Questions and Answers

More about Pantone and CMYK Color Gamut

Unfortunately we cannot offer spot color matching and it is your responsibility to build your file with process color formulas that you are satisfied with. This is most easily accomplished in our opinion, by purchasing a Pantone colormatch system; currently called "Pantone Color Bridge" swatchbook. This is available on Pantone's website (www.pantone.com) and has side-by-side comparisons of spot colors and their process conversions.

Why do I need to convert to CMYK?

In order for a job to print, it must be converted to CMYK. It is important to do this conversion on your end as a client so you have a realistic idea of what your job will come out like, and give you an opportunity to make subjective color adjustments that we would be unable to do here in the case of a colorshift.

What is PMS, Spot colors, Metallic Colors?

Pantone Matching System (PMS)

A popular color matching system used by the printing industry to print spot colors. Most applications that support color printing allow you to specify colors by indicating the Pantone name or number. This assures that you get the right color when the file is printed, even though the color may not look right when displayed on your monitor. PMS works well for spot colors but not for process colors, which are generally specified using the CMYK color model.

Spot Color

Refers to a method of specifying and printing colors in which each color is printed with its own ink. In contrast, process color printing uses four inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to produce all other colors. Spot color printing is effective when the printed matter contains only one to three different colors, but it becomes prohibitively expensive for more colors. Most desktop publishing and graphics applications allow you to specify spot colors for text and other elements. There are a number of color specification systems for specifying spot colors, but Pantone is the most widely used.

What is RGB?

RGB is an abbreviation for Red, Green, and Blue. This is a color system commonly used for monitors, digital cameras, televisions, etc. This color system works well for DIGITAL items but not for printing ink on paper. You MUST convert your files from RGB to CMYK prior to uploading your files. You will notice that some colors (especially fluorescents), will convert to a much darker color. It is important you handle the conversion on your end so have a realistic idea of what can print, and choose your colors accordingly. Even better is to begin your new document in CMYK to avoid having to convert later.

What is CMYK?

CMYK is also called 4-color Process. Colors in CMYK images are composed of varying amounts of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. This is the way a printing press prints color, so it is vital that your image be in this color mode. For 1-color Process it needs to be grayscale or bitmap (which only use Black).

How to prepare a document with Safe Area

For any document size, make sure all critcal elements of your design, such as text and logos rest .125" (1/8th) from WITHIN the trim line. Here is an example of a business card document with safe area indicated.

Artwork with borders

It is common for designers to place their borders too close to the trim line. Art borders that are not within the specified safe area may result in an uneven border on the final trim, therefore it is important that enough clearance should be provided. Safe area contains all critical elements/information of an artwork that cannot risk being cut off, and is any area that is 1/8" (.125") from within the trim line.

How to prepare a document with Bleed

For any original document size, add .25" to your document size. Please remember that bleed rules apply to all document sizes. Here is an example of a business card document with and without bleed.

Why is bleed important?

In commercial 4 color printing, all final jobs are cut in stacks. The accuracy of cutting in stacks is never perfect. Sometimes, the pressure on the stack from the cutting blade will cause a slight shift on the paper, losing the precision of the intended cut. This is why bleed is necessary to compensate for the shifting.

If bleed is not provided on a document, the final result of a trimmed job may possibly result in a slight white border around the edge. The example below will illustrate why bleed is important.

How much bleed do you require?

We require a minimum of 1/8" (0.125") bleed on all projects.

This will add 1/4" (0.25") to your overall image area, on both dimensions. Below are some example layout files incorporating our templates available in our Product Templates section.

In this example, if you wanted to print a 3.5" x 2" standard business card with image all the way to the edge, you would need to submit a file 3.75" x 2.25".

How should I prepare a file for printing with you?

The basic and easiest answer to this question is that you supply a PRINT READY .PDF file. We recommended a minimum of 300dpi, converted to CMYK colorspace, all fonts outlined AND embedded. Specify your trim area with crop marks (Don't place crop marks inside the work area). Make sure you have a minimum of 1/8" (0.125") BLEED on all edges of your job, and a 1/8" (0.125") SAFE area that has all critical design element such as text, pulled away from trim.

