Brisbane InDesign User Group

Meeting Summary

From InDesign to Printer, best practice workflows.
Thu, Jun 5th, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Design College Australia

Event Details

For our June meeting, we had a very good turnout, with 20-odd people popping in; for a few this was their first time. Michael Barnard from Colourwise did not disappoint. He showed us how to achieve the very best from our printers, from beginners to those of us who have been dealing with printers for years, and needed a refresher on things as well as an update on new technology available here in Brisbane.

We all learnt about important issues and fixes to get the best results for our work. The most important is to communicate with the printer: is it quality or budget that comes into play? Quantity and time also help in deciding on the perfect printer, and respect for each others' trades makes even the almost impossible flow effortlessly and achieve great results.

Some of the horrors that printers encounter every day on files can be fixed with a few simple reminders to ourselves, before sending to them.

• Are the files linked or embeded?
• Do I require a rich black or 100% Black?
• What type of fonts am I using -- TrueType, PostScript, or OpenType? (OpenType is the safest, even if it means updating some of our old fonts.)
• Is the white overprinting within the logos?
• Have I preflighted the document before sending?
• Maybe using the packaging function built within will make sure that all the fonts and linked files are included with the job.
• Have I put bleed on where it is needed? (3mm or 5mm is fine, but if the printer requires more or less, they will tell you.)
• What is my file named?
• Are there special instructions required for the printer?
• If the file is PDF -- do I require the printer's Job Options to make the appropriate PDF?
• Have I done a spell check or had someone else check over the file before sending to the printer?

Michael also went over the difference between dpi, ppi, lpi, and spi (1.5 or 2 times the dpi to lpi) and how to set colour settings in Bridge to make sure that they are consistent throughout the job. The best way to send a job via PDF (export , don't distill). CMYK veruses RGB images and how they will change via different printers.

Each printer specialises in different areas of print. Digital printers excel at small run jobs and Colourwise have a fantastic new HP Indigo 5500 Digital Offset Press with seven colour inks. The Indigo is loaded with HP IndiChrome inks which enable Colourwise to accurately simulate 1124 pantone colours. They also offer special effect inks like the digital matte to create gloss highlights. It's a digital press, i.e., no plates, so it is cost effective for short runs and variable data jobs.

For larger quantity jobs, an offset printer would be more suitable. So for the stress-free print job (as there is always enough from your clients) the most important thing to remember is to communicate with the printer, even if it is going to be late because of said client.

We also announced the winner of our one and only competition to design a logo for the Brisbane Group and make up a new flyer. The winner was Emilia Mok, who somehow managed to design up two different flyers -- she won InDesign CS3 and two great books, and the next meeting details will go out on the new design. (For a sneak preview of Emilia's winning entry, download the PDF from the bottom of this page.)

Also a huge thanks to to Heather Matthew and Madeline Kersting, who also contributed some great and fun designs. I hope they find the books helpful.

Thank You

Brisbane InDesign User Group has fantastic support of many great sponsors and presenters and we would not be able to have nights like this without them. So a huge thank you to the following companies:

• Adobe
• Aquent
• Colourwise
• Fuji Xerox
• Design College Australia
• MBE Stonescorner
• Peachpit
• O'Reilly
• Indesign Secrets

Also a big thank you to the following people:
• Karen & Tim
• Martin & Michael (for Presenting)
• Lana & Clint who have given their time to help make the night really fantastic

Comments from the evaluation sheets

"It was all good" –Deanna Collins

" Michael was a great presenter, really enjoyed it even though I knew most of it, picked up a few new tips" –Julie Sprott

" Awesome" –Clayton Smith

" All Good" Lots of useful information" –Iain Anderson

" Very informative. Learned a lot. Have been designing for years but was greaat to be reminded of all those basics that we tend to forget" –Clifton Smith

"Interesting, glad I came" –Tania

Next Meeting

I hope to see everyone at the next meeting in 14 August.

Please Note that The Design College has moved premises and so our next meeting will be at 200 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley.