | | | Integration, AdCheck 2.1 allows users to open and |
| all, they come at no additional cost to the designer, | | | | view production-image format files, including TIFF/IT, |
| publisher, or printer. These are built into both of | | | | CT, HC and LW, using a standard Mac workstation. |
| today's most common preflight applications. | | | | Its Show Info prompt provides detailed information |
| However, there's a few very critical holes in the built | | | | about the file, including size and colors used. |
| in preflight of these applications. No need to worry, | | | | Markzware MarkzNet: This preflight software |
| there's a FREE preflight application caller | | | | developed by Markzware, MarkzNet is not an |
| FreeFlightâ„¢ that has been recently released | | | | out-of-the-box preflighting solution. Rather, it's a blend |
| to address this. The application is a free download | | | | of the company's popular FlightCheck technology with |
| from a Quark Xtension and Adobe Plug-In developer | | | | systems integration. For high-volume production |
| site . FreeFlight is a must have tool that supplements | | | | environments, MarkzNet provides a Web-based portal |
| the use of QuarkXpress and Adobe InDesign CS2 | | | | into a company's production workflow. Customers |
| built in preflight. You can download and read about | | | | submit files with drag-and-drop simplicity. Files are |
| FreeFlightâ„¢ at this URL. | | | | automatically inspected for flaws or conflicts with the |
| "Preflighting" as a printing term came to popularity in | | | | recipient's specifications and either pass or fail. Failed |
| the 1990s as printers and service bureaus ensured | | | | files are rejected and both recipient and sender are |
| that problematic files would be caught and fixed | | | | immediately alerted to the problem. If the file passes, |
| before they found their way into CTF (Computer to | | | | it's automatically forwarded to the next stage of |
| Film) workflow. In this century the term has evolved | | | | production for a truly seamless digital workflow. This |
| into other variations, like post-flight, indicating when in | | | | software is not recommended because it is a web |
| the workflow the file is actually verified. To Preflight | | | | based tool and has proved to be really slow and not |
| is proactive quality control, Postflight is reactive | | | | productive to many users. |
| quality control. Preflight is good manufacturing | | | | |