Technology

Over the years, the printing industry has experienced a continuous evolution of the printing process, driven by advancing technology. The Sheridan Group companies have been in the forefront of changes in prepress, press, and post-press technologies.

High-Speed Communications - High capacity, reliable communication lines have made it easier for printers and customers to transmit electronic files back and forth. Text, images, and proofs that traveled days by mail now go by e-mail or file transmission in moments. Data communication lines are enabling a fully digital workflow.

Digital Workflow - The Sheridan Group companies make extensive use of digital technology for efficient workflows as well as providing a variety of electronic publishing services.

• Electronic Copyediting - Computer programs that prepare manuscripts by making standardized style and format changes.
• Coding - Tagging elements in a document to describe their structure, content, or desired appearance. We code SGML, XML, and HTML.
• Digital Art - Artwork constructed and managed as a digital file.
• Digital Proofing - Proofs created directly from electronic page layouts to enable full digital workflows with no film. Digital pages can be transferred to a printing device and printed proofs mailed to a customer, or sent electronically via the Internet as an “e-proof.”
• Preflight - The process of completely checking digital files against an extensive checklist of items to ensure correctness before printing. We use preflight tools in-house, and can provide these to customers for their use too. Visit our DigitalExpert web site for more information.
• PDF - PDF or Portable Document Format is an object-oriented file format that is platform independent. PDF is used throughout the production process for digital art, film or plate output, proofing, display of electronic files in page or signature form, and archiving.
• Copydot Film Scanning - Scans film, digitizes data, and creates an electronic file. Copydot scanning can help publishers move from file, supplied or archived, into computer-to-plate production.
• Computer-to-Film and Computer-to-Plate - Preparing film or lithographic printing plates directly from digital files.
• Electronic Publishing - Delivering content for distribution on CD-ROM or on-line use on the Internet.

The Internet for e-Commerce - The Internet provides new opportunities to streamline workflow with customers and suppliers. With help from strategic technology partners, TSG is developing Internet-based systems for on-line or system-to-system estimating and quoting, material order tracking, job tracking, billing, and fund transfer. These systems allow TSG to strengthen relationships with customers by integrating processes and systems, and by making it easier to do business. For example, magazine customers can plan and layout details of a magazine issue using computerized tools we provide, then transmit the job specifications and electronic versions of text and images via the Internet. This electronic information flows into TSG’s production systems. The process is accurate and fast. The potential to further tie processes with customers, suppliers, and business partners is substantial.

The Internet for e-Publishing - Our customers are offering their readers publications in both printed and digital forms. Electronic copies of journals, magazines, catalogs, and books can be distributed via the Internet, and viewed on-line or downloaded into computers or other reading devices. As a printer, TSG composes information electronically, and provides customers with digital files—using many of the same digital components developed for the printing process.