Pre-press

• Size of all pages must be equal according to order - if book is ordered in size of 210x297, then this size must be defined in document properties.
• File should be prepared with crop marks (this can be applied automatically just before exporting file to PDF).
• Bleed size for every document must be applied: contents, soft covers and endpapers – 3mm, hard covers – 18mm.
• Correct color space must be applied. CMYK, or Grayscale is acceptable. Files must be prepared according to ISO12647-2:2013 standard, OutputIntent information must be provided in PDF file or corresponding information about color profile used must be attached to PDF file. ICC profiles can be downloaded on our website.
• All spot colors should be converted to CMYK, if not intended to be printed as separate Pantone colors. RGB or Lab colors are not allowed in offset printing.
• 100% black must be applied for Foil, UV spot, Embossing files. Objects of these files must be converted to outlines.
• Every part of the book should be saved as separate files: separate content file, cover file, endpapers, foil, UV spot, etc.
• Contents should be saved as single PDF file containing all pages First -> Last in correct sequence. PDF file can be divided in one, or more parts, if PDF file exceeds more than 2Gb. Files must be named according to sequence, like: “book_001-120.pdf”, “book_121-248.pdf”, etc.
• Text, numbers and important design objects of file should not be placed closer than 3 mm to page edges.
• To prevent too high ink coverage, correct ICC profiles must be applied according to selected paper
• Correct resolution of color pictures is 300 dpi, for bitmap files 600 dpi.
• All fonts have to be embedded.
• If endpapers are ordered as selfends, endpapers should be included in content file.
• Blank pages have to be included in the content file.
• Fine black objects (texts, lines, tables) should be 100% black. RGB or Registration color is not allowed for offset printing.
• Line width should not be less than 0,2 pt.
• All 100% of black objects (text and vectors) overprint will be applied automatically in file ripping process.
• Do not to use white objects in overprint mode and don't play with object overprint settings as long as it's really necessary.
• Do not use JPEG2000 compression.

To export created layout to PDF correctly, in InDesign choose File -> Adobe PDF Presets -> PDF/X-4
 

GENERAL All settings can be left as default

 

COMPRESSION All settings can be left as default

 

MARKS AND BLEEDS Check Boxes for Crop marks and Page Information must be checked. Offset must be applied 5 mm. Check Box must be checked for document bleeds. If document has a bleed size defined, it will appear automatically in bleed section in gray. Bleed size must be at least 3 mm for content pages and 18 mm for hard cover file.

 

OUTPUT Color conversion: Convert to destination (Preserve Numbers), Destination: .icc profile according to selected paper (see Downloads section).

Instead of hard-copy printouts of the PDF's, faster and easier method is to check pageproofs (softproofs).
 

All received files are checked by our prepress department and adjusted to our technical conditions to run a print. Then we generate pageproof PDF file which basically shows what and how book contents will be printed. This file is always sent to the client and is a mandatory confirmation step before we begin the production.
 

To see the content of PDF’s correctly, you must always use latest version of Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, which is possible to download and install free of charge for almost any platform.
 

Using latest Acrobat/Acrobat Reader version is the only way to be sure you see all texts, objects, bleeds, overprints, extracted or added hidden and unnecessary objects, possible glitches. And to see all of them the way it will be printed.
 

Overprint preview. You must always check pageproofs with overprint preview set on. In Acrobat choose Edit → Preferences → General. On the left part of dialog window look for Page Display and then set Use Overprint Display to Always. This will help to visually catch typical overprint problems and also check trapping of the objects.
You can use Overprint Checkup PDF file to test overprint settings of your PDF viewer. Please do not check files in web browser or on your mobile devices. Mobile device rendering engines and built-in browser PDF viewers does not support overprint preview.
As a double-check we have created a special control mark that appear in the files we send for approval. 
 

View contents in spreads. To see pageproof file as an opened book (as spreads), you must change View settings in Acrobat. Choose View → Page Display → Two Page View and also set View → Page Display → Show Cover Page in Two Page View.
 

Low resolution of images. By default we are downsampling all images to 72 dpi in pageproof files to save bandwidth and transfer time, but it’s always possible to provide a hi-res pageproof file on demand.

Images showing the endpapers as spreads in files and how the same files look glued as endpapers in a book.

