Pre-press folding question
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- NegativeSpace
How do you guys usually indicate folds in your files to go to print?
I am working on a 6 fold brochure for an event, I only have minor details at this point so I don't know which offset printer they are using, and I have only ever done stuff that had to be cut w/ crop marks.
Do you just use guides? or is there an industry standard way with a dashed stroke of some sort?
Thanks in advance.
- gruntt0
i usually put a dashed stroke to indicate the folds with the word "fold" in (). I put all of that on a non printing layer and then spell it all out in a letter/email.
- D_Dot0
I make a layer named "fold marks" and put all my guides for folds on that layer.
- NegativeSpace0
Wicked, thanks!
- paraselene0
magenta dotted line is customary.
but i always give them a mock-up, too. you'd be surprised how even professional printers have a hard time with challenging concepts like concertina and roll.
- honest0
i specify folds in "registration" colour in illustrator and render that layer NOT to print. Printers are usually ok, but write a note to make sure they understand and a dummy mock-up is always useful no matter how crap it turns out when you make it yourself
- NegativeSpace0
Reviving this again cause I had a couple last questions. The stuff I have printed to date is mostly flyers and stationary, cards etc so this is new to me.
Is there any special way to indicate the direction of a fold? Or if I tell them it will be an accordian fold they will know what to do?
I wish I could contact the printer but the people sub contracting me havent got me this info from the client and I would rather not rush to do these things last minute if I can avoid it.
Also the piece is full bleed, how many mm or inches do you normally go beyond the crops when you setup your files?
- madirish0
bleed should (IMO) be 5mm or 0.25 inches. this though should ALWAYS be confirmed and/or dictated by the printer. they all have unique specs and depending on how they are running the job, may want more or less.
- thenuge0
use a dashed stroke, put all comments in the slug area. they will remove before printing
- paraselene0
i always use a 3mm bleed.
registration magenta dotted line and comments on the pasteboard (if it's in registration magenta, then they know not to print it).
if you're using the accepted industry terminology (eg: accordion, roll, concertina, etc.), then they should know which direction to fold. however, it is always advisable to provide a mock up.
the most important think, imho, is to get a digital proof and scatter images if necessary. the proof will tell you if they've got their heads around your p/o or not.