Production art or file preparation relates to any number of processes required to make a file ready to print. Prior to computers, what was identified as a mechanical or camera ready art was given to printers. What used to be separate tasks for a designer, production artist, and lithographer have migrated into the job of preparing a digital file. Getting everything right rests just as much on proper software as experience of the one assembling everything. There are too many small details for an exhaustive list. However, processes may include but are not limited to any of the following.
- Layout
- Image scaling to optimize resolution
- Photo retouching (detail enhancement or artifact removal)
- Color mode conversions (CMYK or RGB)
- Illustration
- Proofing
Typically, layout relates to professional arrangement of existing elements such as text and images. Design takes this a step further by creating new or modifying existing elements to achieve a more unique presentation.
Though Microsoft Word or Powerpoint may be professional Office programs, they are not professional prepress applications. Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, QuarkXPress and preflight software with their requisite steep learning curves are recommended. The savings a novice might expect to gain from doing it himself is not generally worth the suboptimal results and expensive reprints. Reactive Imaging can properly design and prepare files for customers lacking a qualified art department. Content from Office programs is reformatted with professional prepress software before output. More information about file preparation is available within FAQ.