Can I use a PC?
What software can I use?
What files do I need to send?
Why must I send my fonts?
Can I Use PDF Files?
What kind of formatting for images can I use?
Should I build my files in printer spreads?
What is CTP?

 

Can I use a PC?
Yes! We have both PC’s and Macs. It is always best to call and discuss your project to make sure the software you are using is compatible. Burns Printing has the same software on both platforms and a few that are unique to each.
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What software can I use?
We utilize the major publishing packages current today. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign, Freehand, Quark Xpress are the major titles that we use. In addition, we also have Microsoft Word, Publisher, Power Point, Excel. Some of these are much more useful for the printing arena than others, it may be beneficial to discuss your needs with us.
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What files do I need to send?
All files and fonts that are used in your publication. Some programs, such as Quark, InDesign, and Microsoft Publisher, will “collect” all your images and files needed for your project. This will save you time, generate a report and insure that you do not miss some needed file. However, versions of Quark older than 5.0 will not collect your fonts. A third party program, (such as Markzware’s “Flight Check®”) will not only collect your file(s), associated images and fonts, but will check the files for problems you might encounter in sending your project to a service provider.
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Why must I send my fonts?
Fonts are easily the main concern in the electronic arena. We may have the same font (at least in name) as the one used in a customers file, but they could be different versions of the same font. Different versions may contain different spacing between certain character combinations in the font and cause a reflow or rewrap in the document when substituted, even though they are the same font. While we often substitute fonts for a customer who has not supplied them, it is difficult for us and the customer to catch every instance of a rewrap or reflow if it has occurred. It is far easier if the customer supplies the very fonts that were used in the document. After the job is completed, these are archived on tape (and the job deleted from the HD of the computer) with the customer's job in case a reprint is ordered.

Remember we will require both a “Printer” and a “Screen” file for Type 1 fonts. Type 1 fonts will
consist of “Screen” fonts (for display on your monitor) and a “Printer” font (the actual PS outline
data the “Rip” will construct the font from) for each typeface style in a “font family”. The screen fonts are sometimes contained in a “suitcase” on the Mac platform, while the “Printer” fonts are separate (unless they have been merged. Merged fonts will have one Postscript font for variations within the family such as Italic, bold, etc.). The PC platform Type 1 fonts use two files also. The PC Type 1 screen font has a .pfm extension while the printer font has a .pfb extension for each typeface style.

“Truetype” fonts are usually a single file containing both the postscript printer and screen data for the font.

“Openface” fonts are the latest trend in fonts. They are like a Truetype font except they are compatible with both Mac and PC platforms.
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Can I Use PDF Files?
PDF (Portable Document Format) files are an excellent way to send files to a service provider. Fonts and images can be embedded. This removes the necessity of sending those files.

However, great care must be exercised in the creation of the PDF. Bleed must be included in the file if needed, as this could be difficult for us to add after the fact. Fonts need to be embedded. The resolution of the PDF must be monitored and kept high enough for quality output. Images should be CMYK, not RGB, as RGB is not a format for CMYK printing.

It is best to always check with our Electronic Prepress department so they can communicate with you on various settings to make before the creation of your PDF.
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What kind of formatting for images can I use?
A good cross platform format is a TIFF (Tagged Image Format File). The “EPS” format is also good, as long as it is saved with a “TIFF” preview and both formats can have clipping paths. The “TIFF” can also have alpha channels saved with it and used as “clipping” masks in various page publishing programs.

Bitmapped images are very good for line art as long as the resolution is kept high enough. A
bitmapped image should be at least 600 dpi, and for high quality as high as 1200 dpi. LZW is a compression technique known as “lossless”. This means that no pixel information is thrown
away to achieve compression and image quality will not suffer. However, the LZW compression does not usually achieve as great a compression as the JPEG.

The “JPEG” compression scheme is known as “lossy” because some pixel information is thrown away to achieve compression. This will depend on the amount of compression targeted when the JPEG is saved. In fact, every time the JPEG image is opened and saved, more pixel information is lost, and “artifacts” (noise) are gradually introduced into the image. While the JPEG format is great for the web, it’s not as good for high quality printing.
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Should I build my files in printer spreads?
No! The beauty of imposition software is that pagination is automated. Files that are in printer
spreads are actually more difficult to manage as well as being an unnecessary step for a designer.
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What is CTP?
CTP stands for “Computer to Plate”. This technology enables the bypassing of imaging film. Instead of the digital file being sent to an imagesetter for film, it is sent directly to a “platesetter” for thermal imaging of a plate. This can alleviate many problems that are inherent in using film for the plating process. Speed, better fit and registration on press and enhanced quality are some of the contributions of the CTP workflow.
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