Standard endpapers
 

Endpapers with flaps


 

When the client is ordering a book with several language editions, the client must deliver:

1. Separate PDF file with CMYK pictures/illustrations as a single PDF file from the first to the last page.
2. Separate PDF file with text and black objects (all 100% black, vector objects only) for each language edition as a single PDF file from the first to the last page. All objects in the text file must be defined with overprint turned ON.

ICC profiles

PSO Coated v3 by ECI (FOGRA51) for coated paper
PSO Uncoated v3 by ECI (FOGRA52) for uncoated paper
 

InDesign job options

Coated_Paper_Fogra51.joboptions for coated paper
Uncoated_Paper_Fogra52.joboptions for uncoated paper
 

How to install a color profile

• In Windows, right-click a profile and select Install Profile. Alternatively, copy the profiles into the WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\color folder.

• In Mac OS, copy profiles into the /Library/ColorSync/Profiles folder or the /Users/[username]/Library/ColorSync/Profiles folder.

After installing color profiles, be sure to restart Adobe applications.

ISBN barcode generator

Enter ISBN code to create a print-ready vector barcode in PDF format. You can use spaces, dashes or any other symbols as separators for 13-digit code. Dashes according to ISO standard will be added automatically. Font is embeded in PDF file.

Please test the barcode to make sure it works before you prepare layouts for printing. There are many smartphone apps that read barcodes and you can scan the barcode directly from computer screen.
Last update: 2016.07.28.

CRITERIA FOR COLOUR PROOF EVALUATION
 

1. Colour proofs should be printed on a suitable proof paper:

• Reference proofs for printing on coated paper should be printed on Semimatt proof paper.

• Reference proofs for printing on uncoated paper should be printed on Matt proof paper.

2. Colour proof should be printed from the file supplied to the printer as the ready-to-print PDF file.

3. Sizes of images on the proofs should match the printed result 1:1.

4. Each colour proof should include the following information:

• Date the proof has been printed

• Name of the file printed

• Applied printing standard

• Ugra/Fogra Media wedge v2 or v3

• Validation sticker that shows colour proof’s conformity with the chosen printing standard. 

If any of the above mentioned information is missing on the supplied colour proof, the proof does not comply with ISO standard and cannot be used as a valid reference for printing.
If there is an obvious mismatch between the colour proofs and the supplied printing files (objects that are only on files or only on printed proofs; file creation date is later than a date on proofs, etc), these proofs cannot be used as a valid reference for printing.
In case of doubts about the supplied colour proof quality, Livonia Print would print 1-3 Livonia Print ISO certified proofs to check the conformity. If proofs don’t match, it will be communicated to the client. If needed, Livonia Print colour proofs will be sent to the client for approval, extra charge may be applied.

ACCEPTANCE OF COLOUR PROOFS

• If colour proofs and PDF files are supplied as PSO uncoated v2, prepared according to Fogra 29/30/47 standard and yellowish paper is selected for printing, the colour proofs can be accepted as a reference.

• If colour proofs and PDF files are supplied as PSO uncoated v2, prepared according to Fogra 29/30/47 standard, but White/Uncoated OBA paper (Amber Graphic, Magno Natural) paper is selected for printing, the colour proofs are not valid as a reference due to different paper whiteness.

• If colour proofs are supplied as PSO uncoated v2, prepared according to Fogra 29/30/47 standard, but pdf files are created according to PSO coated v3 Fogra 52, the colour proofs are not valid as a reference due to different print standards.

• If colour proofs and PDF files are supplied as PSO uncoated v3 according to Fogra 52 standard, but Uncoated/Yellowish non-OBA paper is selected for printing, the colour proofs are not valid as a reference due to different paper whiteness.

CRITERIA FOR PREVIOUSLY PRINTED SAMPLE BOOK USE AS A REFERENCE FOR A NEXT REPRINT

All orders at Livonia Print are strictly printed according to ISO12647-2 standard. Therefore the only valid reference for first print or any reprint are only certified colour proofs printed according to the instructions described above.
Factors like, for example, changes in production of paper, ink and other material, or aging of paper and materials are often the reasons, why it is impossible to match the reprint to the previously printed sample.
If the client insists on using the previously printed sample book as a reference, the operator can try to adjust the colours, if differences are minimal. However, this kind of sample still is not considered as a valid reference for printing.
If a printing operator doubts a possibility of a close colour match, the printing process will be stopped for further communication, which would result in extra costs for the client.