Printing

Understanding The Printing Process

Offset printing is the most common printing method for high-quality printing. Its name comes from the fact that the printing plate never actually touches the piece of paper. Instead, the inked image is transferred to a rubber blanket, which in turn transfers the image to the paper. This offers two advantages: first, the plates themselves last much longer and are less easily damaged during the course of a print run. Second, the blanket is more pliable than a plate and can fit more easily into different textured paper surfaces.

Our larger presses use metal plates, instead of paper or plastic plates. A metal plate is far more accurate and stable over a press run and offers a much sharper, higher quality image. Some short-run, small press work is done with synthetic plates.

Our offset presses are sheet-fed, meaning that they use large pieces of paper called parent sheets. A wide variety of textured, coated, uncoated, and recylced papers are available in sheets for your projects. Web presses, which print long magazine, newspaper, or catalog runs, use huge rolls of paper. We contract with specialty printers for these types of jobs.

Your project will go through the following stages, depending upon its requirements:

Prepress

Desktop publishing and scanning services are available. If you provide an electronic file, please fill out the Prepress Services Instruction form and include a complete set of laser proofs with clear instructions. To save money, review and edit your laser proofs carefully; this is the last stage at which to make corrections at relatively low cost.

Final electronic files will be trapped, if necessary, and imposed for output on the imagesetter. There will be a piece of film created for each color included in your publication. The resulting stripped, composite film is used to make a blueline proof; a color proof will also be provided for complex or multiple-color jobs. A printing job enters the actual press queue after the blueline has been approved.

Bluelines And Color Proofs

A blueline is a one-color representation of what your job will look like. This is the final stage at which to make any corrections; however, please remember that any changes at this point will usually require correcting and reoutputting the film and making a revised blueline. These last-minute changes can be costly and could delay delivery dates.

What to look for in a blueline:

• Check type to make sure it is complete.
• Confirm that corrections marked on prior proofs have been made.
• Check photographs to make sure they are in the right place and have been scaled, cropped, and positioned properly.
• Check folds and trim; the blueline should be folded as requested for the final product.
• Circle any blemish, flaw, spot, or broken type with a marker.
• Check alignment of elements that cross over the center of a spread.
• Review page numbering and sequence.
• Check color proofs for color "breaks" (areas to be printed in different colors); keep in mind that color proofs only approximate the color of the final piece; the color proofs do not represent an accurate color match.

Although your Account Manager will also review the blueline carefully, please remember that you have final responsibility for the blueline approval. Changes made on bluelines are designated as either "PE" or "CA," for Printer's Error or Client (or Author) Alteration. Client Alterations will be charged for at regular hourly rates and added to the intial price quote. Indicate any changes directly on the blueline, mark the blueline proof slip, and sign it. Our printing schedules are based on 48-hour turnaround on blueline proofs; please review and return your blueline proofs promptly.

For a more detailed explanation of color proofs, bluelines, and other types of proofs, please read "Reviewing Proofs".

Using Outside Services

University policy designates Creative Communications to be the University's agent for procurement of all printing and related services. Creative Communications is responsible for determining when and if awarding a printing or related services contract to an outside vendor would be in the best interests of the University. Many factors influence this decision, including current workloads, technical and quality requirements of the piece, cost criteria, and delivery needs.

The final decision on the use of an outside vendor for printing is made when detailed specifications and layouts for the project are available. Creative Communications is responsible for ensuring that contracts are awarded in a manner consistent with State and University requirements. Thorough printing specifications must be written. Because of the time frame required to obtain bids in accordance with institutional policy, it doesn't always save time to send the job outside. This can be frustrating for clients at the last minute. Planning your publication well in advance will help ensure on-time production schedules.

If it is determined that the piece will be printed off site, the bid procedures shown below are followed to determine the lowest-cost vendor for the job. State sales tax is charged on all outside jobs, plus a Creative Communications fee. Rush or extra handling charges may be applicable; check with your Account Manager.

While there is no prohibition on using the services of outside designers, the same competitive bid process must be followed. If our designers are not able to meet your needs and significant outside design work is required, your Account Manager can help develop specifications and guide you through the proper procurement procedure. Occasionally, University departments have a need for printing-related services from outside vendors on a contract basis. These contracts are negotiated and monitored by Creative Communications; any other arrangements are in violation of University policy and will not be honored by Purchasing when the vendor invoice arrives. If you have a question about a specific situation not described here, please discuss it with your Account Manager.

Process and time required for bidding process:

Under $2,500
Telephone or FAX quotes obtained by Creative Communications: 24 hours

$2,500 to $35,000
Telephone or FAX quotes obtained by Creative Communications : 3-5 working days

Over $35,000
Formal bid process administered by Creative Communications, includes advertising and receiving sealed, written bids: 2-3 weeks

Press Run

Once the blueline has been approved, the printing plates will be prepared and the job will be scheduled for press. Running a large offset printing press is a complex balancing act to control a number of variables, including ink flow, paper feed rates, fountain solution concentrations and flow, movement of the press sheet, vibration, humidity, and press powder. For complex projects, you may request a press check; this means that you will be called in during the initial part of a press run to review the press sheet to make sure it meets your expectations.

Because of the high costs involved once a project is on press, any undue delays, changes, or modifications made at this point will be at premium rates. If you do request to be at a press check, your Account Manager will try to notify you 24 hours beforehand. Occasionally, however, if an opening develops during the press schedule, your project may be run on shorter notice. Also please be aware that print shops run several shifts; your press check could happen during non-standard hours or off site.

Bindery And Finishing Work

Finished press sheets are trimmed, scored, folded, bound, and final trimmed in the bindery area. Sequential numbering, padding, and shrink wrapping are also handled in-house. Special processes such as embossing, foil stamping, die cutting, and some varnishes and coatings are handled for us by outside vendors.

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Printing Contacts