Page Layout
At the stage where drawing beings, most users will already know what size and type of page they will be working with. The controls provided in the Page Setup dialog of CorelDRAW® 12 make it easy to configure page settings exactly as desired.
Consider How the Final Work Will Be Output
Laser printers can provide satisfactory output results if the resolution used is high enough and if the printer has good color-rendition capabilities. If a large quantity of images is required, a good quality photocopier may be sufficient. If professional quality results are required, it is advised to have a service bureau generate the output.
When bringing files for output to a service bureau, it is advised to communicate directly with them. Too often files are handed off or sent electronically to a service bureau without providing key information. The greater the interaction between the client and the service bureau, the less chance for delays and costly mistakes.
Some service bureaus accept drawings in .CDR format whereas others will request a .PRN (print file) or a .PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format). The benefit of using a .PRN file is that it is a self-contained file which can be copied to an output device even if CorelDRAW is not installed on the computer to which the device is attached.
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Preparing Work for a Service Bureau
CorelDRAW 12 includes a utility called Prepare for Service Bureau which assists in collecting all of the necessary files required to properly output a document. The Prepare for Service Bureau feature can be found under the File menu.
Fig. 1
The first window allows files associated with a document to be gathered or to select an existing profile provided by a service bureau. If Gather all files associated with this document is selected, the wizard will collect the CDR file, fonts used in the document and any other associated files (linked bitmaps, etc.). If Choose a profile provided by your service bureau is selected, the wizard will interpret the specified profile and will gather all information based on the service bureau's requirements.
Fig. 2
Next, the Service Bureau Wizard will analyze the document to determine which fonts (if any) are required in order to ensure accurate document reproduction.
Fig. 3
The third window allows for the creation of a PDF version of the final output file. This is optional as some service bureaus will prefer this, while others will not.
Fig. 4
Next, the wizard allows the user to specify the location where the completed files will be written.
Fig. 5
The final window will appear after the files have been generated and provides a list of all files that have been placed in the specified directory. All of these files should be provided to the service bureau.
Proof the Work In-House
Before sending the final files to a service bureau, verify all elements of the artwork using regularly used equipment (i.e. desktop printer). Keep in mind that non-PostScript printers will not allow halftone screens or trapping to be verified. The easiest way to determine if a desktop printer is PostScript is to click File | Print in CorelDRAW 12 and to locate the PostScript tab along the top of the Print dialog. If the printer is PostScript, halftone screens can be verified by clicking the Separations tab and enabling the Print separations check box. Enable the Use advanced settings check box and click the Advanced button to configure halftone settings. Trapping can also be set using the Separations tab of the Print dialog box.
Prepare the Soft Copy
Files are usually transferred to a service bureau using the Internet (e-mail or FTP) or via removable storage such as a CD-R, ZIP disk or other media. It is advised to contact the service bureau to determine which types of media they accept. Most service bureaus will request files in either .PRN, .CDR, .PDF or .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript7) format. CorelDRAW 12 has a full-featured Publish to PDF engine which is capable of creating excellent soft copies as well as files for output.
PRN File
CorelDRAW 12 allows for full control of prepress settings and to save both artwork and instructions for color separations as a .PRN file. This file can be sent directly to an output device by a service bureau. Prior to submitting a file of this type, it is important to determine the type of output device, and to review and confirm all settings with the service bureau as they will not be able to verify or correct a .PRN file. Any mistakes will be present in the final output and can be costly to correct.
CDR File
Any Corel Approved Service Bureau (CASB) is capable of receiving and outputting .CDR files. This can be especially helpful if uncertain how to correctly prepare color separations and other prepress items. Also, some service bureaus prefer to receive files which they can manipulate so that they can view and correct the prepress work if necessary.
EPS File
This is a metafile supported by most illustration and page layout applications. To view or print an EPS file a PostScript printer is required. When exporting a document to EPS format using CorelDRAW 12, general and advanced export options can be specified.
