I like Quark. I also like InDesign. I can give you a list of things I don't like about BOTH of them. These are tools... if you know how to use them, you wont have any problems. Most of the problems I see are from people that have problems with their system or workflow.

We use Quark everyday at a busy commercial printer in NYC. 90% of the jobs that come in are done in Quark. The rest are ID and a few are still in PageMaker (mostly Windows users).

Half of those jobs have problems, and Quark is not the fault! I'm not sure what they teach graphic artists these days, but things are going downhill fast!

Here is some tips for both Quark and InDesign users to make your job print correctly the first time. These are common problems I see on a daily basis.

One of the biggest issues is missing fonts and images. Always use Collect for Output or Package... I don't care if you think you know where all the parts are. Just do it.

Learn what a spot color is and when to use or not one. Four color jobs (CMYK) DO NOT have spot colors. A spot color is an extra plate and ink... that would be a five color job. If you want the CMYK version of a Pantone color, choose that color and set it for CMYK, not Spot. If you want to do a two color job... say black and red for example, then red IS a spot color. Don't send a CMYK file with red and black in it and expect two plates. If you get this wrong, and save your files as PDF's, your printer is stuck with the plates separating incorrectly. I see this every day.

When making a PDF, embed the fonts and DO NOT USE OPI unless you plan on sending all the links. Include bleeds in your PDF if the file has them. Unless asked for, send you printer the native files and fonts. We can't fix many of the problems we see when we get PDF's. If your PDF's have white spaces around transparency or drop shadows, you have your transparency flattening settings too low. This is also true of Illustrator and InDesign. Fix this in the settings dialog.

Don't send printer spreads unless asked for. Most printers use high end imposition software. Sending printer spreads causes problems.

Perfect bound jobs should NOT have facing pages. They need to have bleed on all four sides of each page. Saddle stitch jobs can be either way.

Don't import native Photoshop and Illustrator files. Most hardware RIP's can't handle them. Save your printer from having to fix the job. Use TIFF for raster (Photoshop) images and EPS for vector (illustrator) images.

Use the proper tool... don't try and create fancy things in a page layout program like Quark or ID... use an illustration program and import it as a graphic file.

Don't copy and paste files into your document! Place or link them.

Flatten your files! Don't send layered files. Remove alpha channels and adjustment layers (flattening the file does this) ... render your type layers in Photoshop files. Save Photoshop files as TIFF's, unless you need spot color duotones or DCS files, or you have elaborate clipping paths... then use EPS. Don't send JPEGS... they can have issues with colors in the background of the file that shouldn't be there.

Flatten your Illustrator files, and save them as EPS with fonts embedded and include a preview. Set transparency flattening to HIGH!!! Make new Illustrator files in CMYK color space, not RGB.

Save and send along the original layered native files... just in case.

Don't use RGB! I can't believe how many RGB files we get in. One problem is will cause is your black text will separate into four color...

Include bleed in your documents if the artwork needs it! In InDesign this is set in the new document window. Use .125" bleed. Do NOT make the document larger and include crop marks. This wont work with high end imposition software.

Don't use font styles in Quark... this means unless you are using True Type fonts, do not press the Bold or Italic buttons in the Measurements pallet. Always use the actual Bold, Italic, etc., font face. If the font you are using does not include those styles, don't use them in your job! RIP's will complain about the missing font face and the job will abort.

lastly, don't blame your software for your mistakes. Just learn the correct way to do things, which is not always what you were taught!