Articles > Supplying for Output Article: Supplying for Output If you have a job you'd like printed - whether you have a disk file, a print-out, or even a hand-drawn sketch - generally we can use any document you supply us with. Just follow these simple guidelines, and it will minimise the time spent on preparing the document, and a fast turn-around is guaranteed. Supplying Hard Copies Checking the Software Preparing your Files Supplying your Job

Supplying Hard Copies

Negative / positive film and bromides are good for accurate reproduction, as we can make our printing plates directly from them. However, in these days of digital imaging, film and bromides aren't quite as common as they used to be.

Laser printouts are good, provided that the output resolution lies between 300 and 600dpi. Anywhere above 600dpi (eg. 1200) the resolution may be too fine, and make an uneven look in some screens (stipples) etc. in your document.

Colour printouts are similar to Laser, but as colour printers generally don't produce the quality needed for direct usage, scanning and touching-up of the image may be neccesary. Where possible, it's better to supply any computer-created images and documents to us as a file, which can be directly worked with.

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Checking the Software

We use both IBM and Macintosh computers for typesetting and graphic design, so chances are that we have the same programs you use. Any document supplied from one of the following applications is directly compatible:

• Adobe Illustrator / Pagemaker / Photoshop
• Claris Works Office
• Quark Xpress
• Corel Draw / Photopaint / Ventura
• Microsoft Publisher / Works / Word

However, if you have a document to output which was designed in a program that's not listed here, there are more options available. If you're unsure, simply contact us so we can work out a method which will cater to your needs.

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Preparing your Files

Once you have the completed document ready, it's a good idea to include all associated items with it (especially images and scans if you have them). Some software will give you the option to collect these files with a document; those options would be something like Collect for Output in Quark Xpress or Prepare for Commercial Printer in Microsoft Publisher. When there is no option, these items should be collected manually... simply copy them (with your document, of course) onto a floppy disk or burn onto a CD. Or, send them via email (see the Supplying your Job section below).

One consideration with pictures and images at this stage is their resolution. For a good quality reproduction, the printing standard is around 300dpi (dots per inch). Any images that you may have downloaded from the Internet are mostly 72dpi, which looks good on-screen, but when reproduced at 300dpi they come out blocky or grainy. But in these cases, the measurement of the image can help. Digital photos are fine (even though they are usually 72dpi), as they are saved at a large measurement. Once they are shrunk to the neccesary size they will gain the extra resolution needed.

If you're unsure about images and resolution, just bring what you have and we will come up with a solution for you.

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Supplying your Job

The quickest and easiest method of supplying your job to us, is to send your collected files via email. In most cases, you can simply attach the collected files and send them... but the total file size must be smaller than 10 megabytes. Anything larger than this size will be refused by most email servers.

One way around the size problem is to 'compress' the files. We are able to recognise files which have been compressed by most standard compression utilities.

The common compression for both IBM and Mac machines is ZIP format. This format is used natively in Windows XP, it treats zipped files as if they were standard folders. A popular IBM zip utility is WinZip, and a common Macintosh zip utility is ZipIt. Another often-used compression utility for Macintosh is Stuffit. Multiple files and folders can be merged and shrunk into a single smaller file using these compression utilities, so there are obvious advantages in using compression.

In all cases, you will be supplied with a printed proof of your document for confirmation, prior to us printing the final job. Remember that our ultimate goal is to supply you with a finished product that you're completely satisfied with.

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