PDF File
This file format is gaining popularity among designers and service bureaus as it allows for fonts, images, graphics and formatting to be preserved in a single file. CorelDRAW 12's Publish to PDF capabilities allow for the configuration of prepress settings as well as the preservation of document overprints, halftone settings, spot color information among others.
Print a Hard Copy
Always provide a final printout of the document to the service bureau, even if its only a black and white representation. This will help them to identify and assess the requirements of the job. Remember that when using the Prepare for Service Bureau wizard, it can automatically create a PDF file which can be used as a proof of the document.
Include Print Job Information
If a .PRN file is being sent to the service bureau, ensure that all necessary prepress settings are also included. If uncertain about what information should be included, contact the service bureau for clarification. Most service bureaus will provide an order form which outlines all essential prepress settings. Also, verify whether the service bureau has a Service Bureau Profile available which they can provide to assist in gathering all of the necessary files and information and/or create a .PRN file according to the profile's specifications.
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Quality
The quality of a document is largely determined by the resolution (dpi) of the output device. The higher the resolution, the better the quality of images and colors. Typical resolution for professional output is 300dpi when the document is printed at 100% scale. As a rule of thumb, it is acceptable as an industry standard to use a resolution of 2 times the lpi or the output device.
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Job Size
Job size should also be taken into consideration when outputting a document. How many pages and how many copies must be printed? Large volumes of printing may be best handled by a four-color or other type of press.
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Page Layout
It is advised that document dimensions be set to equal the size of the final artwork. Also, working in actual size (not in scale) is recommended to avoid problems which are inherent to resizing images (i.e. bitmap resolution suffers when bitmaps are enlarged). If the final artwork will be printed at different sizes, work with a document equal to the largest size that will be printed and use the CorelDRAW 12 Print dialog to reduce the image size when printing.
Proper planning and layout of a project can also minimize the cost of materials such as film which can be expensive. Note that custom page sizes can be used to accommodate jobs which will use a nonstandard page size.
If cards, books or booklets are being created, pages can be configured using the Page Options section of the CorelDRAW 12 Layout menu. Choices include: Full Page, Book, Booklet, Tent Card, Side-Fold Card and Top-Fold Card. When using the Book layout, the start side can also be selected (right side or left side).
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Orientation
Enable the landscape orientation if the horizontal edge of the document is greater in size than the vertical. If the vertical edge is to be the greater of the two, use portrait.
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Using Bleed to Extend Images to the Edge of the Page
Bleed is the part of the printed image that extends beyond the edge of its final page size. Most printing presses are unable to print images to the edge of the paper. If certain areas of the document should extend to the edge of the final page, a bleed must be used to ensure that the document "overflows" the edge of the page. To accomplish this, artwork must be printed on a page that is larger than the size of the desired output. After printing, the paper is trimmed to the appropriate size. A bleed of 0.125 to 0.25 inches is usually sufficient and any object extending beyond that distance may cause problems when more than one final page is printed on a single sheet of paper.
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Printer's Marks
Printer's marks provide information about how a document should be printed and can be placed in .PRN and .EPS files or on camera-ready output. The available printer's marks in CorelDRAW 12 are crop marks, registration marks, color calibration bars, densitometer scales, page numbers and file information.
Service bureaus should provide overlay proofs, blueprints or laminate proofs made from the documents film. The type of proof required will depend on the complexity of the print job. After it has been determined that the proofs are satisfactory, the film can be sent to press.
If the service bureau and printer are two separate businesses, it is essential to ensure that the service bureau is aware of what type of film output the printer prefers (i.e. positive film, negative film, emulsion up, emulsion down, etc.). Also ensure that the printer receives proofs of the final product as well as general information about the print job such as the required number of copies, type of paper and the size of final output. The proofs and instructions provided will serve as a contract between the client and the printer. Press operators will adjust the press to match the printed output with the proofs that have been provided.
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