A Finished Artist is a specialised graphic design professional who is responsible for preparing and finalising design files for production, ensuring they meet the technical specifications required for printing or digital publishing. They play a crucial role in the quality control and production phase of design projects. Here's an overview of their responsibilities, qualifications, and commonly used software:
Responsibilities of a Finished Artist:
File Preparation: Take design concepts and raw files from designers and refine them to meet production standards. This includes checking file dimensions, resolution, color modes, and file formats.
Print Specifications: Ensure that design files adhere to print specifications, such as colour profiles, bleeds, crop marks, and safe zones, to guarantee accurate printing results.
Quality Control: Review designs meticulously, checking for errors, inconsistencies, and issues that might affect the final output. This involves proofreading text, checking image resolutions, and verifying colour accuracy.
Finalisation: Adjust and optimise design elements as needed, such as resizing images, adjusting typography, or making colour corrections.
Technical Expertise: Stay updated on industry standards, printing techniques, and software updates to ensure that design files are compatible with current technologies.
Collaboration: Work closely with graphic designers, art directors, and clients to understand the project's requirements and make necessary adjustments.
File Archiving: Organise and maintain an organised file system to ensure that design assets are easily accessible for future reference or revisions.
Qualifications of a Finished Artist:
Education: A bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field is typically required. Some Finished Artists may have obtained specific training or certifications related to print production.
Experience: Finished Artists often have several years of experience in the graphic design field, with a focus on preparing design files for production.
Technical Skills: Proficiency in design software and prepress tools is essential, as well as a deep understanding of printing processes and file formats.
Software Used by Finished Artists:
Adobe Creative Cloud: Mastery of Adobe software like InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for file preparation, layout adjustments, and image editing.
Adobe Acrobat Pro: Used to create, edit, and check PDF files, including PDF/X formats commonly used in printing.
Prepress Software: Familiarity with prepress tools and software used in the printing industry for tasks like color separation, trapping, and imposition.
Preflight Tools: Usage of preflight software to identify and rectify issues in design files before production.
Finished Artists play a critical role in ensuring that design projects are ready for production and meet the technical requirements of the chosen output medium, whether it's print or digital. Their attention to detail and technical expertise contribute to the successful execution of design projects.