As the name would suggest, this section is a compilation of answers to the questions our clients commonly ask. Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Just start by following one of the links below.

1. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
2. How are files submitted for printing?
3. How do I go about getting an estimate from you?
4. How do I know what pages to use on a 4-color job?
5. How long does it take for you to complete my order?
6. Is white considered a printing color?
7. Tips on how to save your design files
8. What are the different settings for files in black and white, 4-color, or spot color?
9. What are the guidelines for setting up files?
10. What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
11. What is a "proof"?
12. What is the Pantone Matching System?
13. What type of products and services do you provide?
14. Which programs can I use to submit my publication?
15. Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?

1. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?

   Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.

   Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.

   Also note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode when possible. Images saved in RGB mode may not print properly. If you are unable to save your image in CYMK mode, please let us know.

2. How are files submitted for printing?

   We can accept files brought in on CD, Flashdrive, Zip Disk, you can send files electronically to one of our FTP sites, or through our Web site. To send files to one of our FTP sites you will need to have an account name and password. Please call us for this information if this is the way you want to send files. We request that no matter how you send your files electronically, that you give us some warning as to when this job is supposed to be coming in, so that we can get your job scheduled.

3. How do I go about getting an estimate from you?

   Well, since you are here, we would suggest you use our online estimate request form. Otherwise, the best way to ensure that we get all the information necessary to do an accurate quote is to give us a call and talk with one of our customer service representatives.

4. How do I know what pages to use on a 4-color job?

   TABLOID -
   4 PAGES PER 1 PLATE OF COLOR
   On a tabloid size job that is 1 section, 1 plate of color would be the front page, center 2 pages, and back page (i.e. On a 20 page tabloid page 1,10,11,20 would be1 plate of color. To receive 2 plates of color you add 2,9,12,19 as your second plate of color.).

   MAGAZINE -
   8 PAGES PER 1 PLATE OF COLOR
   On a magazine size, 1 plate of color would be 8 pages. (i.e. On a 16 page magazine, 1 section, the color pages would be 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16.)

   *PAGES FOR PLATES OF COLOR CHANGES WITH DIFFERENT PAGE COUNTS, 1 SECTION VERSUS MULTIPLE SECTIONS, ETC. Please contact one of our technicians if you need assistance with this.

5. How long does it take for you to complete my order?

   There really isn't a short answer to this question. Some jobs can be produced in hours and some jobs may take days. Let us know when you need your job completed and we'll let you know if it can be done. We go to great lengths to meet your most stringent demands.

6. Is white considered a printing color?

   Not typically. Because white is the default color of paper, it is simply recognized as the absence of any ink. However, when using colored paper, white ink may be used if any text or graphic requires it.

7. Tips on how to save your design files

   Make them print ready and acceptable for us to print.

   COREL DRAW:
   Saving your Corel Draw file as an Adobe Illustrator EPS
   • Embed all Images
   • Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
   • Export as Illustrator EPS

   FREEHAND:
   • Embed all Images
   • Convert all your text/copy to paths
   • Export as Illustrator EPS or PDF

   PAGEMAKER:
   Saving your PageMaker file as an EPS
   • Embed all Images
   • Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
   • Export your file as an EPS using the below settings:
   Postscript Level 2
   CMYK Mode
   TIFF format and
   Binary

   PUBLISHER:
   You will need to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you don’t please download and use our Adobe Job Ready Program. If you do have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF please follow the steps below.
   Under File, Print, select Adobe PDF writer
   Under Properties select Press Quality and Save your PDF

8. What are the different settings for files in black and white, 4-color, or spot color?

   Jobs that are to be printed in:

   BLACK ONLY -
   should have all pictures converted to Grayscale before being placed in the file.
   • Pictures: Should be scanned in at 300 dpi
   • Scanned Text: No less than 600 dpi
   • Shadows: No more than 80%
   • Highlights: No less than 5% (unless you do not want dot in that part of the picture)
   • Skin Tones: Try to keep between 15% to 25% range

   4-COLOR -
   should have all pictures converted to CMYK before being placed in the file.
   • Pictures: Should be scanned in at 300 dpi
   • Total Ink Limit: keep below 240%

   Total Ink Limit is the sum of all four colors, i.e.:
   Cyan = 100%
   Magenta = 70%
   Yellow = 0%
   Black = 10%
   Total Ink = 180%

   SPOT COLOR -
   should have any spot color used converted to either Cyan or Magenta. When you send in your job information you can select what Spot Color will replace the Cyan or Magenta on the press.

   *All Black text needs to be 100% Black, with 0% Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow.
   *All RGB files should be converted to CMYK or Grayscale before submitting job for printing.

9. What are the guidelines for setting up files?

   We suggest when setting up your template for the file you will be sending, that for a magazine size job, you should have at least a 3/8” margin all the way around (i.e. on an 8-3/8” x 10-7/8” job the image area should be 7-5/8” x 10-1/8”).

   On a magazine that bleeds, extend the bleed 1/4” past the trim (i.e. on an 8-1/4” x 10-3/4” job with bleed, the final document size should be 8-3/4” x 11-1/4”).

   For tabloid size papers, the maximum width of the image area must be no wider than 10-1/4” (preferably 10-1/8” or less), and the height image area should be 1” shorter than the paper that it is to be printed on (i.e. 17” Tabloid: finished document size is 11-3/8” x 17”, image area should be no larger than 10-1/4” x 16”).

   All pages for a document should be the same size.

   When making PDFs, do NOT:
   • make separations
   • put in printer’s spreads
   • put registration marks on the files
   • book the pages (i.e. even numbers with less margin on the right, and odd numbers with less margin on the left), just center all pages
   • make PDF document size the same size as the image area (make PDF document size the same size as the final printed document - i.e. if your final printed document size is 11-3/8” x 17” make sure that the PDF is that size and NOT the image area size as this could cut off some of your image). On a magazine size job that is going to be trimmed down to 8-1/4” x 10-3/4” but bleeds, the PDF document size should be 8-3/4” x 11-1/4”.

10. What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?

    PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.

11. What is a "proof"?

    A proof is a way of ensuring that we have set your type accurately and that everything is positioned according to your requirements. Typically, we will produce a proof printed on paper which can be viewed here or delivered to you in person.

12. What is the Pantone Matching System?

    The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color reproduction standard in which colors all across the spectrum are each identified by a unique, independent number. The use of PMS allows us to precisely match colors and maintain color consistency throughout the printing process.

13. What type of products and services do you provide?

    Good question! We are a full service shop and offer a wide range of products and services. To see a full listing and description of what we can offer you, check out the Products & Services area in the Customer Service Section of our website.

14. Which programs can I use to submit my publication?

    We prefer PDFs, but will accept other application files such as Quark XPress, PageMaker, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, (for either Macintosh or PC), and Publisher. Although, any files sent in any form other than a PDF will incur an additional manipulation cost.

15. Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?

    In short, printers and monitors produce colors in different ways.

    Monitors use the RGB (red, green, blue) color model, which usually supports a wider spectrum of colors. Printers use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, which can reproduce most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. Depending on the equipment used, CMYK generally matches 85–90% of the colors in the RGB model.

    When a color is selected from the RGB model that is out of the range of the CMYK model, the application chooses what it thinks is the closest color that will match. Programs like Adobe Photoshop will allow you to choose which color will be replaced. Others may not.