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.

This is the last stage prior to making plates or applying the artwork file for digital print. Many clients leave it up to the printer to sort this process out, but it offers high risk. Real pre-media is checking files for printing process integrity, colour management of assets, checking halftones and resolutions, shadows and highlights, checking colour accuracy, four colour process plus separated special colours, client logos in correct colour designations, trims and bleeds. The final Wellcom pre-media offering is printer profiling whereby client’s print suppliers have their press profiled so that all Wellcom Pre-media files are specified for individual presses. This reduces expensive and time consuming make ready.