5.0 Design and Pre-Press Considerations

Only available as part of a package

The Pre-Press Considerations series is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the essential steps and processes that occur before printing in the packaging industry. This series covers everything from supply chain considerations to graphic and structural design, ensuring that learners understand the key elements required for successful print production.

Susie Stitzel

Director of Product Management for Design & 3D Solutions

Esko

Susie Stitzel is Esko’s Director of Product Management for Design & 3D Solutions. Susie has more than 25 years of experience in the design, prepress, printing, and packaging industries. Her roles have covered a wide spectrum of the industry, including design and prepress management, customer training and support, product management and strategy development. Susie is completely passionate about packaging – to the point that her family will no longer shop with her. She has assisted universities and schools with their packaging curriculum and has enjoyed serving on the Advisory Board for the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Susie is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the HOW Design and FUSE conferences, the Paperboard Packaging Council, the Brand Protection Conference, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and for the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA). She can be reached via e-mail at: susie.stitzel@esko.com.

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Supply Chain and Design Overview – Learning Objectives
You will explore the complexities of the packaging supply chain and gain a clear understanding of its phases.
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Supply Chain and Design Overview – Video Lesson
Open to view video.  |  3 minutes
Open to view video.  |  3 minutes This lesson focuses on the supply chain's role in the prepress process. It discusses how material sourcing, lead times, vendor relationships, and logistics can affect the overall prepress and printing timelines. You will understand how supply chain efficiency and coordination are vital to ensuring the availability of materials, which directly impacts print schedules and costs. Additionally, this lesson provides a broad overview of the prepress process and its significance in packaging production. You will explore the role of prepress in ensuring that designs are print-ready and how it acts as a crucial bridge between the design and production stages. It highlights the importance of accuracy, efficiency, and quality control in the prepress workflow.
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Supply Chain and Design Overview – Assessment
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
You must register to access.
Structural Design - Learning Objectives
You will delve into the essential principles and practices of structural design
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Structural Design - Video Lesson
Open to view video.  |  5 minutes
Open to view video.  |  5 minutes In this lesson, you will dive into the structural design considerations for packaging. This includes understanding how packaging must be designed for functionality, durability, and aesthetic appeal. The focus is on how structural design affects the prepress process, including die lines, folding patterns, and materials selection that all need to be optimized before printing.
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Structural Design - Assessment
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
You must register to access.
Graphic Design - Learning Objectives
Students will master the foundational principles and practical considerations of graphic design in packaging.
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Graphic Design - Video Lesson
Open to view video.  |  8 minutes
Open to view video.  |  8 minutes This lesson addresses the critical aspects of graphic design specific to packaging. Students will explore the challenges of adapting design elements for different packaging formats, ensuring color consistency, and dealing with printing limitations such as ink coverage and resolution. Understanding how graphic design interacts with printing technologies is crucial to avoid costly mistakes during production.
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Graphic Design - Assessment
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
You must register to access.
Pre-Press and Layout - Learning Objectives
Students will master the critical aspects of pre-press and layout in packaging production.
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Pre-Press and Layout - Video Lesson
Open to view video.  |  12 minutes
Open to view video.  |  12 minutes The final lesson focuses on layout considerations, teaching learners how to optimize the arrangement of graphic elements, text, and images on a page for maximum print efficiency. This includes managing print space, bleed areas, margins, and how the layout process can affect material usage, printing costs, and overall production efficiency. Students will be introduced to industry-standard pre-flighting tools and techniques used to identify potential issues such as missing fonts, incorrect file formats, and improper color profiles before sending files to print.
You must register to access.
Pre-Press and Layout - Assessment
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  11/14 points to pass
You must register to access.