Services
Prepress Services
Behind every clean press sheet is a team that checked the file, managed the color, and made sure what you approved is what we print.
Prepress is how a design file becomes a print-ready job. At Broudy that means a prepress operator and a production workflow working together: careful file review on every job, plus human judgment when the work is unusual, color-critical, or headed into bindery and mail.
We are not a remote upload portal hoping the PDF is fine. Your file lands with people who know our presses, our stocks, and our finishing equipment, so problems get fixed before plates or digital engines start.
Behind the curtain
What our prepress team actually does
A lot of this work is invisible to the client. Here is what actually happens before ink hits paper.
01
A real operator on every file
Before anything hits a plate or a digital press, our prepress operator reviews each job for resolution, bleed, fonts, spot colors, page size, and file integrity, and often catches plenty of other issues that would have been expensive on press.
02
Proofs you can trust
Soft proofs for speed, contract proofs on Epson and HP systems when color is critical, and imposition proofs when you need to see how pages land on the sheet. G7 certification keeps proof-to-press predictable.
03
Imposition & color management
AGFA Apogee handles ripping, trapping, ink optimization, and imposition so sheets yield well and waste less. Color is tuned for the stock you chose, not a generic screen profile.
04
Specialty & finishing setups
Die lines, foil, varnish, white ink, and complex folds get a human pass. We flag design risks early and set files so production sees exactly what you intended.
05
Mail-ready when it mails
If the job includes a list, prepress and mailing stay connected: usable data formats, address hygiene, and proofs that show how personalization and addressing will print.
06
Layout help when you need it
Stuck on a rebuild, resize, or dieline? Our team can rework files or build from scratch for a quoted fee, with estimates before any billable work starts.
Tips
For a smoother prepress pass
Clean files move faster. These habits prevent most of the late-cycle surprises.
Send a proper PDF
PDF/X or a clean press-ready PDF is still the safest path. Flatten or embed fonts, keep live text when possible, and avoid office-document exports dressed up as print files.
Build bleed and safe margins
Most jobs need 0.125″ bleed. Keep critical type and logos inside the safe area so trim and fold do not clip them.
Think CMYK (and name spots)
Convert or design in CMYK for process work. If you need Pantone or specialty colors, name spots clearly so we do not guess.
Match the order to the file
Page count, finished size, and versioning should match what you ordered. A quick check here saves a round of “why does this look different on press?”
More detail in our designer’s file checklist and FAQ on proofs.
Our prepress stack
The same capabilities listed on our services overview, with room to go deeper when a job needs it.
- AGFA Apogee workflow: rip, trap, ink management, imposition, proofing, plating
- Cross-platform Mac and PC file support
- Digital asset management with offsite backup
- Epson contract proofing, HP DesignJet proofers, ImpoProof imposition proofs
- Adobe Creative Suite and common design applications
- G7 Master Qualified color management
Prefer the short version? See prepress on Services, or jump to G7 resources.
Send the file. We will get it press-ready.
Attach art with your quote, use Broudy File Drop, or talk through an unusual setup before you build it.
Prepress, press, bindery, and mailing in Pittsburgh
Proofed Right. Printed Right. One Roof.
or call 412.362.6700