A printed product begins as an idea. It is converted to a design that a print company takes and prepares for print and finishing. One of the more significant bottlenecks is often not the print process but the finishing process. There are two vectors: the design related to the requested finishing, and the finishing process. Spending time to plan for both can eliminate friction points and create a more efficient and profitable environment.

Beginning at the beginning can be an excellent place to start, and in print design, there is the communication requirement. The needed print product may be a transaction statement, insurance policy, government notification, or something more fun like a book, sign, or marketing collateral. The output may be mailed, which comes with its own set of requirements. It may not be mailed, but it will require some finishing.

The finishing requirements may include booklet making, bookbinding, cut-and-fold, padding, or some other process. Bottlenecks happen when the design is not in sync with the finishing processes, causing delays in preparing the file for production. Consider these two scenarios: