Your team home page opens with a Get started checklist. It lists seven steps in workflow order, shows a progress bar, and ticks each step off by itself when the app sees the work done. This page walks through the same steps. Each one takes a few minutes with a test file.
You can hide the checklist with Hide the checklist. Bring it back any time from the Help menu (the question mark in the header) with Get started checklist. Hiding it only affects your browser.
Tip: Use a simple file first
A print-ready PDF of a business card, postcard or label with a spot-colour dieline shows every step. Use your own artwork or any made-up design; the steps don't depend on it.
1. Upload your first artwork#
Add a print-ready PDF. Proofs, preflight and imposition all start from it.
Open the New menu in the header and choose Upload artwork, or go to Approvals in the sidebar. The step is done as soon as your team has one artwork.
2. Run preflight#
Preflight catches missing bleed, low-resolution images and font problems before they reach press.
Choose Run preflight from the New menu, or open Preflight in the sidebar. The report lists what passed and what needs attention. The step is done once your team has one preflight report. Reports that fail also show up under Needs attention on the team home.
3. Send a proof#
Share a link so your customer can comment and approve online. The customer doesn't need an account.
Open the artwork in Approvals and share it. The step is done when a proof has gone out: it has a recipient, was sent, has a comment, or already has a decision. The team home's workflow strip counts the proofs Awaiting approval and the artwork your customers have signed off.
4. Create an imposition job#
A job holds the artwork you want to lay out together, the media (sheets or a roll) and how to lay it out.
- Choose New imposition job from the New menu.
- Give the job a name (it defaults to the first file name), pick Sheet or Roll as the Media type, and the Unit you want to work in. You can set the media now or later.
- Drop artwork files in: PDF, PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF or WebP, up to 200 MB each.
- Choose Create job. The imposition workspace opens. If some files couldn't be added, the job is still created and the dialog says so: choose Open the job and add them again there.
- Set each artwork's Quantity.
- In the run bar, leave Method on Auto and the run type on Digital, then press Run. The layouts appear as they are found, best first.
- Open the Report tab to compare them, click the one you want, and download the Imposed PDF and the cut file from Export.
The step is done once your team has one imposition job. More in Jobs and artwork, Methods: Auto, True shape, N-up, Strips and Exports. Open Imposition
5. Prep a 1-up#
Map the dieline from its spot colours and add bleed around the die.
The checklist's button opens the 1-up editor on your newest imposition artwork. In the Die & lines tab, tell the app which paths are the cut line, creases and other lines. In the Bleed tab, add bleed around the die if the file has none. The step is done once one artwork has its die chosen or its bleed generated.
6. Add your equipment#
Add printers and cutting tables to get real print and cut times.
Go to Equipment in the sidebar and choose Add printer or Add machine. Start from your model: a preset fills in the published specifications and estimated starting values, which you can calibrate later with a timed job. Set an hourly rate (and, for printers, an ink price): until then, printing and cutting add nothing to quotes. The step is done once your team has one active printer or cutting machine. More in The presets library. Open Equipment
7. Build a quote#
Measure a drawing, choose materials and price the job.
- In Estimating, set up your materials first: the films and substrates you sell, with their prices.
- Choose New estimate and upload the customer's drawing or photo.
- Set the scale by drawing a line over a length you know.
- Trace the parts with the rectangle and polygon tools and pick a material for each one.
The quote updates as you draw, including material usage from nesting and cut time from your equipment. The step is done once your team has one estimate. More in Takeoff: tracing parts and Materials. Open Estimating
What next#
- Finding your way around explains the sidebar, the header menus and the workspaces.
- Teams, members and roles covers inviting the rest of your team.
- Keyboard shortcuts lists the keys for the workspaces you just used.