Enfocus Community

Has anyone figured out a way to preflight folding products?

We are currently transitioning to Tharstern and implementing switch/pitstop to automate our preflighting. But even before preflighting, Tharstern doesn't give correct flat sizing as it doesn't account for a short panel/panels. Which means that there's isn't viable information to attach to a profile from that direction.

Which direction should this be built, with creating separate profiles for different folding products or using a set of actions to check the alignment to the folds? Are preflighting folding products something that is achievable at this time?

I'm guessing that you want to compare the PDF with variable meta data from Tharstern MIS? In that case what data do you get from Tharstern on a folding product (let's say 6 page 100x200 mm)?

Are you using Switch or only Pitstop Pro?

Hey there.

Yes, we are comparing the PDF using variables from the MIS, inside of Pitstop Server through Switch.

It will pass along the following information:
6 page - Finish size 66.66 x 100
The MIS will multiple the finished size out to get the flat size: 200 x 100
Alternatively we could get data that looks like this:
6 page - Finish size 70 x 100. Flat size 210 x 100.

The problem is that our finishing department always uses a short panel to prevent buckling. Therefore our designers plan for this in the photos & graphics to meet the exact panel breaks or provide even margins. With all of that our company has made some standards for what size short panels we need, regardless of paper thickness.

We design and produce:
6 page
Panel sizes: 60/70/70 width x 100 height.
Flat size: 200 x 100

So regardless of the MIS data, the specific panel sizes will never be correct and the flat or finish will not either.

Any suggestions on how to preflight this to the design/production specifications?