Preflighting
Encourage customers to preflight their documents before handing them off to identify any problems that need to be resolved at the customer’s location. See “Preflighting the document” on page 47.
Packaging files for handoff
Packaging an InDesign document is similar to using the Save for Service Provider command in Adobe PageMaker or the Collect for Output feature in QuarkXPress. With the Package command, your customers or customer service representatives can collect the files needed to output an InDesign document, as well as provide contact information and instructions that help streamline the communication process between designers and prepress and printing professionals. The Package feature collects linked graphics and fonts, including fonts used in linked
EPS and PDF files. All of these files plus preflight and package reports are then saved into a single folder for easy delivery. You can use this feature two ways: by choosing File > Package, or by clicking Package in the Preflight dialog box. If the document contains problems that generate
Preflight warnings, we recommend resolving any issues before packaging the document—otherwise, the resulting package may be incomplete. Be sure your customers understand that incomplete packages can cause production delays. The Package feature contains several steps:
In the Printing Instructions dialog box, customers can enter contact information and any special printing instructions. The information then appears in an automatically generated report, which also includes a list of all used fonts, links, inks required to print the document, and current print settings. This report is stored in the same folder as the other packaged files and can be a valuable troubleshooting resource for your staff.
The Printing Instructions dialog box can clarify communication between customers and service providers.
In the Create Package Folder dialog box or Package Publication panel, you specify a name and location for the package folder, as well as whether to copy Fonts and Linked Graphics used in the document (a subfolder is created for each option you select). The InDesign document and the
Printing Instructions report are automatically copied to the folder you specify here.
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Use the Create Package Folder dialog box to control the packaging of linked assets.
The Create Package Folder or Package Publication panel contains the following option:
• Update Graphic Links in Package. This option helps to ensure that all graphic and image links are up to date. When you package a document, the linked files are collected and copied to one folder named Links. By updating the graphic links at the time the document is packaged, your customers can help ensure that the links in their documents don’t cause output problems.
• Use Document Hyphenation Exceptions only. This option embeds the customer’s user dictionary in the InDesign document, and helps to ensure that other user dictionaries (such as those on computers used to output the file) are ignored. This can help prevent unwanted lastminute line break changes, which can in turn cause production delays.
• Include Fonts and Links From Hidden Document Layers. This option includes all fonts and linked files on hidden InDesign document layers (not layers in imported files). This option is turned off by default, meaning that Adobe InDesign CS2 only includes content on layers that are visible at the time the document is packaged.
• View Report. This option automatically displays the Printing Instructions report after the package is created. The report is always saved to the package folder whether or not this option is selected.
• Instructions. This button opens the Printing Instructions panel.
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