Know your machine: prepress starts at the press

In prepress, people often think everything happens on screen. In reality, a good file starts with a solid understanding of the press that will print it.

Why "knowing your machine" changes everything

Every process — flexo, offset, digital — has its own constraints: dot gain, registration play, maximum screen ruling, compatible inks and substrates. Preparing a file without these is working blind.

What to know before you start

• The process and cylinder repeat (flexo), which drive the step and repeat.
• The screen ruling (lpi) the anilox and substrate support.
• The press's specific dot-gain / correction curve.
• The registration play, which dictates trapping.
• The available inks and technical white.

The habit to build

Before separating or imposing anything, fill in a "machine" sheet: substrate, process, ruling, curve, registration. That one document prevents most reworks and re-plates.

This is the starting point of level 1 of my training: Know your machine.