FAQ

Welcome To Our FAQ`s

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Please browse our index of terms and frequently asked questions.

INDEX

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I place an order on your site?

What are your shipping and turnaround times?

How do I track my order once it’s placed?

How do I place a reorder?

How do I add logos/graphics into the online design studio?

How do I convert my file from RGB to CMYK?

My images are from a website, can I use them?

What if my file type is not acceptable for commercial printing?

What paper stock should I select?

Templates for each of our products are available in a .pdf format on each product page (lower left). Please use the blank template and insert as a layer into your graphics program (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) to serve as a guide when creating your design.

Please note we also offer a free online design studio and free custom design on remittance envelopes and certain products.

Remittance envelopes, offering envelopes, and carbonless forms cannot be printed with bleeds. Please set your files so that 1/8" margin is on each printing edge.

We also do not recommend screens or large areas of dark photos or graphics as ink transfer will occur. Please note that for large dark areas a heavy ink charge of $50 will be charged.

Please refer to our graphic guidelines for additional information.

Printing Terms:

Bleed
Colors
Cutting
Fonts
Gang Run
Graphic Guidelines
Offset Printing
Paper Finishings and Coatings
Paper Stocks
PDF
Resolution

How do I place an order on your site?

Visit the product page for the item you want to order by selecting the item from the Products drop down menu at the home page. Pricing and information is available as you scroll down the product page.

Free Online Design Studio - At the top of each page, click on the left of the page under the option you want for the product (size, style, ink color). That will bring up our online design studio where you can design, proof, approve and then order your product.

Free Custom Design - Middle button at top of page. Click that link and follow the instructions to upload a file with your design instructions, logo, etc. When we receive the order the designers will create the design and email you a proof. Please note no orders will go into production without prior written approval. No designs can be created without an order. (Only some products offer free custom design - if you do not see this button at the top of the page then it is not offered for this product).

Print Ready Artwork Submission. Right button at top of page. Use this option if you have a graphic design program (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and experience as a designer.  Blank .pdf templates can be downloaded on the bottom left of each product page to be placed as layers in your design program as a reference. Once you click this link it will provide you with instructions and graphic guidelines to review prior to placing your order. You will receive a final proof of your submitted artwork before production.

Bleed

The portion of an image or text that goes beyond the trim size of your project allowing your job to be trimmed and have objects "bleed" off the page.

Remittance envelopes, offering envelopes, and carbonless forms cannot have bleeds. Please set your files so that 1/8" margin is on each printing edge.

Full color products require an additional 1/8" added to each side for the bleed. Set your project .25" larger in both height and width than the finished size of your project if you are uploading your own artwork.

Colors

CMYK – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black – 4 colors used in commercial printing. Called full color or four (4) color.

RGB – Red, Green, Blue – Primary colors used on monitors
and in desktop publishing.
                
 Sample RGB Color Block       Colors converted to CMYK


4/0 – Full color one side / no printing on the other side.
4/1 – Full color one side / 1 Color other side.
4/4 – Full color on both sides

One Color Jobs – Printed in black or blue ink, file should be set in black.

PMS – Pantone Matching System – industry standard for ink colors. PANTONE PMS COLOR CHART

Rich Black – percentage mixture of colors usually referring to black ink. Text should be set to 100% K and 0% for each of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow.

Cutting Paper

cutting is done in large stacks on automatic machinery. Cuts can vary from top of stack to bottom. To be sure your full color file cuts correctly add 1/8" "bleed" on each side (.25" total height and width) to prevent improper cutting. Be sure your background images and colors extend to the new edge of the page.

Remittance envelopes and offering envelopes are converted prior to printing - files must have a 1/8" margin and cannot have a bleed on any of the envelope products.

Die Cutting
Process where paper is cut in a shape or form such as business card slits in pocket folders.

Fonts

Fonts are by definition a set of characters in a specific typeface, at a specific point size, and in a specific style. They are also referred to as type and text. When you submit projects for commercial printing your fonts need to be converted to outlines/curves or paths whenever possible. To eliminate problems with fonts we invite you to use our free design studio. If you would like to send a file that has already been designed please convert your fonts by searching under the help menu in your program to learn how to do it for your specific program.

Gang Run Printing

A method where multiple print projects are placed on a common printing sheet to reduce printing costs. The advantage is that it makes full color offset printing extremely economical. Instead of paying for all the set-upcosts, prep time, and labor for your job, you split the costs between many orders. All of our printing is done in a gang-run format.

Graphic Guidelines

Graphic_guidelines.pdf

Remittance envelopes, offering envelopes, and carbonless forms cannot be printed with bleeds. Please set your files so that 1/8" margin is on each printing edge.

Full color product files should be set with an additional 1/8" bleed on each side, so the overall file will be .25" larger in height and width than the product size. Graphics, logos and images should be 300 dpi. Graphics lower than 300 dpi (like those taken from the web) will print fuzzy and pixelated. 

Please note that ink transfer will occur on solid dark photos and graphics. A heavy ink charge of $50 may also be charged on heavy ink coverage.

