Separated Workflow:

   For quite some time we have been employing a pre-separated workflow for your magazines.  "Pre-Separated" means that the pages are postscripted from Quark or PageMaker with separations turned ON.  Although these postscript files are a single file, inside that file, the separations have already been performed and saved into that file. In a separated workflow, the separations are actually performed by Quark or PageMaker at the time the pages are printed to a postscript file.

   This workflow is slow and does not properly support color proofing, PDF workflow, and internet proofing.  It also does not properly support in rip trapping.  These are all the features that The Printing House Ltd. wants to offer our customers in our newest composite PDF workflow.

   We are currently making the transition to a better "composite" PDF workflow to improve the flexibility and efficiency of our workflow.  In turn this change has many benefits and more options for our publishing clients. 

Composite Workflow:

   In a "composite" workflow the files are not printed or postscripted as separations. Though all the information needed for the file to separate properly is written into the file, the separations are not performed until it goes to the plate RIP.  This facilitates smaller file sizes and faster processing. Our new composite workflow better supports color proofing, in-rip trapping, PDF workflow, internet proofing, and soft proofing.

   Though this is a very advantageous change for everyone, there is one catch to this transition that must be carefully managed.  This documentation is focussed on the details of making it through this transition successfully and what procedures must be followed in handling Eskofot scans.

CopyDot or Eskofot Scans: "CopyDot" scans or Eskofot scans are scans created by The Printing House, Ltd. from advertiser furnished film.  If your advertiser has film for an ad but no disk files, we can scan in his film and create a digital master to be used in your documents.    "CopyDot" is a name that is commonly used for these files in the trade.  Since the files are a scan of the film supplied, they retain the original dot pattern, shape, angle, etc. of the original supplied film. Thus the name "CopyDot". "Eskofot" is a name commonly used by The Printing House, Ltd. and it's customers.  Since these files are scanned on an Eskofot scanner they are regularly referred to as "Eskofots".    These types of files are NOT supported by our new PDF workflow.  They are not supported by composite work-flow in general.  Therefore it is imperativethat these files be properly identified, handled, processed, and managed. Since they are pre-separated digital masters of film furnished separations, they can not be easily re-combined in the composite workflow.

Once separated, they must be managed in their original separated state all the way through the workflow. Therefore, every page that contains an Eskofot scan has to follow a pre-separated workflow and will require extra attention while making it's way to press.  

(1) Proper Identification:

   The publisher must use FlightCheck to scan all Quark & PageMaker documents for "DCS" files.  DCS, (Desktop Color Separation) is the format used for these CopyDot scans. FlightCheck will report these images and specify in which pages these scans are used.  There should be an accurate list kept of these pages for the careful communication and management of these pages.

Customers who do not have FlightCheck to aid in proper identification and management of these "Eskofots" should not be accepting film from customers and employing these "Eskofots" in their workflow. The application FlightCheck and the use of it managing these files is required.

(2) Proper Communication:

   The publisher must submit this list to customer service so that we at The Printing House, Ltd. can help look after these pages.  Also, this memo and these lists of pages with CopyDot scans must be thoroughly communicated with all operators and managers on your staff.  This list of CopyDot pages needs to be referred to before and during every submission.

(3) Proper Handling Of CopyDots:

A: Eskofots are provided to the customer on a CD and are to be submitted in place, cropped and positioned as desired by the customer. Like any other image, the files are to be maintained by the customer. Unlike the pick-up workflow used for film supplied ads in a conventional film workflow the publisher is responsible to maintain the images for these ads and place them before submission to TPH.

B: Eskofots are resolution specific. This means that if scanned at 2540 dpi., our standard outpput resolution for Computer To Plate, they are not compatible to any 2400 dpi output device. Always keep this in mind if using eskofots that were not scanned at TPH, or trying to use these TPH scans with another provider. In addition, these "Eskofots cannot be scaled, or rotated, this will affect the final resolution and imaging grid of the output and will produce undesireable artifacts in the screening.

C: Eskofots cannot be renamed, resaved, or altered in any way. There are five files that have internal reference, or link, to each other embedded into each of these 5 files. Eskofot scans must always have all 5 files in the same folder to be able to link to each other. If modified in ANY way, these images may not output properly. D: Any PDFs or composite postscripts for these pages must be discarded and never submitted to TPH.  These files will be a low resolution and very rough version of the CopyDot scan.  If the low resolution PDF or composite postscript file gets to plate, the results will be very poor in quality.

E: These pages which contain CopyDot scans must be manually postscripted with separations turned ON. I suggest this get done just before you submit to The Printing House, Ltd. If you are submitting source files and letting TPH postscript the pages for you, then all five files, the low res "FPO" preview and its four high res separation (CMYK) files must be sent in with your submission.

   Although we will assist in any possible way to help you manage this detail, it is the sole responsibility of the publisher to manage this detail.  We cannot be responsible for the results if you fail to properly identify, communicate, and process these pre-separated Eskofot files.

   Therefore, I encourage you to call and consult with technical support if there's any questions or clarification needed regarding these pre-separated "Eskofot" files. If you plan on using these type of images in your publication, it is imperative that the publisher and  all those involved in the preparation of files be aware of the design limitations and special handling requirements that come with them.