Our Services
Print Production Process
IU Creative Services offers comprehensive marketing, research, design, editorial services, and production coordination for your publications. This is how a typical brochure or other print project is developed, step by step:
Initial Meeting
If you are interested in doing a publication, contact us to schedule an initial meeting. At this meeting we will discuss your communication goals for your project, marketing strategies, and the type of publication that will accomplish your goals. We will also discuss whether you are providing copy or would like for us to develop copy, your design and photography needs, deadlines, and the general costs of production. The schedule for producing a publication will depend on the complexity of the project. If your project requires research (with the audience, for example), we will discuss the possibilities at this meeting.
See a list of questions that you may want to consider in preparation for the initial meeting.
Work Begins
A writer-editor and an art director will be assigned to your project, and you will receive cost estimates for creative services (provided by our office) and printing (provided by a printer), as well as a project timeline. Depending on the needs of your publication, we will develop copy for your project or you may provide copy for editing to the writer-editor. If you have photographs or other artwork for your project, they should go to the designer at this time.
If you need new photographs for your project, we can arrange a photography session with a professional photographer, or we may be able to acquire photos from other sources for your publication.
Copy Stage
If we are developing copy for your publication, the writer-editor will work with you to write the copy. This may include interviewing, research, and writing, all with your audience and objectives in mind. This copy will be presented to you for review. If we are editing copy that you provide, the writer-editor will show you any editorial suggestions for your review. (This is the copy proof stage.) When the copy is ready, the writer-editor gives it to the designer.
Design Stage
The designer creates a layout for the publication and prepares artwork and photos for placement. When the layout is ready, the designer and writer-editor will meet with you to show you the layout. (This is your initial proof of the project in a designed layout.) The designer shows you paper stock and color recommendations and reviews quantity and delivery instructions with you.
At this stage you should carefully proof the piece and share it with any other pertinent stakeholders. You will then return the proof to IU Creative Services with any corrections or changes. We will prepare a final proof with all design and editorial changes incorporated for your review and sign off. (This is your final proof before the project goes to the printer.)
Production Coordination
For jobs that have received an initial estimate for printing, we will review the specifications at this point to see if there are significant changes that affect printing costs (such as an increase or decrease in the number of pages or panels) and request an update from the printer. For jobs that have not been previously estimated for actual printing costs, we will send out requests for competitive bids as soon as you’ve reviewed and agreed to the first set of proofs. Most IU publications projects are sent out on competitive bids to a list of three or more printers. We carefully review the list of printers asked to bid on each project to ensure that they have the technical capabilities and the track record to provide a first-class printing job for your piece.
Once a printer is selected, someone in your department will need to write a purchase order for the printer. We will advise you on this process.
Printing Stage
We deliver the electronic files for your publication to the printer who has been selected. Several days later the printer will provide a proof (often called a Dylux or blueline or printer’s proof) for your publication. Your changes (author’s alterations) at this stage of production are costly, so reserve this proof for correcting true errors, not for introducing new stylistic changes.
After this printer’s proof is approved, your publication will be scheduled to go on the presses. For most jobs, the designer and/or production coordinator from our office will attend the press check to ensure quality. Your publication then goes through the bindery for trimming, folding, and stitching or binding, as necessary. Then it is delivered according to your instructions.
After the Publication Has Delivered
You will receive an e-mail invoice for our services. We’ll also send you an evaluation form, asking you to rate our services and to tell us how effective your publication has been.
Additional Information
Things you need to know about costs
We will provide you with a cost for our creative services at the beginning of the project. If the scope of the project changes during the process, we will discuss any emendations to cost at this point. In addition to creative services costs and actual costs for printing, we ask you to pay the following: FedEx changes associated with your job and travel costs for doing press checks if the printer is in another city.
Freelancers
We sometimes use experienced freelance designers and writer-editors when deadline demands or specialty requirements make it advisable. We carefully supervise the work of the talented group of freelancers who work with us.
