Prepress (or reprographics) includes a host of processes that sit in-between design and print. They include: scanning; retouching (image manipulation); technical preparation and pre-flight checking (trapping, planning, bleed, checking of file formats, preparation of digital artwork files such as PS, PDF, Quickcut etc.); output of film separations, digital Cromalin proofing and Epson inkjet proofing; and platemaking.

It is a highly technical set of processes that require high quality equipment and even more importantly high quality staff. Stabur Graphics meets these two crucial requirements. We have a team of 4 people covering the above processes and a fine set of equipment to aid them in their endeavours. Below is a summary of each of the processes and some technical specifications.

File preparation for output Taking a design and making it work for print is a vital process. The design might look great on screen or as a laser copy but when making separations for film and plates there are many considerations to be made. Professional preparation of artwork includes trapping, planning, adding bleed, and checking of image file formats. If you don't get it right at this stage it doesn't matter how good the printing machine or print technician is. Other processes include preparation of digital artwork files such as ADS and PDF to send artwork to newspapers and magazines for advertisements. Color separation The act of decomposing a color graphic or photo into single-color layers is called color separations. For example, to print full-color photos with an offset printing press, one must first separate the photo into the four basic ink colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). Each single-color layer is then printed separately, one on top of the other, to give the impression of infinite colors. This type of color separation, mixing three or four colors to produce an infinite variety of colors, is called process color separation. Another type of color separation, called spot color separation, is used to separate colors that are not to be mixed. In this case, each spot color is represented by its own ink, which is specially mixed. Spot colors are effective for highlighting text but they cannot be used to reproduce full-color images.