Workflow

Digital Film Evaluation Checklist
A checklist created by Binary Graphics in Seattle that documents the things to check when evaluating film output.
Digital Mechanical
An industry standard term standing for the combination of three things: Laser hardcopy representing a press ready layout. A disk containing all layout and graphic files used to create that hardcopy as well as all necessary fonts. A disk transmittal form that provides information about the job.
Digital Mechanical Check-in
An activity that takes place in the prepress department of a commercial printing plant where a digital mechanical is checked for missing elements and loaded onto the computer network.
Digital Mechanical Makeready
An activity that takes place in the prepress department of a commercial printing plant where a digital mechanical is prepared for film output. This activity includes checking the file preparation methods and general state of the files. It also includes the digital stripping of images, trapping, and imposition.
Digital Mechanical Quality Control Checklist
A checklist created by Binary Graphics in Seattle that details the elements of a digital mechanical that should be confirmed before the digital mechanical is sent away for film output.
Hardcopy Mark-up
The act of writing necessary information onto the surface of the laser hardcopy before handing a digital mechanical over to the output vendor.
Hardcopy Mark-up Checklist
A checklist created by Binary Graphics in Seattle that documents the things that need to be written on the laser hardcopy that is part of a digital mechanical. The elements on this checklist are drawn from industry standard guidelines.
Pre-design Production Planner
A pre-planning aid created by Binary Graphics in Seattle that helps gather necessary production information before files are created.
Pre-planning
The act of planning the production steps and determining responsibilities before creating the computer files that will make up the digital mechanical. Pre-planning is generally said to save time and money.
Shared Responsibility
An important term relating to the relationship between the organization that creates a digital mechanical and the organization that outputs it. Usually a matter of negotiation, it is in the best interest of all concerned to work this out in advance and create a plan to account for errors and problems to include such unfortunate events as software bugs that prevent deadlines from being met.
Vendor Coordination
An important thing for a print buyer to do when involved in the pre-planning and creation of a digital mechanical. It is important to coordinate the capabilities and efforts of the design staffs with the prepress production organization. Proper division of responsibility must be negotiated between the two groups and proper file preparation methods should be followed.
Workflow
A term used to describe the steps taken in the execution of a task such as creating and outputting a digital mechanical. Proper workflow is determined based on the specific project being undertaken, the skills and desires of the file creators, and the capabilities and policies of the firm that will create the high-resolution film output.
Workflow Test Files
A term used for a test made in the early stages of digital mechanical creation. Workflow test files are designed to confirm the compatibility of the software being used as well as confirming the particular production techniques being used.