As we have read here in the past, “On the Evolution of PDF; Adobe PDF/X-5g with OPI type prepress workflow“, there are seemingly enough PDF specifications out there. With that in mind, here is an interesting development:

Adobe to host ‘landmark’ PDF meeting

Simon Nias, printweek.com, 02 October 2009

“Adobe Systems will host a “landmark meeting” of the Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG) later this month that is expected to prove pivotal to the development of PDF automation specifications.

Members of the GWG attending the meeting, which will be held at Adobe’s San Jose headquarters from 29-30 October, will discuss specifications based on the latest PDF/X-4 release.

GWG chairman David Zwang said that the 2009 GWG specifications would result in “some of the most profound advancements in automated PDF compliance”….

“….Those present at the meeting will also discuss and extend ad ticket support for electronic ads and insertion orders, and solidify spectral colour considerations for spot colour identification.”
Source: PrintWeek.co.uk  Read more... (229 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)

Jon Warner from Trade Press Media Group talks to us at PRINT 09 in this video on how he uses FlightCheck Professional AND Adobe Acrobat to preflight his incoming files for their print workflow. He uses both; but prefers FlightCheck (for everything first) due to it’s ease-of-use and support of more than 50 file formats such as InDesign, Illustrator, QuarkXPress, PDF and others. Much more effective to preflight before outputting to PDF:

In the last segment, you see Doug Rosen, Markzware project manager, going into some advanced details with Jon on font search paths for helping optimize your font preflighting in FlightCheck. FlightCheck Professional v6.5 is now shipping with CS4 and Quark8 support. See:
http://www.markzware.com/flightcheck_…

The reason it was so great to hear Jon’s comments, is that some out there in the graphic arts industry, or what is it called now, “print media“, like to think that it is best to funnel this multi-step process called preflight to the very end of the workflow and even some are trying to automate preflight checking. It is however, largely a human process which requires a simple checklist to work best and should be done at every step in the graphics workflow where the layout file switches hands or is due to be output (see preflight defined). As Dr. Demming said on quality assurance,

“Quality is everyone’s responsibility.”

Here is a quick peak inside the wide format digital imaging print workflow. This video from YouTube user SGIAdigital covers from file preparation to the print finishing process. Neat to watch:

Click image below to view on YouTube or here to watch-

Here was a post that showed up on my “preflight” watch-list this weekend, which I found interesting:

It also would be nice if it was possible to preflight InDesign documents if there were any untagged RGB images used. My intension is to create an InDesign script to preform a preflight.

Source: http://graphicstart.com/item.php?&itemid=1060906

It is important to note that FlightCheck Professional would be the *perfect* candidate for this task, as it can preflight both the PDF as well as the InDesign Adobe file and many other file types besides Adobe InDesign files. FCPro can also specifically let you know if the Adobe PDF has RGB images which do not have ICC Profiles attached and ignore the CMYK images.

Here is an excellent article on how designers and creators can better deal with their printing job providers called, “A Mistake Was Made–Kill the Printer!” Firstly, I learned of this via Linkedin.com from a post to the PrintPlant “Linkedin-group” via fellow member,  Bill Ruesch. (Who said social media was not useful?) I include the numbered points from this article on how to better work with your printer, which will hit home to many. One way to avoid problems is to preflight, using FlightCheck . Read on…

A Mistake Was Made–Kill the Printer!
The question of giving a supplier the boot comes up from time-to-time. Before doing something rash, like firing a previously reliable printer, you should ask yourself  some important questions:  Read more... (741 words, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)

In response to this detailed post, which was well presented, by Rufus Deuchler, worldwide evangelist for Adobe Creative Solutions:

As the preflight inventors, U.S. Patented holders and with more than 14 years of experience, Markzware is in a unique position with vast resources and experience within the print, publishing and graphic markets.

It is our opinion that Adobe InDesign’s CS4 “Live Preflighting” feature, was a necessary inclusion within the InDesign application, mostly for an ‘insurance’ purpose. That is, whenever documents are created within Adobe InDesign CS and have a problem upon output, then Adobe can point to this feature – In other words; could it be this is more for Adobe Indesign’s printing insurance than that of the designers?

Years ago, Markzware developed an in-flight tool, FlightCheck Studio (originally HawkEye) which received rave reviews. However, in our experience we found designers that use InDesign, seldom use preflight. The reason being, performing ‘mechanical checks’ is not in a graphic designer’s or creative’s DNA. They design and create the best work they can to market and sell products, then as quick as the designer is finished with one project – they are off to the next! Designers and creatives, on average do not have time to preflight. (Or it is this type of attitude, “As a professional designer, I don’t make mistakes.”)  Read more... (673 words, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)