Editing File Management Procedures (section)

===Formats: ===	
*InDesign is the preferred format for most print projects and should be used for all client presentation files. InDesign will generate the smallest PDF file sizes, as opposed to Illustrator or Photoshop. 
*Illustrator is the preferred format for all digital projects due to its ability to easily generate digital assets for development, however there are some limitations of Illustrator to manage projects with multiple pages and many linked assets, which requires a different workflow, described below.

====Illustrator Workflow====
[[File:Ppi.png|frame|300px|right|Check your PPI and never use artwork that won't meet production standards]]
File size quickly becomes bloated in Illustrator with multiple artboards and multiple linked files to high-res artwork. The rule of thumb is that if your Illustrator file sizes grows over 100 Mb, it is too large. Every designer has a responsibility to optimize their working files so that they can be easily opened by another. Here are some general rules for achieving workable files:

<blockquote>'''Do not''' embed artwork or screenshots. Ensure that all photos are linked assets and that they are optimally sized for the desired resolution. Ensure that all linked files are in the Art folder before finalizing your assignment.</blockquote>

<blockquote>'''Do not''' link to photos at a PPI higher than necessary. For digital projects, resize linked photos to the desired resolution, rather than link to high-res artwork. Illustrator attempts to save all of the image data to a preview, so linking to 10 100Mb files will create an Illustrator file that grows to 1 terabyte in storage size, which can’t be easily opened across network. If a project grows so large as to require more than 10 linked files across multiple artboards, consider splitting the artboards into separate files.</blockquote>

<blockquote>'''Do not''' copy and paste repeated items across multiple artboards. Use symbols and linked files for shared assets. In web projects, in particular, there are many shared page assets that are repeated across the site, such as logos and headers. Breaking your files down to common assets that are placed into the layout file will create less work when making updates.</blockquote>

Delete unused artboards and scratch work. It is common when creating new concepts to paste inspirations and screenshots outside the work area as a reference. During initial concepts, this is fine, but future versions of the file should eliminate anything that isn’t essential to the design. By v2, there should be no extraneous elements scattered around the primary artboards.

If file size becomes problematic, consider saving Illustrator files with PDF compatibility turned off. These files will not preview in Finder, but will eliminate all of the image data from saving with the file.

====InDesign Workflow====

InDesign has numerous functions that are critical to efficient workflows, including:
*Master Pages
*Paragraph & Character Styles 
*Importing a linked InDesign file within another to reuse common design elements

At any point that you find yourself repeating elements across multiple pages, take the time to create a single source of the asset that can be managed as a single asset. Remember that you can also use layers in Illustrator to create interactive elements, such as navigation menus or buttons and turn the layers on and off in InDesign.

<blockquote>'''Do not''' set typography manually in multiple places of a print layout. Always use paragraph styles so that future changes can be applied quickly to a style and updated holistically.</blockquote>

<blockquote>'''Do not''' use manual soft breaks in paragraphs to improve the line breaks. When a line break is requested, use a slightly different paragraph margin or character spacing and apply as a sub style.</blockquote>

====Photoshop Workflow====

Photoshop files will often manipulate a source stock photo with added elements and effect layers. The more layers and effects, the larger the overall size. In the initial concept stages, the source artwork should be resized to the minimum production requirements. We don't need to create high-res versions of every concept at print quality when developing a web site. Resize artwork down to double density at the required size and complete all manipulation there. 

Save your file as a new version of the original with a descriptive appendix to the name in the Art folder. If the file becomes useful in other pieces, we will move this file to the Photos - Logos directory after final production. 

'''Do not''' create files larger than necessary for creative comps. 

Create a source file with layers if you want to preserve editing (eg. Adobe-98374983745-Swoosh.psd"), but save a flattened version with an appended name (eg. Adobe-98374983745-Swoosh-flat.psd") to the Art folder for importing in to your layout. Placing PSD files with layers into layout can cause memory problems when they grow too complex.

'''Do not''' import PSD files with Smart Objects into Illustrator.