Pre-Media to Print

Pre-media is the last stage in the overall marketing print process. It is the final file to be signed off, and the one that places a client’s message to ink on paper. Therefore it’s a critical step in the production cycle. Many businesses rely on off the shelf software to complete this task, while others may leave it to a printer – both offer high risk. Wellcom offers quality assurance through its proprietary software workflow to co-manage this process.

It includes pre-flight checks, colour management, retouching, scanning, digital sends to media, digital proofing and specialist press profiling for specific printing presses with all stock type variants where the printer is nominated on the order. Wellcom can also digitally send the Pre-media file to publications and printers, or transition it to CTP (Computer To Plate), or to any of Wellcom’s many digital print businesses whether it is large format or personalized and variable print.

Many clients have a network of contracted printers that produce repetitive type print weekly or monthly. Wellcom has spent considerable time working such clients to profile their printers’ printing presses. This guarantees that the Pre-media file is accurate to the exacting standards of each press minimizing the printers make ready time in matching the signed off proof to the printed page. This integrity of the Pre-media file is crucial, and the application of Wellcoms’ press attributes maintains dot structure, open shadow areas and hold highlights. This in turn gives both printer and client the best possible colour reproduction.