Following these guidelines, and CAREFULLY CHECKING THE RESULTING PDF before uploading will greatly reduce the possibility of error and accelerate your job through production.

PDF print ready files:

Minimum resolution of 300 dpi

CMYK colorspace

All fonts outlined and embedded

Specify trim area with crop marks (Don't place crop marks inside the work area)

Artwork should have 1/8" (0.125") bleed from trim line

Information content ("Safe Area") should be 1/8" (0.125") away from trim line.

What are print ready files?

Print-ready files are files that follow all our guidelines and require almost no intervention to print.

Am I required to use one of your file templates to submit a file?

No. We recommend you use our templates to assist you with bleed and safe areas, however, if you are comfortable meeting our requirements, you are not required to use our templates.

How can I place a custom order/estimate?

If an item is not available on our website, or not available with the particular specifications desired, it must be submitted as a Custom Order request to see if it can be accommodated by us. Depending on the size of your order, we may not be able to produce your product cost-effectively. Estimates usually take approximately 24-72 hours to be processed. It is absolutely necessary to detail all the job specifications in the estimate requested. The easiest way to accomplish this is to look at a similar product on our website, and make sure you include all the information categories (i.e. size, paper, printing colors, coating, turnaround, folding, and quantity).

Incomplete/incorrect requests, whether job specifications or contact information, are the number one cause for delay for custom estimate requests.

Once an estimate has be accepted and quoted, it may be converted into an actual order.

What if I found a mistake in my artwork before I recieve a proof, and I want to upload new files?

This will incur an additional fee. Please carefully check your files before uploading. If this job has not been worked on, we MAY be able to spare you this fee. We reserve the right to charge the re-rip fee regardless. Also, please be aware that files coming into our FTP site are time stamped. If you upload files after a proof is sent, you will definitely be charge a re-rip fee.

Will I always receive the exact quantity I order?

Usually, you will receive at least 2-5% over the quantity you order. However, we do reserve the right to be 5% under the specified quantity.

Will your printing match a previously printed sample exactly?

The short answer is probably not. We print with a stochastic screening method that is close to the equivalent of 450lpi, which allows for a larger color gamut, because the dots are smaller. We print more colors, but this probably means it will not exactly match conventional screening (i.e. light screens that printed dark and clunky at 200lpi will be smooth, and clean, with a smaller dot; appearing lighter). Also where most printers are subjective, and choose to change the pressruns by arbitrarily adding color personal "taste", we are objective in our methods to yield more consistent results.

Gang run printing is parallel to making a pot of great coffee; each batch is slightly different. You get the cost benefit of sharing a presssheet with many other customers, but you get a print job that is run objectively to density, within tolerances. That being said, we are still VERY close from pressrun to pressrun.

Can I combine shipping on separate print orders?

Each job flows through production as an individual item. The only time shipping may be combined, is in freight shipments for large jobs.

What type of shipping do you offer?

99.99% of our shipments are done via UPS. In the case of very large orders, special arrangements may be made for freight trucking. This includes large quantities or heavy weights. Print jobs that exceed 500 pounds are usually shipped using the freight trucking method.

Do you offer net 30 accounts?

Generally no, although in certain cases of clients with $1 million or more in print purchases from us, sometimes net 30 accounts can be set up with appropriate credit applications.

Are all jobs prepaid?

Yes, due to our low-profit margin and savings we pass on to you as a client, every order is prepaid.

How does the proofing process work?

Please refer to the following diagram.

Can I submit files before placing an order?

No. Files must be associated with a job number to be stored or processed. Without an order, this is not possible.

Can I submit files via email?

No. To avoid confusion or having your files filtered, lost, or deleted, please avoid emailing files. We have a database system that keeps track and updates all uploaded files. Upload files are automatically routed to their appropriate job folder.

Refund Policy

Due to the nature of our business, we do not issue refunds.   Any unused monies may be applied to a future order for up to 6 months from the date of purchase.