[HotHelp] Can you explain how the job statuses work?

In the print industry, the process of taking a job from start to finish involves multiple stages, each with its own specific status. Understanding these job statuses helps you track the progress of your order and ensures that you are aware of where your project stands at any given time. Typically, a job will move through three key stages: Pre-Press, Printing, and Post-Press. Below is an overview of each stage to help you better understand the journey your print job takes from the initial preparation to the final finished product.

The Three Stages of Printing an Order

1. Pre-Press

The pre-press stage is all about preparing your artwork for print. This includes tasks such as color correction, proofing, and file preparation to ensure that the final printed product matches your design and meets the printing company's quality standards. At 4over, where much of our printing is done gang-run, this stage also involves grouping similar jobs together and organizing them into batches ready for printing. Once pre-press is complete, your order is ready to move on to the printing stage.

2. Printing

During the printing stage, the prepared design is transferred onto your chosen material, such as paper or cardstock, using the selected printing method. The time required for printing can vary based on the complexity and size of the orders, ranging from just a few minutes to several hours.

3. Post-Press

The post-press stage involves adding the finishing touches to your print job. This might include processes such as folding, binding, laminating, or cutting. The focus here is to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality and fully meets your expectations.