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Traditional Graphic Design & Prepress
Desktop publishing software does it all - almost. But before PageMaker there were e-scales, paste-up, and other non-computer ways of putting together a design for printing. Some of these skills still have their place in today's world. Others are simply "nice to know" trivia facts.
Digital Prepress vs. Traditional Prepress
Prepress whether it is the traditional methods or digital prepress is the process of taking a document from an idea to a final product. Explore digital prepress and graphic design versus traditional prepress.
Camera Ready
Learn what camera ready is and how it has changed.
Cut 'n Paste
Find out how prevalent and relevant old-fashioned cut-n-paste is in today's digital world.
E-scale and Proportion Wheel
Forum members discuss the use of e-scales, proportion wheels and other traditional techniques.
FPO - For Position Only
Learn what FPO means. It's a kind of placeholder.
What Kind of Boards are used for Traditional Mechanicals?
In traditional prepress all copy and artwork is attached to boards. Find out what kind of boards.
Evolution or Revolution
Production Page takes a look at how the process of creating mechanicals has changed from the traditional to digital methods.
Heavy Metal Madness: Waxing Nostalgic Over Paste-Up
Gene Gable reminisces over old-fashioned paste-up, waxers, galleys, solvents, X-acto knives, straight edges and other tools of the traditional prepress trade.
Tools of the Trade
Greg Burnett has illustrations and explanations for an e-scale or pica ruler and a proportional wheel. They are still used today, although not extensively.
Typesetting and paste-up, 1970
If you have trouble imagining tape punch systems, X-acto knives, and wax machines in action, take a stroll through the gallery depicting the typesetting process from logging in the job through to final paste-up.
Understanding Production
FLM Graphics has tips and guidelines for the production process when using non-digital artwork and mechanicals.