What is Pre Press

In print industry parlance, “prepress” refers to all the processes and procedures that need to be carried out between the creation of a print layout and the final intended printing. Since the advent of desktop publishing, prepress has come a long way and many of its processes have become automated.  

Modern prepress and reprographic professionals usually separate the whole process into three stages: 

Stage 1: Pre-Flighting 

The first stage in the prepress process begins right after the graphics file is created and sent to print. During pre-flighting, skilled and experienced technicians make certain that the file contains all the relevant elements for a successful print run. 

For instance, graphics are checked to make sure the images have the proper resolution and format, the Pantone Matching System/CMYK color is set up properly. That all the fonts are included as well as all layout elements like crop marks, bleeds, and margins are arranged. 

Often prepress professionals, depending on the software used to create it, will need to convert the original file to a more printing-friendly format, such as PDF. 

All in all, pre-flighting is a crucial step where potential printing issues are caught early in the process. However, the vast majority of prepress technicians won’t find or correct any grammar or spelling mistakes, so it’s always a good practice that designers and clients run the file through proofreading and other quality control software before sending it to the printer. 

Stage 2: Creating a Proof 

After the graphics file is approved in the first stage, the next would be to create a proof. A proof is a close representation of how the final print will appear when it gets printed. It is usually created in PDF and can be sent to the client who needs to sign off the proof for approval.  

The main purpose of the second stage is to ensure both printer professionals and clients are in complete agreement on what will be the desired outcome once you start moving forward. It also shows how you'll ultimately want things done, such as with pamphlets or books that need to be folded or bound. 

Stage 3 – Printing Plates (in Case of Offset Prepress) 

If the job requires a digital printing press, then the prepress work is basically over. The graphics file is electronically sent directly to the press without the need to create printing plates. 

In digital printing, the graphic file is directly emailed to the press and it does not require creating printing plates separately. But this is not the case with offset printing where it is an absolute necessity to make printing plates after approval from the client. They are made from plastic, rubber, paper or metal depending upon the requirement. Their main purpose is to properly transfer images to cardboard, paper, or other substances, and this is achieved using photomechanical, photochemical, or laser processes to engrave the image on the printing plate. 

At this point, the actual run begins thus bringing an end to the prepress process. Although it's now the job of the press to produce the final print, regular verifying still needs to be done so that the quality stays consistent throughout the run, before sending the shipment to the client.  

Prepress ensures that your document contains all the layout elements and fonts along with intended color schemes before sending it to the printer. It ascertains correct file resolution, trim and bleed dimensions, font integrity and accurate logo & photo links. Any negligence or inefficiency on either the client or designer’s part often results in creating deadline delays and possible compromise in the quality of the final product. 

Machine Dalal platform is preferred by the buyers and sellers from the global print industry to get directly connected with each other and trade their machinery without any meddling involved.           

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