Keeping the printer happy

Here is a scenario for you:-

You have just finished a spectacular project after burning the midnight oil for a client who came to you last minute. In order to send your lovely InDesign composition (which by the way -looks the business!) to the printer, you export a high-resolution press quality pdf and email it as an attachment. Now your work is done.

The following morning, you are abruptly awakened by an early phone call from the printer telling you he is having problems with the file due to missing fonts, the linked artwork being in RGB format (and not in CMYK) and also not having enough of a bleed. DOH - that is what happens when you burn the midnight oil!

Below is quick reminder of the typical things printers often have to remind designers of:

• create outlines of all the text in your designs or send a copy of all fonts used (even if they are standard fonts).
• convert all artwork to CMYK colour space, although some printers do now accept RGB artwork if they have a digital printer.
• include a bleed, an extra allowance where artwork goes beyond the edge of the required size to ensure consistency after trimming - typically 3mm to 5mm.