Prepress

The collection of processes and services performed to prepare a document for printing, ensuring it is ready for production on a press. Prepress involves various tasks, including:

• Stripping: Assembling film negatives or positives for accurate page alignment (used primarily in traditional printing).
• Scanning: Converting physical images or artwork into digital formats suitable for printing.
• Color Separation: Dividing an image into its component colors (e.g., CMYK) for multi-color printing.
• Proofing: Creating proofs to check for errors, color accuracy, and overall layout.
• Imposition: Arranging pages on a print sheet for proper sequencing, alignment, and minimal waste during printing.

Prepress ensures the design meets technical and aesthetic requirements for high-quality output. It is a critical step in the printing process, bridging the gap between design and production.