The Evolution of a Print RequestFrom stationery to newsletters, from posters to pamphlets, and from brochures to books, every printing order begins with a clients’s idea. One of the first steps in translating an idea into an actual printed piece is to contact one of our customer service representatives. Depending on the type of printing order, this step may require nothing more than a quick phone call. More involved printing orders often require a meeting during which specifics such as layout, graphics, paper stock, and printing inks are discussed either in our conference room at Burbank Printing, or at the clients office. After an initial discussion addressing these issues, our quote department will prepare a price quote for the clients review. Clients may choose to submit their work in hard copy (typed or hand-written text) or in a digital format (on disk or through use of the Internet).
And, the journey begins.
The initial work on a printing order at The Burbank Printing Center is done in Editing. Here the original copy (with the exception of camera ready copy)--whether it’s a business card, brochure, newsletter, or book--is read by an experienced member of our in-house editorial staff. It is edited with clients pre-approval prior to forwarding the project to Prepress .
Once edited, a printing order goes to Prepress, where it is assigned to a compositor. If an order is submitted as hard copy, the compositor will keystroke and format it in QuarkXpress or another Macintosh or IBM page-layout application. If it already has been typed and is submitted on disk, he or she will translate the file, import it into a page-layout application, and format it according to the customer’s specifications. It is during this phase of the process that a printing order begins to take shape. The compositor returns the formatted copy to Editing, where it is proofread twice, and it then travels between the compositor and the editorial staff until all corrections have been made and approved by the requesting client.
After being typeset and proofread, more involved printing orders, such as newsletters, brochures, and books, are sent to Graphic Design. Here a printed piece is given character. A designer is assigned the task of achieving maximum impact through use of color, paper stock, type style, photographs, and graphic elements within the piece. Stock photos and custom photos can be obtained through Burbank Printing as well as supplied by the client. Because specifications are a key element in this phase of the printing process, our graphic designers work directly with the clients to verify original instructions and to ask for additional input.
When a printing order has been formatted, proofread, and designed, it makes yet another brief stopover in Editing. Here it is given a final look before a client proof is sent for review. Proofs are sent on all printing orders other than reprinted forms, for which proofs are sent only if requested. Each proof is sent with a client approval / alterations signature stamp. When a proof is sent, no further work will be done until it is returned with additions, deletions, or corrections or with a signed "OK to print."
All returned proofs are reviewed once again by an editor, who checks additional copy, if provided, for consistency of style. After review, the printing order is given to a compositor or designer to make final client alterations and or changes.
At this stage, the pre-press work begins. The print request is first output to film and then stripped into flats in our photolithography department. Once stripped, a Dylux proof (sometimes referred to as a "blueline" because of its color) is made. This final proof is reviewed by an editor, the designer, and the client. When a signed OK to print is received back from the client, the printing order is then transferred from film to metal plates using a photographic process. Finally, the order is ready to print.
When a plated printing order is received in the pressroom, the print shop manager first schedules the job. This involves not only assigning a printing date, but verifying on which offset press it will be printed, having the paper stock ordered and cut to the size if required, and supplying the correct ink or PMS Mix number to the press operator who will print the order. When a specific date, press, and press operator have been assigned, the offset printing process begins. Once on press, our highly skilled press operators checks for ink density, color quality, and consistency throughout the press run.
No printed order is ready to deliver "hot off the press." The ink must be given time to dry, it must be cut to its finished size, and requirements specific to each order must be fulfilled. This final stage of the printing process occurs in Finishing. Here our finishers use sophisticated machinery to score, fold, perforate, emboss, bind, and/or number the order according to the customer’s original specifications. When all the requirements have been met, and our finishers have given the order a final quality control inspection, it is packaged for will call, delivery or shipping.
Additional services provided by the Burbank Printing Center include preparing your printed piece for U.S. mail, create and maintain mailing list databases, generate and print bar codes, and print and apply address labels.
Submitting Work
Art Boards - Rough Drafts
C
opy can be supplied from rough drafts, conceptual ideas requiring Burbank Printing Center’s assistance to art boards ready for optical camera or computer scanning direct to press.Digital Format
Typesetting and formatting at Burbank Printing Center is done on Apple Macintosh computers as well as IBM PC computers using page-layout applications such as QuarkXpress and PageMaker. Due to recent advances in computer software, however, we can translate and import text from most word processing programs and format it to a client's specifications using these applications. Whether you work on a Mac or PC, providing a digital file in addition to hard copy will save time--and money--when our compositors format and style your printing order.
