What is digital prepress?
The term “pre-press” is used to describe the process of preparing files for a printing press, making them ready for printing. “Digital Prepress” is the new era terminology replacing the traditional term with digital preparation of files for printing. The availability of graphics and page composition programs makes design work much easier and faster. With digital processing, accomplishing the page layout is no more a strenuous job. It is possible to send and exchange documents electronically, eliminating time and costs of physical delivery.
Digital prepress process requirements
In digital processing, the electronic outputs are usually in the form of PDFs or application files with different file sizes and file types, which may impact the effectiveness of the digital prepress, and therefore, it is prudent to utilize a trained prepress technician to provide competent results, quickly and efficiently.
The digital prepress processes
The digital prepress process usually starts immediately after the word manuscripts are submitted to the prepress company. Let us have a look at the processes that follow.
- Copyediting: This is to ensure consistency in the written work, making sure the content is fair and sensible, and refining the content without altering the original intent. This process also includes formatting the content to publisher’s house style using customized publisher-specific automation tools and services offered by clients.
- Typesetting: This involves creating a proof, that is, designing a layout using one of the leading design applications, for example, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, ArborText (3B2), to name a few. The correction cycle includes image retouching, for which Adobe Photoshop is the leading application.
- Proofreading: This is the penultimate step taken before a document is published. Formatting and typographical errors are checked. This step also ensures the document adheres to the design/layout style guide.
- Digital structuring of the content: The last step is to structure the text for final display. This is done using Markup language, which is a means to give instructions about the layout of how the text of the document or book will be displayed.
- Pre-flighting: Before finished pages go through the remaining processes, a validation is done to check whether all the data meet the necessary printer requirements.
- Creating high-quality print files: This is the process of creating high-resolution PDF that meets all the specifications to produce a high-quality print.
- Digital prepress checklist: The sequence of procedures followed in a digital prepress collectively constitute a workflow. Each workflow process is unique with preferred use of technologies. Whatever the workflow is, the bottom-line is that each and every step of the process has to be carefully managed, which requires a collective participation and co-ordination from each of the digital prepress processes mentioned.
In conclusion:
Digital prepress has become the preferred choice for publishers to print on demand. In fact, the market share of digital printing has almost doubled over the last decade. Electronic publishing is advantageous over traditional publishing in its own ways, and here’s why-
Reduces Manual Processing: Digital prepress streamlines workflows by minimizing multiple, complex processes by way of automated outputs handled by skilled individuals.
Cost-effective: The process is more cost-effective and time-saving, and superior in quality.
Better Reader Experience: It provides the reader with a much better way to experience the content. All of their desired reading materials can be stored and organized digitally.
Interactive and Up to Date: Allows content to be made in a more creative manner, and can add components such as animation, audio, video clips, and hyperlinks.
If you want to experience the benefits of digital printing, we at Hurix Digital would be delighted to offer you the best of services and support with quick turnaround and high quality.
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