[besign.org]

Hello everybody,
I wanted to ask a simple question - is there any option how to make preprint for offset printing in Adobe Photoshop CS3 instead of using Adobe Illustrator CS3 (with whom we don't have a good relationship so far...).

For example : I open an A4, 300dpi, CMYK file in Photoshop. Create the design using photos in *.tiff or *.raw or *.jpg if neccessary format (all in CMYK), logotypes in shapes from Illustrator, fonts etc... Then I save as PDF. Open in Illustrator, add printing marks and finish it.

The question is - can I send it straight away to the printing service or is it completely wrong? Or rather - the overall question is : Can I possibly use Photoshop CS3 for preprint?. If yes - is my working proccess ok?

If there are only certain parts wrong - please let me know which parts of the proccess.

I know that Illustrator or InDesign would do the work better, so I don't need the replies "use illustrator instead", because I need the work to be done very fast and I'm much more familiar with Photoshop environment, shortcuts and the "rules-of-creation" which would save me a lot of precious time.

Thanks for replies.

[steveb]

Yes, you can do exactly as you describe - in fact, you can also add printing marks in Photoshop too. (Not automatically - you have to draw them yourself!)
Make a duplicate file and use it to convert all text to lines, then flatten all layers.
If possible, use Distiller to create the final PDF. Photoshop' built-in generator produces correct but large PDFs and some printers don't like 'em.

[besign.org]

Thank you very much I got two more questions :

1. The exported file will be in same quality?
2. I'm not pretty sure what you meant by making a duplicate file and using it to convert all text to lines and then flattening all layers.

Have a look at what I think you meant and let me know if I'm wrong please :

open the finished design in *.psd, image > duplicate (which opens a new file), layer > type > convert to shape (with all the layers selected), layer > flatten image, then export to *pdf (either using distiller or the built-in generator).

Thank you very much again

[steveb]

Yup, that's right. You can easily make a duplicate of the file in PS by right-clicking on the blue bar at the top of the file and selecting Duplicate. Then you have one version of the file to do extra work on (flatten etc) and you still keep the original.
The idea is that the exported version is the same quality! It's up to you to select and adjust the correct values.

[Do Gooder]

watch out for two things.

text is normally reproduced at something around 1000dpi so at 300 dpi it will look rough

also black text needs to be 100% K (NOT MADE UP OF CMYK)

[steveb]

Originally Posted by Do Gooder

text is normally reproduced at something around 1000dpi so at 300 dpi it will look rough

It most certainly is not and it will most certainly not!

Do get your facts straight, dear, before posting bollocks.

I'll go along with the 100% if the page is to be reproduced in 4-colour. Otherwise it matters not. Only the K will be used.

[Do Gooder]

images and line artwork are different beasts

the images dont need to such a high res due to the process of halftone screening (dotty bits)

Here's an average artwork requirement guideline:

Digital images/artwork: For best results, digital images/artwork should be
scanned at (not resampled up to) a minimum resolution of 300ppi/dpi
(400ppi/dpi is preferred), and line artwork a minimum resolution of
1200ppi/dpi.

[besign.org]

very well, so where's the truth now fellas

let's say that the texts are reproduced at something like 1000dpi, so how to make them look sharp in the final image/pdf? because i don't think that the clients would be happy enough with rough crispy texts...

anyway - in my opinion "steveb" has had already done print designs before (considering his advices all over this forum) without encountering such problems. on the other hand have you "Do Gooder" ever had to deal with something like rough fonts etc., while working on usual 300dpi *psd file?

[Do Gooder]

i used to run a pre-press deparment at a (all be it small) printers!
so yes.. handled a few rough jobs in my time.

my instinct is something you wont want hear.

line art and text - illustrator, quark, indesign

pictures - photoshop


but if your really wanting to stay in photoshop rest assured the text wont be awful.. just not nice and crisp-sharp.

[Do Gooder]

oh. and probably best not to compress the photoshop file (jpeg etc)

you can compress files but its too easy to take it too far and make everything go nasty

[steveb]

Fuck me, I apologise. If those figures were intended for producing a PDF, (300 & 1200) then they are correct. I was thinking of something entirely different. Sorry sorry sorry! I take all my sarcasm and shittiness back. Double.

[Do Gooder]

not a worry steveb.

the world of figures involved in pre-press leaves me stumped most of the time... i can't remember what line screen is... and i used to produce plates! ain't like riding a bike it seems.

and ppi... Mmmm

[besign.org]

so the conclusion is that i definitely should not produce files for print with photoshop? (talking about flyers, and generally stuff with fonts, logotypes, pictures etc. together)

btw. thanks for the 300 & 1200 figures, i'll keep that in mind.

[Do Gooder]

if you want the best a printing press can produce.. then yup. i would say use something other than Photoshop for layouts

[besign.org]

oki, i'll try to make a good relationship with that illustrator bastard... it'd just save me a lot of time and nerves doing it all in my beloved photoshop

[Do Gooder]

once you learn the path tools the rest is easy. honest

[Mandy Moo]

Illustrator is a great tool, you'll learn to love it one day. I once had to take on a 48 sheet billboard design that was previously done on Photoshop. Only had to update some of the information but it took nearly an hour just to open it (it did crash a few times cos I was impatient with it).

[Lebastard]

the text is definitively crispier with illustrator, i've printed a lot over the last year and i saw the difference. you can always import your psd with the background flatten and the text still editable.

[Snowshiro]

I would have said handling text is actually easier in Illustrator than Photoshop. It's worth spending a day to get to grips with the main concepts.

[besign.org]

Yea, thx. Combining both Photoshop & Illustrator is my way out I guess.