Prepress Workflow

Job Description per File/Work Order

This article is written and suggested by Dipl. Inf. Herman Pratomo to achieve a Prepress Workflow Standard for Printing Companies in Indonesia (for: book making and label/packaging printing).

Curriculum Vitae:

Lulus Diplom Informatiker (Dipl. Inf.) di Universität Dortmund, Jerman dengan Special Research: Implementing Semantic Database System.

Pada tahun 1987 Herman Pratomo memulai mengeluti industri grafika sebagai instruktur operasi mesin Separasi Warna merk Dainippon Screen (sekarang lebih dikenal dengan SCREEN saja), pelatihan-pelatihan diikuti mulai dari peralatan & pengoperasian mesinSeparasi Warna SCREEN di Kyoto(Jepang), Phototypesetting BERTHOLD di Berlin (Jerman), Guilloche & Line Relief Printing System di Itzehoe (Jerman) serta Tinta Cetak di Mütschellen (Swiss).

Mulai tahun 1995 memulai usaha pracetak Alamindah Warna, teknologi pracetak modern telah diaplikasikan saat itu, antara lain: separasi duotone, Pantone Hexachrome®, Digital Color Proofing (mulai Artpaper hingga kertas koran) dengan Bestcolor dan Roland Inkjet Printer;

Saat ini Herman Pratomo mengajar Digital Prepress di Politeknik Negeri Jakarta, Pengetahuan Warna di Poloteknik Negeri Media Kreatif dan telah memberikan pelatihan & konsultasi pracetak di beberapa perusahaan supplier dan percetakan bidang penerbitan & kemasan di Indonesia.

Sebagai hobi Herman Pratomo menulis program kecil di Adobe Illustrator CS2 agar program tersebut mampu membuat barcode (EAN13, UPC-A, ISBN dan ISSN).

Forum FGD (singkatan dari Forum Grafika Digital) dibentuk bersama beberapa rekan pekerja grafika dengan tujuan untuk meningkatkan mutu SDM grafika serta memajukan industry nasional; forum ini juga mengadakan pameran industry grafika yaitu: FGDexpo di Jakarta dan EDGE di Surabaya.

Applications needed: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat Profesional, (minority roles: FreeHand, CorelDRAW, QuarkXpress, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Visio);

Tools needed: Standard Used Color Books, Spectrophotometers

Supposed: no separated films / Copydot File / 1-bit TIFF Files

Digital Prepress Steps:

1. gen:Setting all application softwares to company’s environment.

2. gen: Handling files (completeness, opening files: layout files, linked imaged files, linked graphic files, fonts)

3. gen: Menganalisa & menentukan Jumlah Warna & Press Run (criteria post press process)

4. ps: Analyze Image Files: Size & Resolution (viewing channel by channel at 100%)

5. ps: Menentukan & mengkoreksi warna dalam file image

6. ps: Coverting RGB to CMYK & Color Correction if necessary

7. ps: Converting Black in Text to single color Black with overprint/multiply blend

8. ps: Membuat keputusan untuk warna khusus (Bump Plates or Duotones)

9. ai: Analisa layout file atau linked graphic files

10. other: Checking format, mengkonversi format dari non AI(FH/CDR) ke AI

11. ai: Layout file à Size, Right Position, Critical Layout positions à make Suggestion

12. ai: Replacement linked Image Files

13. ai: Konversi warna di layout

14. ai: Membuat warna khusus di illustrator

15. ai: Membuat sisiran

16. ai: Trapping (for prepress workflow without Trapping Software)

17. other: Checking format, converting non ID (QXP/PM) to ID

18. id: handling: Page Document or Book Document

19. id: page by page Layout Checking for steps 19 - 21

20. id: corrected Page Numbering (important: book document)

21. id: used Dictionary and Hyphenation? (for Indonesian Language should be check the correctness hyphenation)

22. id: Consistency of (characters & paragraphs) Styles

23. id: Jumlah halaman isi sesuai dengan penjilidan

24. id: handling Spreads, Island spreads (check during Imposition at step: 32)

25. id: Preflighting

26. id: Packaging (pengemasan dokumen), if neccesary

27. ai/id: Creating correct PDF Files

28. pdf: Visual Check: Image Resolution, Colors, Trapping, Overprint

29. pdf: Final Preflighting

30. prod: Print: Digital Proofing

31. prod: Checked the Colors: Separation, solid spot colors, screened spot colors, multiple color separations, e.g. Pantone Hexachrome

32. prod: Analyze Digital Proofing Feedback & Comments if the Digital Proof is not approved by customer

33. prod: Step & Repeat or Imposition

34. prod: Real Proofing if necessary / needed

35. prod: Analyze Real Proofing Feedback & Comments if Real Proof is not approved

36. prod: RIPping & Imaging (incl: Plate Making if CTF owned only)

note:

gen: general; ps: Adobe Photoshop; ai: Adobe Illustrator; id: InDesign; pdf: Acrobat; prod: other Production Tools, e.g.: RIP, Workflow, Prep etc.; other: other applications/tools

Packaging Workflow

Book Production Workflow

In the Prepress Department should employ technicians, who able to operate and maintain:

1. Digital Proofing Tools (Calibrating, Profiling, Measurement, RIP handling)

2. CTF/CTP (Calibration, RIP handling, Checking Film &/ Plate Quality) and

3. its Processors (Auto Replenishment Setup)

4. (Copydot) Scanner

5. Plate Baking Utility