Several options are available to client’s who choose to submit their work in digital format. The simplest method is to copy your file to a disk and send it to our office at 3031 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505. We accept both IBM PC compatible and Macintosh formatted disks. Sending files via e-mail is another option. For those familiar with the Internet, files can be sent as e-mail attachments. If you are using e-mail to send us files, please send them to
For more information concerning these and other options, contact us at 818/840-8013.
Customer Proofs
Proofs are sent to our client’s for all orders other than reprinted forms, for which we send
proofs only if requested. They are sent to be reviewed for accuracy of information, style, and design, providing client’s an opportunity to become involved at an early stage in the process of quality control. When a proof is sent, no further work will be done until it is returned with alterations or signed "OK to print." Depending on the type of printing order, a customer may receive any one, or a combination of, the following types of proofs.
Laser Proofs
This is the simplest, least expensive type of proof, which is printed on a laser printer. All stationery orders for which a proof is requested are sent as laser proofs. More involved printing orders for which changes are anticipated are also first sent as laser proofs. At this stage, a customer should proofread and edit for copy changes, review the style and graphics used, and check the position of photos. Remember, changes made at the laser proof stage of the printing process require little material and labor expense and therefore are billed at a lower rate.
Color Laser Proofs
When more than one color is used in a printing order, a color laser proof is sent. Color laser proofs only approximate the ink colors that will be used in printing. Sent as a visual aid to help identify color breaks, it will never match the printed version exactly. At this stage, a customer should proofread and edit for copy changes, review the style and graphics used, and check the position of photos.
Dylux Proofs
Sometimes referred to as a "blueline," a Dylux proof is sent when all final changes have been made and an order is ready to print. It is made using a photographic process with the film that later will be used to make press plates, and it is always blue in color. The use of two or more colors in a printing order are indicated as shades of blue in a Dylux. Client’s must review a Dylux proof thoroughly because the printed order will look just like it (with the exception of ink color and paper stock) unless further changes are marked. It is worthwhile at this stage to once again read the copy, checking it against earlier laser and/or Dylux proofs for revisions. If it is a larger piece, check folios, running heads, and the order of pages. Graphics and photo quality should also be reviewed. In short, all elements must be considered when reviewing a Dylux. It is a client's last chance to make changes. Remember, however, that any change--however small--made at the Dylux stage involves delay. Extensive work will add substantial cost, so it is to your benefit to make revisions early on.
Color Key Proofs
A color key is used primarily to proof orders that involve four-color printing. Like a Dylux proof, it is made using the film that later will be used to make press plates. All color breaks, however, are indicated not with shades of blue, but with a representation of the color inks that will be used when the order is printed. A color key is composed of two or more layers of acetate, each layer approximating an ink color. When viewing a color key, remember that the layering of acetate often causes a distortion in color and contrast.
Chromalin Proofs
A chromalin, like a color key, is a color proof made from the film that later will be used to make press plates. Unlike a color key, however, it can be used to more accurately check color and contrast. Although it is the closest representation of the order that will be printed, the materials used are extremely glossy, so it will never match the printed piece exactly.
Scanning
In the age of digital archiving, many people are interested in transfering text and graphic images to a digital format. This can be done quickly and easily at Burbank Printing Center. Books, manuscripts, and documents of all kinds can be scanned as text and saved to disk in virtually any available format for further editing or simply for future reference. Photos and graphics also can be scanned and saved into one of many graphics programs, where they can be manipulated further, or saved as jpegs, gifs, or tiffs. For more information concerning this service, call 818/840-8013.
Ink Color Selection
Specific ink color is easy at Burbank Printing Center. All Color is obtained with the use of the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a universally recognized ink formula system.
Thanks for taking the time to review Burbank Printing Center’s, Evolution of a Print Request.
And, we look forward to working with you on your next printing request. Should you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Sincerely,
David J. Koch
Vice President of ProductionVoice - (818) 840-8013
Fax - (818) 840-8014
E-mail - info@burbankprint.com