Pre-flighting tools should be able to check VDP output files for common errors such as incorrect image resolution, RGB or spot colours, hairlines and missing fonts. Linking to external resources, such as graphics and images that are used repeatedly and which therefore do not need to be included in every print file, is a feature of ‘thin’ VDP formats such as VPS, PPML and PDF/VT2. The DFE will need to know where these files are and will ideally support local, remote and ‘hot folder’ locations.
Imposition is a critical process, especially when variable length products are being printed, and explicit support for subsequent finishing processes such as trimming, folding and binding, in whatever order they need to occur, is essential.
Leave a Reply