As we packed up to leave Cape Cod after a glorious vacation in the sun & surf, we did the traditional walk-through before locking the door behind us.

Bureau drawers empty? Check. Fridge cleared and cleaned? Check. Sand swept from all floors? Check.

Ever since I left my Palm Pilot in a drawer at the Chatham Bars Inn some years back, we're extra cautious. (We turned around to fetch it when I remembered…about 10 miles down the road.)

Print customers need to be just as mindful about last-minute "to-dos" when they've sent job files to a printer. Sure, the bulk of the work is behind you. Content written and approved? Check. Design and layout finalized? Check. Paper spec'd? Check. Printer's proof approved and signed off? Check. Delivery instructions spelled out in detail and sent to printer? Check and check again.

As we put the finishing touches on our Conference brochure earlier this month, I was reminded of three little steps that are rather important. Maybe they'll help you.

1. Coordinate key details with your printer, your designer, and your mail house.

   I wanted to produce a brochure that made efficient use of paper and was also a cost-effective format for mailing. As project manager, I spoke with my printer about best sizes. Since multiples of 8 1/2 x 11" are standard sizes, we settled on an 11 x 17" flat size that folded down twice to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" for mailing.

   I talked with my mail house regularly - and by that I mean frequently - to keep them in the loop. We needed to make sure the mailing side of the brochure complied with USPS regulations and didn't incur extra costs.

   Since our mail house processed the mailing (duh), we used their postal indicia - which had to be given to our graphic designer. Mess up that little piece of copy and, well, you've blown it.

2. Send your printer a hard-copy laser proof of the job.

   To prevent miscommunication, you should always send an analog proof of your job to your printer ahead of time. Sure, printers can read specs and interpret files expertly. But there's nothing like holding an example of what the customer expects to be printed. It could prevent problems down the line. Let your printer see what you see. Have your designer print off the job on a laser or inkjet printer, tape it together and send it posthaste to your printer.

3. Give your printer a folding dummy, when appropriate.

   Despite the constant communication between me, my designer, my printer and our mail house (I am a classic neurotic Virgo), I was still surprised when I saw a sample of the finished brochure.

The printing was fabulous (bravo, American Printing!). The design, top-notch (way to go, Powers Design!). The copy, crisp and compelling (great job, Howard Communication Associates!). And the mailing went off on time and without a hitch (you're 'da bomb,' Gallery Marketing Communications!).

But I had assumed the four pages would be laid out in a certain way - different from the finished piece. No one thought to circulate a folding dummy so that everyone would be on the same page. Such a simple step!

In reality, the printed piece is beautiful. I doubt that anyone else would question the layout. But I had a mental image that was never transferred to a folding dummy and shared with my printer.

Maybe these last-minute tips will help some print customers among you. It just goes to show you, you can indeed teach old dogs like me new tricks.

PS: Click here for a PDF of the Conference brochure.