Resources & Support

Have you ever had a question and either didn't know the answer or were too afraid to ask? If so, you've come to the right place.

Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Just start by clicking one of the links below.

1. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
2. How do I go about getting an estimate from you?
3. How long does it take for you to complete my order?
4. Is white considered a printing color?
5. Tips on how to save your design files
6. Vector or raster, how should I prepare my files for printing?
7. What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
8. What is a "proof"?
9. What is the Pantone Matching System?
10. What type of products and services do you provide?
11. 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 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.

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

   Most jobs ship within 7-10 days from receiving a signed proof. Turn around will depend on quantity, bindery and proofing requirements, so please contact us with your job specifications.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Vector or raster, how should I prepare my files for printing?

   Vector images are built from many free-form shapes. Created using mathematical coordinate mapping between points, and the lines which join them. Such graphics are created in Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia FreeHand. Images created with these tools create clear, crisp lines and do not degrade in quality no matter how large they are printed.

   Vector graphics should be saved as EPS format.

   Raster images are made up of pixels that cannot be enlarged without degrading the resolution of the image. The number and position of the pixels remains the same if the image is enlarged, but the pixels become larger creating blurry edges. Adobe Photoshop is a raster based program. Tif is the format for photographic images.

7. 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.

8. 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 which will be sent to you online or printed on paper and delivered to you.

   On multiple color jobs, we can produce a color proof to show how the different colors will appear.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.