The single most important phase of digital production is at the job submittal phase. The inclusion of all elements and information makes for the desired output. The task of keeping all file versions organized demands as much precision as any other aspect of a project. A comprehensive file management process will ensure that when you submit your job, all components for a successful job production will have been included. In addition to ensuring that all files, fonts and supporting elements are transferred to us, you should also include a Purchase Order or Specification Form clearly outlining the job requirements. Why not give us a call before you submit a job? We are always happy to answer any file-related questions that will help us smooth out the production of your project. Please always send a proof with your job. Color separations are best, but composite proofs are better than no proofs at all. This allows our prepress specialists to be confident that they have the correct file. A proof also provides us with approved visuals to compare to the materials we produce so we can be sure no elements are missing or out of place. In addition, a proof will often alert you to production errors before you even send files to us, saving you time and maybe money, as well. The simple and most obvious file names and labels are always best. Put the document you want produced in a specified folder labeled "Output." This can speed up the production of your digital files tremendously. When supplying fonts, place them all loose within a singular "Fonts" folder. Be sure to include both the suitcase containing the screen fonts and their corresponding printer fonts. The complexity of a document can almost always create potential production problems. While you are building files, it's always best to work efficiently. Remove any unneeded text blocks and delete any unused colors from the palette that are not contained within the document. Not only does it make your document cleaner, it can also help you detect potential problems. Using colors within each of the programs can sometimes be confusing. Try to keep all color names consistent from one program to another and from one file to another. Failing to do this can cause output of extra plates or inconsistent output results. Suffixes like CV and CVC are part of the color name and must also match for predictable results. Avoid using the default colors "Red, Green and Blue" in a page layout program. These colors are generally made using the RGB color model. In Quark XPress, you can get rid of these colors by deleting them when all Quark documents are closed. Or, if you really want to use these colors, edit them with no Quark document open to make them CMYK compatible. Try not to embed or layer any one image deeper than a single level. Embedding can cause situations that are sometimes very difficult to find and correct, particularly in cases where supporting images are unrecoverable. For example: a Bitmap EPS (that is no longer available for editing) embedded into an Illustrator EPS that is then placed into a Quark document. Preferably, every file should only be placed in the document that will be provided.