Prepress is the term used in the printing and publishing industries for the processes and procedures that occur between the procurement of a written manuscript and original artwork, and the manufacture of a printing plate, image carrier, or (traditionally) forme, ready for mounting on a printing press.
#22555
Becoming a "Business Communications Service Provider"
Print service providers have historically been defined by output technology such as commercial color, sheet-fed, web offset and large-format. These print technologies by themselves can be easily commoditized. As the market begins to migrate to a digital infrastructure, Print on Demand – or POD – represents something far more interesting and important than technology for technology’s sake. POD hardware and software offer the potential for new ways to communicate business information. The primary focus of successful users of POD technology is building a services portfolio and positioning their companies to provide 'business communications solutions and services.' These users are looking at digital printing and the associated services as a way to decommoditize printing and increase both profitability and customer loyalty.
Pellow, Barbara A. Digital Output (2004). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Printing
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Beginning With The End: Understanding Printing
Where does a typical desktop publishing project begin? Dumb question? Perhaps not. For all practical purposes, the information gathering process starts at the end, with the printing process. If you're new to desktop publishing, this article will explain some of the technical aspects of design you may not have considered. If you're an old pro, it might remind you of some of the production steps we (I include myself here) sometimes forget.
Dornbos, Jim. Ideabook.com (2001). Design>Publishing>Prepress>Printing
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Why you should be designing pieces to be printed in color.
Output Links (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Prepress>Color
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The analog format of the CRT is challenged by the digital capabilities of the LCD monitor.
Hawver, Mark. Digital Output (2003). Articles>Graphic Design>Prepress>Color
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Blank paper...could anything be more basic and uncontroversial? Who'd have thought those innocuous white sheets could cause such a ruckus? Learn what the fuss is about and why paper mills and environmentalists are lining up on either side of the presses.
Sidles, Constance J. Adobe Magazine (1998). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Paper
#10754
Write a book this afternoon. Sound preposterous? To the contrary--you can create an information-packed, 16-page booklet using a single sheet of paper in little more time than it takes to type the text. Use it to market your product or service, to tell the story of your organization or to offer tips and how-to information to prospects and clients. Print five or ten copies directly from your laser printer or take your master artwork to a commercial printer and have it reproduced by the thousands. No matter how you cut, fold and staple it, this book is proof-positive that big things do come in small packages.
Chuck Green. Ideabook.com (1999). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Printing
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Buying Laser Paper That Won't Jam 
How to choose paper for laser printing.
Sidles, Constance J. Adobe Magazine (1996). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Paper
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The Challenges of Managing Print Operations 
As organizations seek to outsource non-core functions and reduce costs through improved efficiency, in-house print operations face a number of challenges. They must meet customer need for high throughput and consistent quality; deliver the same degree of variety, personalization, and flexibility available in the commercial print market; maintain visibility over print operations; more efficiently allocate resources; and maintain high service levels. Health Care Services Corporation turned to Infoprint Workflow for a solution.
On Demand Journal (2004). Articles>Publishing>Prepress>Case Studies
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Even the pros forget the basics sometimes. Constance Sidles gives a quick refresher course on asking yourself, and your client, all the right questions when you're choosing paper.
Sidles, Constance J. Adobe Magazine (1998). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Paper
#22547
Every year I look forward to the Communication Arts issue that has the color predictions for the coming year. Mostly because I'm fascinated with the subject, but also because I want to see the funny color names they come up with.
Poynter Online (2004). Design>Publishing>Prepress>Color
#21809
This glossary lists and explains color and visual perception terms which are relevant for graphic and Web design as well as usability. The information was taken from several sources and adapted to the needs of this glossary
Wiegand, Christine and Gerd Waloszek. SAP Design Guild. Design>Graphic Design>Prepress>Color
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Color Imaging Workflow Primitives: Details and Examples
The term 'color fidelity' refers to the successful interoperability of color data, from image creation to output across multiple targets, such that color reproduction quality consistent with the user’s intent can be achieved Note: Interoperability among system color components, necessary for color fidelity, is both color-workflow and market-segment dependent definitions for architecture, image state, and image processing.
McCarthy, Ann. International Color Consortium (2002). Design>Graphic Design>Prepress>Color
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Despite advances in the technology of measuring and managing it, how we perceive color is still full of mystery and illusions.
Fraser, Bruce. Adobe Magazine (1996). Design>Graphic Design>Prepress>Color
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Color in Technical Documents for Paper, Web, and PDF
Traditionally, technical documents have been produced in black and white because the cost of color reproduction on paper is high. With new delivery options of the Web and PDF, color is suddenly available at no cost online. And new digital printers make color on paper increasingly affordable. When opportunity knocks, issues tend to follow. Writers will find that using color is a learning experience. There is a new alphabet soup: RGB, CMYK, GIF, JPEG, CSS. There are new buzzwords: spot colors, process colors, digital printing. There are new techniques for representing color in Web pages and in PDF documents intended for paper or screen. Our presentation focuses on practical techniques, not graphic design.
Jackson, Ken and Sonya E. Keene. STC Proceedings (1999). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Color
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Color Management and Windows: An Introduction
An overview of Microsoft image color management technology.
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Color Management How-To: Understanding Computer Color
Learning how to match the color you see on screen with that in your printed output is critical information for any digital artist or photographer. But first you need to understand how color works both on computer display and on paper. Start with this chapter from 'Real World Color Management.'
Bunting, Fred, Bruce Fraser and Chris Murphy. Creative Pro (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Prepress>Color
#22501
A collection of dozens of links to color management prepress resources.
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Several years after the hype began, color management is maturing into a useful tool that can solve real problems. Here's a comprehensive overview.
Fraser, Bruce. Adobe Magazine (1995). Design>Document Design>Prepress>Color
#21918
Picking paper involves deciphering a lot of arcane terminology. Here's a quick reference guide.
Sidles, Constance J. Adobe Magazine (1996). Articles>Document Design>Prepress>Paper
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Computer to Plate Basics Explained
In Europe and the US, Computer to Plate (CtP) seems to be a fast growing market. In some areas of the print market the majority of printers have already made the transition from traditional plate techniques to CtP. The reason why is easy to see: CtP gives almost instant colour register on the press, and there is no need to worry about stopping the press for removal of dust marks and scratches that sometimes would plague traditional film.
IT Enquirer (2009). Design>Project Management>Prepress>Printing
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Computer to Plate Hits High Tide
Technology tends to be an irresistible tide, tugging individuals and businesses toward the newer, the faster, the better, and punishing the holdouts with obsolescence. No industry and no profession can escape that steady march of upgrades and improvements. Computer-to-plate imaging (CtP) has certainly not been an exception, driving all but niche shops to abandon the old (film imagesetters) for the promise of the new.
Franklin, Tom. Digital Output (2003). Design>Publishing>Prepress>Printing
#22503
A collection of dozens of links to computer-to-plate digital prepress resources online.
#22552
The latest digital copier-printers provide enhanced digital printing functionality, enabling users to do more than ever.
Miley, Michael. PennWell (2004). Design>Publishing>Prepress>Printing
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New press introductions have resulted in an almost bewildering range of paper sizes. Nonetheless, that old standby, the 8 ˙ 11-inch sheet, remains the most popular choice.
American Printer (2004). Design>Publishing>Prepress
#22551
Digital Paper Platform: Papers Impact Digital Print Quality
As digital printers and presses advance, paper manufacturers continue to improve the quality and variety of their digital paper lines.
Hitchcock, Nancy A. PennWell (2004). Design>Publishing>Prepress>Paper
