PREPARING YOUR DOCUMENT FOR A SERVICE PROVIDER

The Preflight and Package features are valuable tools when you are trying to pull files together for a service bureau or printer. Not only do the options check your document for any issues that might keep it from printing as you want, it also pulls all linked graphic files and the fonts you've used into one convenient folder.

Using Preflight

The Preflight dialog, which opens when you select File, Preflight, contains several panes containing information about your document. In most of the panes, you have the option to select a Show Problems Only check box, which alerts you only if there are issues that will keep the document from printing as you expect:

• Summary: This panel shows the number of fonts and images used, color usage, external plug-ins associated with the file and pagination options (see Figure 31.22).

  Figure 31.22. The Summary panel of the Preflight dialog.

  
  
  

• Fonts: This panel shows the fonts used, as well as alerts if fonts are missing, embedded, incomplete, or protected. If a font is missing, click the Find Font button to substitute a font.

• Links and Images: This panel shows a complete list of the links included in the document. Select a link name in the list to see file information. Click Update to relink a file.

• Colors and Inks: This panel shows all color and names of inks used in the document.

• Print Settings: This panel shows all print options chosen in the Print dialog.

• External Plug-ins: This panel shows any third-party plug-ins used in the creation of the document. External plug-ins can sometimes prevent you from opening documents if you do not have the same plug-ins installed as the person who created the document.

Click the Report button to save a text file with your page information.

Click the Package button to gather the related files for printing.

Using Package

Click the Package button at the bottom of the Preflight dialog. If your document has not been saved, you are prompted to do so.

The first screen of the packaging process is an information screen; enter your contact information and any special instructions in this screen. This information is saved in a text file and gathered along with your documents. Click Continue.

You are prompted to name a folder and browse to the location where you want to save it (see Figure 31.23). Add any comments for Version Cue. Use the check boxes to

• Copy Fonts (except CJK) (copies all used font files but not the entire typeface).

• Copy Linked Graphics.

• Update Graphic Links in Package (changes graphic link paths to the new package folder location).

• Include Fonts and Links from Hidden Document Layers.

• View Report (opens a preflight and package report after the process is completed).

• Click Save to package your file(s).

Figure 31.23. Choose the items you want to package with your document.

InDesign gives you numerous options for saving and outputting your document, depending on your final audience or output device. Give some thought to these things when you set up your document so that making your print choices will be easier.