1.	Make sure bleeds are provided wherever necessary, normally extending 1/8 inch beyond the trim.
2.	For process color printing, convert all Pantone and RGB colors to CMYK.
3.	Delete all unused spot colors and RGB colors from illustration color palettes and page layout color palettes.
4.	Convert all RGB scans and stock photos to CMYK or grayscale.
5.	All scans should be TIFFs (unless clipping paths are used in them, which requires EPS files). A Photoshop EPS is just as bitmapped as a Photoshop TIFF.
6.	In QuarkXPress, make sure that all the picture boxes for TIFFs do not have a background color of none—0% black is preferable if the background is to be white.
7.	For large black areas in CMYK pages, create a rich black color consisting of 100% black along with 25% cyan or 25% magenta or both (check with your printer).
8.	Generally, page layout programs should not be used to scale, skew or rotate images—this should be done in the program used to create those image files.
9.	It's easy to miss fonts used in EPS files, so be sure to check these files carefully, and include both screen and printer fonts for each typeface used.
10.	Don't use menu-styling on Type-1 fonts—use the appropriate typeface.
11.	Don't use output-checking utilities to collect files and fonts for output after they've checked the job. Collect for output in QuarkXPress is useful for collecting everything but fonts. Collect fonts manually to ensure maintaining their integrity.
12.	Don't include any unnecessary files or fonts on your final output disk. And please send only copies of your original files. Keep your original files in a safe place—no one else should have to take responsibility for your originals.
13.	Include all printer fonts. Also include their screen fonts in the original suitcases.
14.	Include all associated files for graphics, linked—do not embed graphics...when you place a picture, if you use PageMaker, just say no!
15.	Provide composite laser proofs, or we will have to produce them and bill you for them. If you make minor changes after running lasers and do not have time to run new lasers, clearly mark all of those changes on the lasers in colored ink.
16.	Provide laser color separations, so we have a way to check the film. Produce these by leaving colors in the print dialog at its all plates default—this will catch any errant colors and save you a lot on wasted film (wasted paper is much cheaper). We must have color-separated proofs. We will have to bill you for them if we have to produce them. Our objective is to produce error-free film for your printer.
17.	Indicate clearly on the composite laser proofs any FPO artwork, diecuts, folds, perforations, or other special information.
18.	Look at all of these proofs carefully to see if you can catch problems before we do—it's an enjoyable challenge, and it's also more cost-effective.
19.	Fill out our imaging form completely so we will know exactly what to do, how to bill it, when to deliver, and where to deliver it. If you would like us to proofread your files, or carefully examine every part of them for choke and spread, or for knockout and overprint, please specify that request as well as who should be billed for those services.
20.	Include your name on your disk label, so we'll know it's your disk, and we can be sure to return it to you.