The APS Process
The flow of an advert through our system is controlled by AdFlow.
We can use this to see how many adverts are currently in the system, which ones are being worked on and which ones are outstanding.
AdFlow only displays adverts for the next 60 day period,
this is usually around 25,000 adverts!
Adverts per 60 day period
Our aim is to process all adverts within 48 hours of receiving copy whenever possible. This can only be achieved if we receive clear and concise copy instructions as early as possible.
Adverts with approaching print deadlines have to take priority, so if there is a large amount of late adverts and copy, we will be unable to process other adverts until these have been sent.
The Journey of a Print Ad
Using the correct copy indicator ensures the job will go to the right team
How long does an ad take to create?
The number of adverts worked on per designer on any given day will vary greatly depending on the size of the advert, the work involved and the publication in which it is to appear.
For example: A designer working on glossy magazine double page spreads may design 3 or 4 in a typical working day. Whereas a designer working mainly on lift and amend classified adverts or BMDs may get through as many as 30 or 40.
Types of Print Ad Booking
Design Required
Keep it clean
Email your copy to the appropriate location –
AdService, LifeCopy, HertsCopy, LondonCopy, etc.
Your email must have the URN in the subject header for AdFlow to pick it up and your email must have something in the body of the email or AdFlow will ignore it – we suggest using the URN again
PLEASE clean up the email BEFORE sending it in –
Long email trails and conversations between you and the customer generally do not include copy instructions and can lead to confusion. If there is copy hidden amongst general chat there is a good chance it will get missed. Send ONLY RELEVANT information through to AdFlow
Remove all non-relevant emails and images from AdFlow BEFORE confirming
– AdFlow will include ALL logos and email signatures in the emails sent through.
We do not need four copies of the Archant logo or social media icons
Keep it simple
Double check copy BEFORE confirming in AdFlow
Did everything attach in AdFlow as expected?
Are all images large enough and of high quality?
Logos and images from websites will be too small and may be subject to copyright – send in BIG originals – Send vector, ai or eps files where possible as these are scalable and editable. Don’t be put off if you cannot open it, we will have the correct programs to be able to utilize its full potential. If images are larger than 17Mb please use dropbox as they will not go through the email servers
Documents from programs such as Power-point and Microsoft Word, etc. should be used to indicate COPY ONLY and CANNOT BE USED directly. In most cases the design can be vastly improved upon by us in the design studio – please “tactfully” inform the customer of this and indicate that we should “improve the design” in the copy instructions.
Be aware RGB screen colours will dull down in print, especially when used in newspaper publications
DO NOT SEND PHONE SCREEN SHOTS or SCREEN SHOTS OF PDFs etc.
Before
After
Finished Print Ad:
What does good look like?
The designer will need all the elements to be supplied in a clear and concise way.
Instructions:
Attached files:
High Res Image
High Res Logo
Lift
Size is important
Check the advert you want us to lift is the same size as the new ad you have booked. These are processed semi-automatically 3 days before print.
- Supply Lift URN Only
- Do Not Send Copy
- Do Not Send any Previous PDFs
Lift and Amend
When you need an old job changed
- Book as DESIGN REQUIRED
- Supply all NEW elements, detailed instructions
- And lift URN NOT A PREVIOUS PDF
This is what your copy instructions might look like
A Few Reminders
And don’t forget…
You have access to the Archant Colour Guide both as a physical printed copy and an online version at bit.ly/archantcolour
READ IT, USE IT AND SHOW IT TO YOUR CUSTOMER
ALWAYS PROOF TO CUSTOMER – You have the ability to look it up in AdFlow anyway.
If you are busy or out of the office with other customers, etc., you may not always be there to forward on the email to the customer, and the advert may get signed-off by the deadline before the customer sees it
The Colour Guide covers most of the problems you will encounter regarding colour and our printing process, such as RGB to CMYK, screen calibration, spot colours, multiple ink colours and registration issues.
Just give us a call if you have any queries
