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spam.hotmail.com says…
I’m new to this but when sending press ready files……..how exactly does the printer send the file to the printer ? I’m curious as I sent them a bunch of Illustrator files and they send the same files back to me as Acrobat files to sign off on……….
I don’t think they would send the print job as Acrobat but if someone could enlighten me, that would be greatly appreciated.
There are a myriad of ways to get files printed with ink on paper in the commercial sense. They (the printer, or rep, or design facility which will outsource the actual printing) should furnish you with a spec sheet on exactly what is required. This will differ from print shop to print shop, though much will be the same. Get this set of exact specifications and do not let them blow you off by saying, "hey, we can handle any file you send… " Make them fill in ALL of the blanks and get it in writing, i.e FAX, or e-mail, that you can print out and refer to when you output the files.
Next, the PDF that they sent you back is probably a Save_As PDF from whatever program you used (A Illustrator?). They obviously opened your files and then saved these (this) for you to comment on. Open their file(s) in AI and look carefully at them. This is your proof. You will probably never again have input, so don’t blow it. They may have notations on the PDF. Look at all of them and comment on them, using the notation function in later AI versions. Send them back, only when you are satisfied. If your comments require changes, they should be able to direct you and this is the LAST chance you might have to get all of the specs.
You might want to also proof these files and compare them to your system’s monitor. If you don’t like something, let them know, and ask what can be done. Again, this will probably the last time you see the files, before your client has a 1:00 AM press check, and the entire printing crew will be standing by with paper, ink and press time.
Good luck,
Hunt