Digital guide
Why go digital?
- File size may be selected to comply with the final requirements - from non-destructive compression for print, to video resolution for the Internet, with the benefit of shorter transmission times.
- Production cycles are potentially shorter, although it demands close integration and co-ordination within the process.
- Lead times for the acceptance of material are shorter.
- Communication between operating units becomes increasingly efficient and reliable.
- Remote proofing using video or digital output enables images to be assessed, adjusted and accepted prior to production.
- Approval and acceptance of material via soft proofing.
- Costs, beyond the initial investment, are no greater when a digital workflow is achieved - and likely to be less as the technology develops.
- Data integrity - what you see is what you get. Reliability and confidence are obtained from the consistent procedure for converting data.
- Flexibility is obtained as you can change items without consuming materials.
- Administration cost saving is obtained through:
- the avoidance of film duplication;
- the ability to repeat material from existing data;
- the storage of material in an archive;
- the ability to select material from a remote location;
- the reduction of delivery costs.
The issues
For people
The technologies used in digital production require a commitment from those implementing a digital workflow. The data and files are largely intangible with the exception of the sign-off proof. Thus a disciplined methodical approach to the handling and manipulation of material is required.
Change management, the relationship between creative and technical people, education, training and partnership with suppliers in both the techniques and handling of digital information are important areas for attention.
Money and investment
An investment in equipment, software, facilities and their effective management will all be necessary. This will require planning, training and understanding before efficiency is achieved. A clearly defined implementation strategy will be required, with a selection from:
- the in-house production of editorial and advertising;
- the partial in-house production of editorial and advertising;
- the control of production;
- the outsourcing of production to a data management centre.
The digital material the publisher prepares or controls may be provided by a wide variety of programmes (computer techniques), methods (formats) or media (data storage). A publisher should be capable of using these if there is a requirement to handle the data.
Delivery methods
The distribution of data and images between participants in the production cycle is a major activity in the digital process. The facilities used in the production of a magazine will need to be compatible with the formats, file sizes and colour accuracy needed.
Data volume will determine the method of transmission employed and value added will influence the choice of provider.
Which file format?
There are three principle types of file that are associated with digital production:
- Component files
- Tiff-IT
- Portable Document Format (PDF)
Component files
Component files are not recommended for transmission to the printer. They are a prime source of editorial and advertising material which needs to be combined into pages or sections.
Component elements may be provided in one or more of the following: text, graphics, pictures in native format files such as TIFF, JPEG, GIF, DCS, RGB, EPS, EPSF, MSW. They may be incorporated into page assembly programs in PrePress and subsequently into PDF or Tiff-IT files.
Tiff-IT P1 or PDF are suitable for transmission as they represent the final document for publication. They are robust structures and should be selected to meet the printer’s requirements. Transmitted data files and proofs should be supplied with a record of their content and construction.
Tiff-IT
The benefits:
- Tiff-IT is a bitmap file format generated from postscript and has received acceptance by the pre-press / print community.
- It may be standardised and is reliable and secure.
The disadvantages:
- The content of the file is fixed for colour and content.
- Postscript conversion may have errors.
- Alterations including fractional page elements need to be executed prior to the preparation of the file.
- Some printers are currently restricted to this format.
- Proofs require a dedicated output device.
- The cost of implementation is typically high as it is primarily used with high cost systems.
- There are different formats and these must be specified.
- It cannot be re-used for other products.
- Resolution is fixed.
- File sizes tend to be large (40Mb for A4) and compression is limited
Portable Document Format (PDF)
(PDF) is currently the most ‘open’ and recent of the available formats. It is constructed from a postscript file and when produced shows that the postscript data is correct. It has been made available to the public by Adobe and other software houses have implementations of the PDF construction. It is the most common format used. PPA has therefore produced standards, pass4press, which help publishers use the PDF format.
The benefits:
- Open across a number of platforms.
- It may be re-purposed for a range of uses.
- Resolution may be changed for different uses.
- Some data compression is possible for a specific quality.
- File sizes may be chosen to suit the final use.
- Viewing is readily available for proofing.
- Limited editing is possible.
- Readily transportable.
- High and low resolution files may be incorporated (OPI in 1.3).
- Profiles for colour management may be included (1.3).
- Portable Job Ticket Format provides instructions (1.3).
- Electronic signatures may be used (1.3).
- All image elements are included.
- Page independent.
- Once a file is converted to PDF the data integrity is fixed.
- File content and structure may be checked (preflight).
- The cost of hardware and software is inexpensive.
The disadvantages:
- The capability of the output device needs to be known if profiles are not used.
- Alterations including fractional page elements though possible are not easily achieved.
- PDF files require the use of an imposition program prior to the output of film or plate.
A PDF or TIFF-IT file has data integrity as it has been produced through a recognised program - it does not necessarily have a good image construction for the output process and should be checked for image content and structure prior to transmission.
The facility exists to preflight, ie check PDF files prior to transmission. Several structures are possible and PDF checking profiles may be set up for automatic use.
PDF checking profiles can be stored and used to check the file content prior to output. Modifications may also be carried out. The production and verification of files can be carried out simply, once the agreed parameters are agreed and established. Factors to be verified are described in the glossary.
PDF and TIFF-IT files, once validated, may be sent directly to the printer which may be beneficial to some publishers, and are recommended. Although the use of other formats is possible there is a cost incentive to encourage advertisers and other contributors to supply files in the same format once this is agreed with suppliers. |
