At the meeting, a preliminary scheduling sheet will be filled out listing production milestones, including:
The designer and editor are responsible for following the schedule and working with the client to meet established deadlines.
The copy-received date is extremely important to the successful start of the project. The copy should be final, i.e. reviewed and approved by all parties at the client level. Not until then is copy ready for editing by a publications editor. Consult the editor for best method of proofing, i.e. whether they prefer a hard copy or electronic file.
The designer will work directly with the client and will show initial design ideas, including a thumbnail sketch of the publication, for approval.
Once copy and photography have been finalized and the thumbnail design is approved, the designer will start work on page production. When completed, laser proofs of the pages will be reviewed by the editor and client. Corrections will be added by the designer, editor, and/or client, and final proofs will be outputted. It is imperative to thoroughly review and check final proofs before submitting to the printer.
Once finalized, final laser proofs, a dummy, and electronic files will be sent to a printing vendor for production.
Designer, editor, and client will approve all printer proofs, digital and composite color proofs, and bluelines (pages produced from film output). Any client changes at the blueline stage will result in critical time delays and additional printing charges.
In general, consider the following timeframes (in work days) when planning a typical 16-page, full-color publication:
Editing/Photography/Thumbnail Design
Editing: 5 days
Photography: 10 to 15 days
Thumbnail design treatment: 7 days
Preparation of bid specifications: 2 days
All of the above can be done concurrently.
Subtotal: 3 weeks
Image Preparation
Page layout: 15 days
Scanning of images: 3 days
Proofing of mechanicals: 2 days
Bidding Process: 15 days (done concurrently)
Subtotal: 4 weeks
Pre-press/Proofing/Printing
Pre-press preparation of files: 3 days
Pre-press output by printer: 3 days
Color Proofing: 3 days
Final proofing of blueline: 2 days
Printing and binding: 14 days
Subtotal: 5 weeks
Total: 12 weeks*
*Keep in mind that editors, graphic designers, and photographers are working on multiple projects at one time. Also, rarely does the publication process proceed without setbacks, such as numerous copy changes, technical difficulties, deadline conflicts, etc.