There are times in the past, when the printer ask me or via client, to send the original PSD or Illustrator file for them to work for prints. But I never the understand the point really, why would they need the original file? What went wrong? Why would one must went deep into the abys of layers of PSD file just to get the design printed? Other than color separation for t-shirt print, I am not sure why the printer need to have the designer's original file. Heck, even with proper technique, a single JPG file will suffice.
I understand, there might be some technical stuff in printing world that some designers will miss in their final file. For example, bleed is not set, margin is too close to the paper edge, font is missing, color is not CMYK, wrong PPI, etc. For these kind of things, simply ask the designer to revise.
These are several points why I will never share my native design file to the printer, or even anyone outside my project partnership.
PDF should suffice, but know the real specification first
Before handing the ready-to-print file, even better, before starting the project, better ask the printer first what the file specification they would require. In common circumstance, the file must have bleed, CMYK color mode, correct dimension, and in PDF file. Some may specify the PPI, file formats, and color code. Knowing how to do all these things before the production phase, will help greatly later and save your time for avoiding some embarrassment.In my more than 10-year experience doing graphic print stuff, PDF file with all those details checked, is just doing great.
Risk of sharing licensed items in your design
Some graphic elements such as stock images, mockups, or fonts, are not all free to be distributed. You must carefully check their licensing. You will violate the terms if, for example, sharing your PSD file that consist of premium stock photo from Shutterstock to your printer or client, because they do not have the license. Only you have the license, unless they bought it as well.The same case for fonts. You should never distribute the commercial font you downloaded to anyone else outside your company. Even if you do not have a choice to avoid sharing any PSD or Ai file, just outline the font first before sending. You should never give away item you pay or item that should be purchased, to other for free. Respect the designer who made the asset that make your job easier.
Logistically, big file, slower sending
Original design files are always bigger than the output, especially true for PSD file. A single output JPG file 5MB could be coming from 50MB PSD file. In a production phase, where time is often critical, sending a large file will definitely take more time.Your printer might be clueless
If they still insist for your original design asset, even you do things correctly, they might be just a clueless guy. They just might need your design asset for them to modify and take profit for other project they have. That is a clear red flag and avoid this kind of printer company at once.What if they insist?
I have been in some similar circumstance, where sharing the PSD file is inevitable. For example, there is a different team for developing social media or motion graphics, in some other case, where time is super crucial for urgent development and need some assistance from other team.For this situation, I send the original file anyway. BUT, in simplified content. For PSD file, I will merge prominent elements with all its adjustment layers, masks, and clipping masks. The background that may contain separate image of sky, sea, clouds, and sun, will be merged into one layer. The text layer style will also be merged (because stealing text style is a breeze, lol). For Ai file, make sure to Pathfinder> Divide (or Pathfinder> Merge) them all, to avoid some modification of the elements.
With this way, the partners or clients may still be able to modify the original asset, but without significant editing capability.
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