Files should be in CMYK format (RGB files will be converted and may result in color shifts)

We recommend .pdf files for printing but we can take a high resolution .tif or .jpg file.

Offset Printing and Lithography

Lithography is a printing technology that dates back to 1798 and encompasses a five step process. The most common lithograhic printing uses the offset method, in which ink is "offset" onto a rubber-coated cylinder that is pressed against the paper. Offset printing offers the highest quality printing available.

Paper Finishes and Coatings

Aqueous Coating is a water based coating that is applied to full color print projects to provide a high-gloss surface that is resistant to dirt and fingerprint marks. This provides a shiny appearance.

Matte Finish has a satin coating instead of a glossier coating that is applied after the ink has been offset on the paper. This provides a little resistance to dirt and fingerprint marks, but not as much as an aqueous or UV coating.

UV Coating is a heavy, very slick glossy coating that is applied to the printed paper after the ink. The slick and very glossy surface makes it very eye catching and the most resistant coating to dirt and fingerprint marks.

C1S - C2S - Coating is applied to one or both sides of the paper. C1S means that coating is on one side of the project. C2S means that coating is on two sides (Coat 2 Sides). If you are planning to mail or write on one of the sides  - such as the back of a business card or postcard, we suggest you do not have that side printed in full color as all of our full color projects are automatically coated. Check with your mail house if you are planning to have your project mailed as some mail houses cannot address properly due to their inkjet labeling process smearing from the finish. Ballpoint pens will also not write effectively on gloss products so if you are mailing the project yourself you will need to use a label instead of hand addressing.

Paper Stocks

Stock –specifications for paper such as thickness and opacity.

Cover Stock – Thicker, heavier paper for “covers” and projects where a thicker paper is desired. Usually termed 12pt, 14pt, 16pt, etc.

Text (or Book) Stock – commonly used for pages in brochures, flyers, etc. Usually referred to in terms of 60lb, 80lb, 100lb.

80lb, 100lb, 14pt, 16pt – Paper is measured in lbs and pts. 80lb is a standard paper weight while 100lb is heavier. Cover stocks begin being measured at 100lb cover and go up to 14pt, 16pt, etc. The higher the lb or pt the heavier the paper.

PDF

Portable Document Format. A free file program by Adobe. Captures information from publishing applications and makes it possible to send documents to be emailed, printed commercially, or printed on your desktop printer.

Resolution of Graphics and Photos (300 dpi vs. 72 dpi)

Resolution is measured by the number of squares of color information that is held in an inch. Referred to as “dots per inch” or dpi. Commercial printing needs a higher resolution of 300 dpi while web images are only 72 dpi. It is not recommended to use images from the web as they will appear fuzzy and pixilated in commercial printing.

Converting to CMYK from RGB

Commercially printed documents must be submitted in CMYK format. Desktop publishing programs do not have an option to convert from RGB but professional graphics programs do. If you have a file that is RGB it can be converted to CMYK for you - but please be aware that color shifts will occur.

What if my file type is not acceptable for commercial printing?

If your file has not been designed in a professional graphics program, chances are it will need converting or recreated to print commercially. We offer a free online design studio with free professionally designed templates, or complete custom design services. If you already have a file created and want to see if that file can be used, please review our graphic guidelines to be sure your file is print ready.

My images are from a website - can I use them?

Images from a website are usually 72dpi and are not commercial print quality of 300dpi. We recommend strongly that you DO NOT use them. We can print the lower resolution files but your images may appear fuzzy or pixilated. If you allow us to proceed with your order with low resolution graphics we assume no responsibility for the quality of the images on the product.

What paper stock should I select?

The higher the number - the thicker the stock. Figure out how durable you would like your printed project to be and then order a stock that corresponds with your intentions of use and budget. All of our stocks are high quality unlike many online printing companies that do not offer cover stocks and high quality papers. See our paper stocks section above.

Shipping

ALL shipping services are offered through FedEx.

Ground shipping is Free within the Contiguious US (Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico please select rush shipping options during checkout).

Please allow up to 5 business days for standard ground shipping.

Rush shipping options (when available) can be selected during the checkout process under Rush Shipping Options.

Please note that we cannot guarantee delivery or shipping schedules once the shipment leaves our facility.


Turnaround - Production Times

Production times are based on business days (Monday Friday, excluding ALL national holidays)

Production times DO NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING TIME. Shipping can take up to 5 business days depending on your location.

Production times are displayed on each product page and vary by product.

Products ship from our various printing facilities across the US.

How do I track my order once it’s placed?

Simply log into your account and you will see a screen with the “status” displayed. That status will show you where your order is in production. When your product leaves our facility a tracking number will be emailed to you so that you can confirm your delivery date and the status will change to completed.

How do I place a reorder?

Visit this link to place a reorder

How do I upload graphics into my "designed online" project?

Select the product that you want to order and choose a design. In the design studio select the "Add An Image" button at the top right of your screen. A new screen will come up where you can browse your computer to find the file and upload into the design. Images should be in rgb format and 300dpi resolution.