How to resolve errors caught in prepress phase

Prepress is all about ensuring that the document is correct and is ready for final printing. This is the phase when you catch the errors that can delay the process of printing. Errors in prepress are just inevitable, but if can be resolved instantly before it is goes to next level. Here are the two most typical errors and their solutions: 

Error: Colors are undefined in linked graphics.

This can be fixed by defining colors using PMS numbers. If it is four-color process, define each color as CMYK percentages. 

Error: “Missing font” warning

First of all try to activate the “missing font” in the computer system. Else, you can make changes to the text that uses a “missing font” into another font manually by opening layout file. Often this warning appears due to spacebar space between the texts which is formatted with a missing font. If you want you can identify the location of missing font in Quark using the "Usage" menu item, InDesign or Illustrator in the "Find Font" menu item. You must get a clean layout file and for this deleting and editing all unused/invisible text along with the spaces is a must, as even this can be problematic in later stage.

For trouble-free printing it is important that proper prepress guidelines are followed. This involves creating layout, proof reading, and other technical and manual checking of the material to be printed. Prepress has a great significance as this is the fundamental pillar of printing which determines overall success or failure of the printing.

What Is Proofreading In Pre Press?

In pre press phase there are many sub phases which, determines the accuracy of the content or image to be printed in digital or laser printing format. Proofreading is one such phase which is defined as an examination of galley proof before it is actually sent for printing. In general terms, people often identify proofreading as copy editing and use both of the terms interchangeably, although the literal meaning of both the terms differs significantly for printers and publishers. Here, we will discuss proofreading from printers view.

Pre press activity begins as the type of project being taken. It can be brochures, advertising banners, books or manuals. These are drafted using texts, artworks, chart, graphs or all of them. Once a basic format has been created the sample is checked by the copy editor and not proofreader for error(s). At this preliminary stage, the document is checked for multiple times by the copy editor for error if there is any.

During the editing process being carried out by the editor the draft copy is closely examined for error that might include misused or misspelled words, incorrect grammar, poor content quality and typos. Before the copy passed on to the proofreader, it is the responsibility of the editor to catch all the errors.

The role of proofreading come after the document has been completely edited and forwarded for typesetting. Once the document is typeset, a printed copy of the document or manuscript is provided to the proofreader for meticulous examination of text and art related errors. Then the proofreader confirms that that the document is free of errors and assure that there will no error in the final printed copies.