Real World Print Production with Adobe Creative Cloud

I edit and lay out books for a living, and I supplement my brief formal education by self-teaching from books. I have no fewer than 15 such manuals on the shelf over my Mac, on subjects ranging from HTML to the Adobe Creative Suite to QuickBooks and beyond. I wish Claudia McCue had written every one of them. Her writing is clear and concise -- she clearly knows her subject matter AND how people learn. In the editorial part of my career I've worked on hundreds of nonfiction titles, and I can assure you that this is a rare combination. The writing is not only informative, it's engaging (and frequently funny); this is the only manual I've ever read cover to cover, like a novel.The author's explanations of complex subjects are wonderful. Until now, for example, I've never really understood concepts like trapping and RIP-ping. I've always absorbed the minimum I needed to know while the rest of the explanation turned into the "wahh-wahh" adult voices in a Peanuts cartoon. Whether that's due to the density of my own skull or the poor explanations I was getting, I don't know -- what I do know is that this author's explanations have effectively closed the circuit for me on these subjects. I actually get them now. And then there are the chapters with production tips for each relevant program in the Creative Suite -- they're like mini-Master Classes. I can't express how much my workflow has improved after reading this book in general and these chapters in particular.After a couple of months on my desk, my copy is dog-eared and bristling with sticky-notes. I've referred to it for different questions on each of my last three print projects (two trade paperbacks and a coffee-table book), and I expect I'll be referring to it for many projects to come.

Rented it for class and we never even needed it. Oh, to be a college student. It arrived in acceptable condition. I never even opened it so I don't know what the inside was like.

Claudia has put together a catalog of information that any designer who prints must read!Her vast knowledge in the printing industry reflects in each chapter with easy to grasp, pertinent information. This has become my go to book in my new career as a Graphic Designer/ Prepress Operator.Trust me, this is a must have for any designer to keep with them.A great guide for the various aspects of print design whether you're working in house printing or sending them off to a press. They will thank you greatly if you follow Claudia's guides for setting up files and artwork, and you might even save yourself or your company some money.She is an InDesign Master so you couldn't learn from a better teacher. Her tips on how to utilize the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite are great.Just quit reading this review and go buy this book if you are thinking about it, it will pay for itself with its content.

I had to get this book for college. Its written so anyone can understand it, pulling real world examples from every day life in some cases. If you work in the print industry like i do, then the book has some things not listed the same way as what we in the field would call em, so thats annoying. o well, enjoy!

The media could not be loaded.  Very informative well written perfect for learning graphic design

Love the info, can't get past the lack of color illustrations. It is obvious that many of the illustrations, particularly in the 2nd chapter, where in color, in previous editions. This edition looks like a low quality re-issue not even close to the print quality of most of the Real World books. Which is ironic since the book deals with printing and color issues.

Seriously, I did not think this book is good when I was still in school classes. Until I start working, this became very handy. It's tool book for evey designer. Unless you are working on full-digital work, you don't need to worry about the output, then you can skip it.

This book belongs in every print shop!I'm a PrePress Supervisor at a large printing company. It's not easy keeping up with all the latest trends and techniques, but Claudia has helped me out immeasurably via her Lynda.com tutorials and now this well crafted, easy to read book! When the topic is PRINT, Claudia McCue is the BEST!

I am using this as a teaching tool and it has been a great aid.

The book is good for designers, as it is focusing more on what needs to be concerned by the artwork supplier and how the files can be set up to minimize troubles at print. I am more interested in knowing the responsibilities of a PrePress technician, therefore, I don't find this book a good fit.

Had a few helpful hints, but as I was new to actual full time production, in a packaging dept this didn't really give me all that I wanted. But as a general guide to getting a print file out the door it works well enough.