Frequently Asked Questions -

Q. How do I prepare my artwork for submission?

We support:
Adobe InDesign 2.0 and CS
Adobe PageMaker 6.5 and 7.0
Adobe Illustrator 10 and CS
QuarkXpress 4.1
Microsoft Office

We also support the PDF (.pdf) and Postscript (.ps) formats.

All files must be provided using special utilities within the applications for preparation for a printer:

InDesign and PageMaker: "Save for Service Provider"
Quark: "Collect for Output"
or as PostScript (.ps) or PDF (.pdf) files created using Adobe Distiller®

All graphic files must be provided as TIFF or EPS files. In making TIFFS, use LZW compression @ 300 dpi at or above the finished size. Other file formats will require conversion at an additional charge.

Full-color images and photos to be printed in 4-color process must be prepared in CMYK (NOT RGB). Spot colors should be identified as Pantone ® colors.

A hard copy of the document is required so we will know what your document should look like.

Microsoft Office software cannot be color separated within the application. If the documents are to be printed on a printing press, we must use special procedures and tools to separate these files; this will require an additional charge. We will attempt to match the colors as closely as possible.

Some files may require special prepress preparation (such as trapping) so they can print properly; this may require an additional charge.

Our staff is available to assist you in preparing your files properly so we can meet your time, quality, and budget needs.

Q. How do I get a printing estimate?

There's no such thing as a "ballpark" on print price. Every job is different. Every job is exactly as YOU want it to be. To get anything from a general idea to a very specific quote, try to answer the following questions before calling or e-mailing us:

1. What is the project? (A brochure, a flyer, a booklet, etc)
2. What is its size before it is bound? (8-1/2 x 11, 11 x 17, something else) What is its size after it is bound?
3. How is it bound? (Does it get cut to a different size? Folded? Is it turned into a book?)
4. What kind of stock do you want? (There's paper and card stock, coated and uncoated, for starters.)
5. What color or colors of ink do you want your project to print in? Is it in full color?
6. Is the ink coverage normal? Is it heavy?
7. If there is more than 1 color, how do they register? (Do they touch each other? Do they come close?)
8. Does the job print off the edge of the sheet (bleed)?
9. How will the art work come in to the printer? (As an electronic file in a supported format? As hard copy? As negatives?)
10.How many do you need printed?

With this information we can start quote your job. We can also suggest formats that can save you money, or add-ons that may "dress up" your project. The best thing to do is give your project some thought, then call or e-mail us. We'll be happy to talk you through the details.