Prepress Services

Good print starts with good files. Our prepress team checks your artwork and works with the printer to resolve any issues before your job goes to press.

File Audit

We inspect supplied files for print-readiness, including:

  • Document dimensions

  • Bleed and trim

  • Image resolution

  • Colour space

  • Fonts

  • Pagination

  • Transparency and overprint

  • Covers and spine dimensions

  • Finishing requirements

    We provide an inc. Printers Inspection Report, highlighting any issues identified during our prepress check and outlining what needs attention before the files proceed to print.

Printer Coordination

We work with the selected printer to make sure artwork meets their production requirements and resolve technical issues before files go to press.

  • Checking printer specifications

  • Obtaining and interpreting printer templates

  • Managing prepress queries

  • Coordinating proofs

  • Reviewing printer prepress reports

  • Communicating corrections between client, designer and printer

Templates

For projects requiring specialist production, we coordinate the relevant templates and technical specifications, including:

  • Casebound covers

  • Dust jackets

  • Slipcases

  • Die lines

  • Foil and embossing/debossing

  • Gatefolds

  • Tip-ins

  • Other bespoke construction

Proofing

Different projects call for different types of proofs, depending on what you need to check before production. We can arrange and manage a range of proofing options, including:

  • Soft proofs

  • Colour / contract proofs

  • Wet proofs

  • Ozalids / content proofs

  • F&Gs (folded & gathered sections)

We can help you choose the right option for your project, based on the print process, paper, finishing and what you need to check before production.


Read more about the different types of proofs here.

Our Process

Corrections

File
Received

Artwork
Audit

Prepress
Report

Printer
Proof

Approval

Production

Preparing your files.

File specifications can vary depending on the printer, paper stock, binding and finishing. If you're unsure how to set up your artwork, talk to us before sending us your final file.

PDF Specifications

  • Artwork supplied at 100% final size

  • 3mm bleed on all sides where images or artwork extend to the trim edge

  • Crop / trim marks where required

  • Images generally 300dpi

  • Colour artwork supplied as CMYK

  • Fonts embedded or converted to outlines

  • Body text in 100% black only. Do not use Registration Black.

  • Solid black panels should have 30%C/30%M/30%Y added to ensure a good rich black.

  • If using spot colours, specify the correct Pantone / PMS colour and whether it is intended for coated or uncoated stock.
    eg PMS320c (coated stock)
    or PMS320u (uncoated stock). 

  • Folded panels need to be set up to accommodate the fold. Roll-fold panels are not always equal in width, so ask us for the required panel dimensions if you're unsure.

Native File Specifications

Use Adobe InDesign: File → Package to collect the InDesign document, linked images and fonts into one folder.

Please supply:

  • All linked images

  • All required fonts

  • Any additional artwork or supporting files

  • 3mm bleed where required

  • Artwork at 100% final size

  • Colour images should be converted to CMYK (Not RGB) and 300dpi using ICC Profile FOGRA39 for coated papers and
    FOGRA 47 for uncoated.

  • Black and White images should be grayscale 300dpi

  • Bitmap / line-art images at 1200dpi

For offset printing, supply any required spot colours as correctly named PMS colours.

Book File Considerations

Books and publications involve additional considerations beyond a standard print-ready PDF. Before setting up your files, consider the following:

  • Pagination and page count – Check that pages are in the correct order and that the total page count works for the chosen binding and production method.

  • Sections – Consider how the publication will be divided into sections and how these will be imposed and bound.

  • Covers and spines – Spine width depends on the final page count, paper and binding method. We can provide the correct dimensions and printer template.

  • Casebound covers – Casebound books require artwork to be set up to a specific construction template, including cover, spine and turn-ins.

  • Dust jackets – Allow for the full jacket, including front, back, spine, flaps and required bleed.

  • Gatefolds and fold-outs – These require careful consideration of panel sizes, folding direction and placement within the publication.

  • Tip-ins and inserts – Additional pages, plates or other inserts need to be accounted for in the production plan and supplied as separate artwork where required.

  • Endpapers – Endpaper artwork and paper selection can differ from the main text and should be considered as part of the book's construction.

  • Special finishes – Foil, embossing, debossing, spot varnish and other embellishments generally require separate artwork files or layers.

  • Binding – The binding method affects page count, gutter allowances, cover dimensions and how artwork behaves in the finished book.

Send us your print-ready files

Send files via WeTransfer

For book and publication projects, please supply separate files for each production component where applicable:

  • Cover

  • Text / interior pages

  • Fold-outs and gatefolds

  • Tip-ins

  • Dust jackets

  • Foil artwork

  • Embossing / debossing artwork

  • Other embellishment or finishing files

For larger or more complex projects, we'll confirm exactly what files we need.

Clear, consistent file names help everyone identify the correct artwork and avoid version mix-ups.

For example:

ProjectName_Cover_v03.pdf
ProjectName_Text_001-096_v03.pdf
ProjectName_Text_097-192_v03.pdf
ProjectName_Foil_v02.pdf
ProjectName_Deboss_v01.pdf