Phone #
Fax #
402-593-0580
402-593-0480
skip to the main content area of this page
Prepress Department

Prepress

Our skilled staff of prepress technicians carefully scrutinizes each job sent to Colonial Press to locate problems that would otherwise threaten print quality and on-time delivery. Each job is systematically checked for correct file structure, resolution, bleed, trap, color and that all images and fonts have been sent with the file. If a serious problem is found, prepress works closely with customer service and sales to determine the course of action to take. Once the files have been processed, it is then ripped and imposed so a proof can be generated for customer review. After all customer changes have been made and subsequent proofs approved, the file is then output to plate for the printing stage of production.

Prepress is equipped with 4 Macintosh workstations and 1 PC workstation. We have 2 servers, one that runs our Prinergy Evo workflow and one for file storage and current jobs. After the files have been process we store files on CDs in house and also an offsite storage area to insure customers will be able to gain access to their files if needed for future use.

Our Prinergy Evo workflow is the backbone of our Prepress Department. It handles all the preflighting, trapping, and screening tasks. We will accept native files with supporting fonts and graphics from any program (see “Supported Software:” below) to create the certified pdf's for proofing and final output. Evo also allows us to produce our high definition printing. You'll notice cleaner, more vibrant colors, smoother gradations, and pictures that appear to be continuous tone.

After proofs are approved the files are sent direct to plate to our Trendsetter Spectrum™ imager calibrated color curves to match our high quality proof. Our prepress technicians systematically check the plates then ink profiles are then sent to digitally to our press to insure correct ink densities and color accuracy. Colonial uses Fujifilm’s Brillia High Definition Aluminum plates. This dramatically improves on press performance, while simultaneously providing excellent durability. By employing a proprietary Multigrain surface structure, the LH-PJ plate provides exceptional reduced ink/water balance, giving you sharper, cleaner and drier sheets; faster make-readies; quicker restarts and reduced ink usage. In short, it’s all about faster press approvals, less waste and cost savings.

If you have a special printing need and would like assistance in achieving your printing goals, contact customer service and they can coordinate a solution with prepress. Prepress hours are from 8:00 am – 11:00 pm. All work must be approved though the sales department prior to arriving at prepress.

Supported Software:

  • Mac & PC
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe PageMaker
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • QuarkXPress
  • MacroMedia Freehand
  • Microsoft Word – provide a PDF if possible
  • Microsoft Publisher {PC only} – provide a PDF if possible
 

Submitting files:

Work must be submitted though the sales department prior to arriving at prepress. Prepress hours are from 8:00 am – 11:00 pm. If you have a special printing need and would like assistance in achieving your printing goals, contact customer service and they can coordinate a solution with prepress.

Please provide:

  • Layout file
  • Fonts
  • Links
  • Special printing directions if needed

If possible, provide a mockup or PDF file to show what the finished product should look like and how it should fold down if necessary.

Files will be accepted with:

If you are using the FTP to provide files please zip (DropStuff ®) files prior to uploading

General Prepress Standards:

  • All bleeds should exceed the final trim size by a minimum of 1/8"
  • Color mode should be CMYK process and/or spot color
  • Dies and perforations should be a separate spot color
  • Crop marks should be positioned a minimum of 1/8” away from final trim
  • Copy should not be less than 1/8” from trim, preferable ¼”
  • A rich black should be: 25% cyan + 100%:k
  • Recommended image resolution for a raster image is 200-300 dpi
  • Recommended image resolution for a bitmap image is 1200 dpi
  • Do not use spot colors underneath transparencies, feathered objects or drop shadows
  • When designing with shadows make sure all copy is brought to the front of the layer
  • If creating a PDF make sure to always use press standards, turn bleed on 1/8” and make sure crops are offset 1/8”
 
 
 
 

Proofing Capabilities:

A true evolution of our past-generation printing technology is our latest 24-inch (Epson Stylus Pro 7880) and 44-inch (Epson Stylus Pro 9880) professional wide-format printers incorporate forward-thinking designs, with a newly enhanced 8-color ink technology, resulting in a final print of uncompromising quality. Epson UltraChrome K3™ is the standard by which all other professional level ink technologies are judged. Now enhanced with our breakthrough new Vivid Magenta pigments, our newest-generation ink technology requires only eight colors, including a three-level black technology, to significantly raise the quality levels for professional color and black-and-white prints.

Overview:

  • 24" Wide Desktop Printer
  • Maximum resolution 2880 x 1440 dpi
  • 3.5 picoliter droplet size
  • 8-color Epson UltraChrome K3™ Ink
  • Epson internal 10/100 BaseT Ethernet
  • Custom-designed PostScript Language Level 3 Compatible RIP by ColorBurst
We also provide full size low-resolution mockups to simulate, perforations, varnishes, and actual size and fold down sizes using our Epson Stylus Pro 9880 Professional Edition Printer. Epson's 9800 is quite possibly the highest quality proofing system available today. It has a resolution of 2880 x 1440, and prints to widths up to 44" by any length.

Overview:

  • 44" Wide Format Printer
  • 8-color Epson UltraChrome K3™ Ink
  • Advanced Black & White Printing Technology

In addition to our proofs we can provide a low-resolution PDF proof that may be emailed upon request. Please keep in mind that this is a ripped PDF with trapping etc... and needs to be viewed with overprint preview turned on. Please contact your sales representative with your approval or corrections.