FAQ's
I am designing my own product but I am using your print services, what should I do?
What are the things to think about when getting thing designed?
Can you do rush projects?
What is the typical size of a business card?
Why are the colors different on my screen than on my printed job?
What resolution do you require for print?
What is a bleed?
What is a proof?
Why do I need to look at a proof if I’ve already given you everything I need to have done?
Do I still need to approve a proof if I bring my work in on disk?
Accepted File Types
Our preferred file type for most projects is vector-based Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) with an ".eps" file extension. A more comprehensive list of our available applications and their acceptable file types is below:
If you don't see your file type listed, first determine if your application can either "save as" or "export" to one of the file types shown here. Otherwise, you can contact us to see if we can help you convert your file to one which we are able to use.
General File Specifications
Colorspace: Full-color files should be created using the CMYK colorspace, not RGB. CMYK color is required for proper separations used in commercial printing. Spot color (one or two color) files should be created in a vector-based or layout application with specific Pantone® colors defined. Spot colors cannot be defined in Photoshop.
Resolution: Full-color files should be created at a minimun resolution of 300 ppi at 100% print size. Grayscale files should be at least 600 ppi, while monochrome bitmap files require a resolution of 1200 ppi. Files that don't meet these specifications cannot be modified to reach proper resolution.
Every application has its own specific steps for preparing files for sending to a commercial printer. Please see your application's manual or Help files for detailed instructions for preparing your files.
*Most Microsoft® Office files are not designed for commercial printing. While we have the ability to open Office files and convert them to some other file type we are able to use, some Microsoft® Office files may be entirely unsuitable for our use. (Note: Microsoft® Office 2007 has built-in support to export to print-quality PDF files. Information can be found here.)
Printing Terms
Artwork All original copy, including type, photos and illustrations, intended for printing. Also called art. Bleed Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming. Body The main text of work not including the headlines. Bond Paper Category of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying. Also called business paper, communication paper, correspondence paper and writing paper. Border The decorative design or rule surrounding matter on a page. C1S and C2S Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides. Camera-ready Copy Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for reproduction according to the technical requirements of the printing process being used. Also called finished art and reproduction copy. CMYK Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the four process colors. Collate To organize printed matter in a specific order as requested. Color Separation (1) Technique of using a camera, scanner or computer to divide continuous-tone color images into four halftone negatives. (2) The product resulting from color separating and subsequent four-color process printing. Also called separation. Cover Thick paper that protects a publication and advertises its title. Parts of covers are often described as follows: Cover = 1 outside front; Cover 2 = inside front; Cover 3 = inside back, Cover 4 = outside back. Crop Marks Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks and tic marks. Die Device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing. Dots-per-inch (Dpi) The pixels per inch contained in an image. Print files are usually 300 dpi or higher. Emboss To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface. Also called cameo and tool. EPS Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used to transfer post script information from one program to another. Estimate Price that states what a job will probably cost. Also called bid, quotation and tender.
Finished Size Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size. Gray Scale Strip of gray values ranging from white to black. Used by process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure times for film and plates. Also called step wedge. Impression (1) Referring to an ink color, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. (2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through the press. Imprint To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee’s name on pre-printed business cards. Also called surprint. Inserts Within a publication, an additional item positioned loose into the publication. Job Ticket Form used by service bureaus, separators and printers to specify production schedule of a job and the materials it needs. Also called docket, production order and work order.
Layout A sample of the original providing (showing) position of printed work (direction, instructions) needed and desired. Offset Printing Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from plate to paper. Perforating Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted holes for the purpose of tearing off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal). Plate Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press. PMS Obsolete reference to Pantone Matching System. The correct trade name of the colors in the Pantone Matching System is Pantone colors, not PMS colors. Prepress Camera work, color separations, stripping, platemaking and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation. Proof Test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results a on press, and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished. Ream 500 sheets of bond paper. 250 sheets of cover stock paper. Resolution Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.
Ream 500 sheets of paper of bond paper. 250 sheets of cover stock paper. Resolution Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium. Score To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease. Separations Usually in the four-color process arena, separate film holding images of one specific color per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific PMS colors through film. Specifications Complete and precise written description of features of a printing job such as type size and leading, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method. Abbreviated specs. Template Concerning a printing project’s basic details in regard to its dimensions. A standard layout. Thermography Method of printing using colorless resin powder that takes on the color of underlying ink. Also called raised printing. Trim Size The size of the printed material in its finished stage (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2). UV Coating Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light. Vector Art Infinitely scalable line drawings that are created in programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia FreeHand. Watermark Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing from a dandy roll while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.
File Compression
If you are uploading or emailing files larger than 5 MB, you should compress your files prior to transfer. Take all the files for your job and place them in one folder. Then compress the folder as a .zip file using Winzip or PK Zip if it is a Windows platform file. Use Stuffit for the Macintosh platform and BinHex encode the file so that your folder will retain its resource fork and arrive with its icons intact. If your files are extremely large, you may want to compress them into several archives. This will make it easier to upload the files.