Creative Portal PDF Creation

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Creative Portal PDF Guidelines

Once a job is completed for Quest, we need to create a set of files that follows Quest's Creative Portal upload structure. We will need the following:

  1. Final PDF (PDF, with panel)
  2. QMC/QForce PDF (PDF, with no panel)
  3. Production File (hi-res PDF with crops, with panel)
  4. Production Specs (Excel Doc)
  5. Thumbnail Images (jpg image)
  6. Print on Demand, POD (PDF)

For a reference file, please see this piece CREATIVE / QUEST DIAGNOSTICS / SELL SHEETS / 60778 ANAlyzeR ANA Test Summary Update / PRODUCTION / Final.

NOTES: Final files are zipped and posted to Project Seeker (no need for ClientShares link). Truncate file names as best as possible to reduce character length.

Before packaging/exporting, follow QA Production Checklist.

1. Final PDF

  • This PDF is a master record of finished item
    • File Size: <1MB
      • There is no preset PDF export that will guarantee you a PDF less than 1MB. Ideally, you will preserve the fidelity of the linked images as much as possible and keep the file size just under the maximum requirement. Try using the "High-Quality Print" preset and adjust your Compression settings until you have created a suitable PDF.
    • Color: CMYK (no spot colors)
    • Printer's marks: None
    • Bleed: None
    • Pagination: Single pagination (add panel / thumbnail pages)
  • Naming Convention: PDF_Lit code_Description Name_MEG_Job#_Date.pdf
    • Example: PDF_MI7552_QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide_MEG_54315_060618.pdf

2. QMC/QForce PDF

  • File for QForce
    • High-res (300)
    • File Size: No limit
    • Color: RGB (document RGB)
    • Printer's marks: None
    • Bleed: None
    • Pagination: Single pagination (no thumbnails in PDF)
  • Naming Convention: PDF-QF_Lit code_Description Name_MEG_Job#_Date.pdf
    • Example: PDF-QF_MI7552_QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide_MEG_54315_060618.pdf

3. Production File

  • Production File
    • Layered file, Create InDesign package including fonts/images
    • Naming Convention for Collected File: OFF_Litcode_Description Name_MEG_Job#_Date.pdf
      • Example: OFF_MI7552_QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide_MEG_54315_060618


  • Hi-res Production PDF
    • Export with Press-Quality preset, named: Press Production.joboptions
    • File Size: no limit
    • Color: CMYK, Spot Colors (if applicable)
    • Printer's marks: Crop Marks, Registration Marks, Page Information
    • Bleed and Slug: Check box next to "Use Document Bleed Settings"
    • Adjust "Offset" to match Document Bleed Settings
    • Export as single pages
    • Naming Convention: PDF-OFF_Litcode_Description Name_MEG_Job#_Date.pdf
      • Example: PDF-OFF_MI7552_QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide_MEG_54315_060618.pdf

4. Production Specs

  • This is an excel file that indicates all printing specs that is uploaded to the vendor along with the project.
  • Use this Excel Template File. (QUEST DIAGNOSTICS / QD TEMPLATES / CREATIVE PORTAL)


  • Naming Convention: SS_Litcode-Description Name_Job#_Date.xls
    • Example: SS_MI7552-QVantage Hereditary Cancer Pocket Guide_54315_060618.xls
  • The spec sheet needs to be saved into 2 places: out floating with the files AND in the OFF folder.

5. Thumbnail Image

  • Specs
    • Color: RGB
    • Dimensions: 144 pixels along its longest dimension. (72 dpi)
  • Naming Convention: JPG-Litcode-Description Name.jpg
    • Example: JPG-MI7552-QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide.jpg

6. Print on Demand (POD)

  • Pick up existing lettersize INDD templates, and place the working InDesign file into the POD InDesign Template (QUEST DIAGNOSTICS / QD TEMPLATES / PRINT / POD INSTRUCTIONS):

PDF:

Use this Export Setting: QUEST POD.joboptions

  • High-res
  • File Size: no limit
  • Color: CMYK
  • Printer's marks: Job option setting should have bleed set to zero (if no bleed), turn on slug.
  • Bleed/Slug: Yes
  • Pagination: Single pagination (add panels / thumbnail pages)
  • Naming Convention: POD-PDF_Litcode_Description Name_MEG_Job#_Date.pdf
    • Example: POD-PDF_MI7552_QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide_MEG_54315_060618.pdf

Creating a new POD template

When the client requests a POD file, they will tell you what the finished size of the file including crop marks will be. Since crop marks are a set size, this often becomes an issue. After much trial and error, we have found the instructions below to be the best solution:

  1. Open a new InDD file and add a slug. We want to add enough free space in the slug to get the finished dimension to match what the client supplied. For example, your document is 8.5x11 but the client wants a finished 9x12 POD file. We need to add 0.25” to the left and right and 0.5” top and bottom on the slug to have our finished output be 9x12. Hint: Make sure your document has a bleed on it.
  2. Export the blank page, making sure to set bleed to zero, turn on slug and crop mark options.
  3. Open your PDF in Illustrator and adjust the artboard to be set up as 9x12. The crops will still be at the 8.5x11 bleed size, but this will allow a small amount of the crops on the left and right side to be cut off. Also ensure that your crop marks are centered so nothing is skewed. Save out crop AI file. We now have a set of 8.5x11” crops on a 9x12” artboard. (Note: we have already set one of these up so no need to start over, you can find it here: CREATIVE/QUEST DIAGNOSTICS/TEMPLATES/PRINT/POD INSTRUCTIONS/9x12-crops.ai
  4. Open your working file. Add the slug as listed in step 1. Place the crop mark file into your InDesign document aligning with the slug dimensions. When placing the art, make sure ‘show import options’ is checked off. A dialogue box will pop up, place the art in as ‘Crop to > Trim’ set.
  5. Export PDF as Press Quality, this time set bleed to zero, check to 'include slug area' (Use this Export Setting: QUEST POD.joboptions)
  6. Save in Production / Build.
  • Naming Convention: POD-PDF_Litcode_Description Name_MEG_Job#_Date.indd
    • Example: POD-PDF_MI7552_QuestVantage Hereditary Cancer Risk Pocketguide_MEG_54315_060618.indd

Complete Production QA Checklist

Upon outputting all required items, an internal production check will take place following the MEG QA process.

  • QA exists in production folder
  • Name PDF with current job name "QA-Job#XXXXX.pdf"
  • Fill out all fields
  • Another designer will be assigned to proof jobs that are to be released. (If someone is not marked as a reviewer, reach out to Patrick and he can have someone help you.)
  • Once the QA is done, the files are ready to zip and upload to Seeker.

Final Passoff

Once the QA process is complete, we can then save files to the Final Folder on Box Drive.

Ensure the following are provided:

  1. Final PDF (PDF, with panel)
  2. QMC/QForce PDF (PDF, with no panel)
  3. Production File (hi-res PDF with crops, with panel)
  4. Production Specs (Excel Doc)
  5. Thumbnail Images (jpg image)
  6. Print on Demand, POD (PDF)

Final Steps

  • Finally, the QF PDF and Spec sheet need to be emailed to the AE with a reminder that this file was uploaded to the Creative Portal
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