Planning
Your Print Job: Eliminate Surprises!
Every
business needs to print something, be it business
cards, letterhead, forms, or brochures
and more. What do you need to know to ensure
success? Follow these simple tips to get
your project printed on time and within your
budget.
1.
Organize.
Before
you begin, identify all of your printing needs
and requirements ahead of time and the
different items that need designed materials.
Think about how many total pieces you need.
Will the design be used only on your brochure
or will
it also be used on your letterhead, in a
print ad, and on your web site? This will help
the
printer to identify how many layouts to produce
at the beginning. Build
in time into your schedule for corrections
and approvals. Note: most people almost never
approve something a proof in the same day
that they receive it. Include time to
get legal
and technical OK’s, too, if needed.
Remember
to have your logo converted to black only if
your logo is more than one color
to use on your invoices and fax cover sheets,
and in
newspaper ads.
TIP:
Sit down with your printer and designer together
and review the specifics of
your project. This will confirm how much
your
job will cost,
what is involved, and how long it will
take to produce.
2.
Proof, Proof and Proof Again.
Once
printed, you can’t return your job
to the printer. It’s yours.
Paper
and ink are essential elements that achieve
the design and effect
you want.
Therefore, it is a good idea to
get an idea of what
your
piece
will look like before you go to
press. This is easily accomplished by
making
samples of your
design.
Proofs
ensure that the designer is happy, you are
happy, the
printer is satisfied,
and the
proposed piece meets standard
postal regulations. Sometimes the paper
thickness needs to
be changed to avoid cracking
when
the paper is folded.
Ink
colors look differently on coated and uncoated
paper stock.
View ink
on your
selected paper
stock, especially if you are
trying to match a specific
color. This
will avoid
surprises
when you receive the completed
piece.
Proofs
allow you to correct any problem before your
project
goes
on press.
Be sure to check
and re-check the copy to
ensure all names are correct, phone
numbers are accurate,
and the
body copy is free of typos.
Once you sign-off on your
proof, there
is no
going back.
Even have a couple of people
proof the same piece
- two
sets of eyes are better than
one.
3.
Written Specs Prevent Errors and
Surprises.
The
safest way to have your printer understand
what
you want is to
give your specifications
in writing. Otherwise,
with verbal specifications, you
may receive
a quote for a booklet
that is 8 pages plus cover
instead of your intended
8
pages including cover.
Anticipate
that your printer needs every piece of
information. Specifications
include quantity,
paper type, ink colors,
if the piece prints on
one side
or two
- and don't
forget to
specify the flat size
and final, folded size. Also
include
the details of how your
piece will be
shipped if applicable,
as this will help the
printer to bundle your brochures
in
groups of 100 or bulk
pack them into
a shipping carton.
4.
The
Project Schedule.
You
may expect the printer to hold open
a space
for your job
once
they are awarded
your project.
It’s not that
simple. Print shops
try to project their
workload based upon
clients letting
them know when the
jobs will come into
the shop.
Understanding
that print shops often
do not count
the dates
they receive
or ship
your
materials as workdays
will help set a
realistic turnaround
schedule. Turnaround
is the amount
of time needed
to produce your
job at the print shop.
In
order to play it safe, agree
to a specific
day
your job
will arrive
at
the shop. Keep
to the exact
date you agreed upon
to avoid
overtime,
rush charges,
and delays in receiving
your printed
materials.
Be sure
to let the printer
know you
have a specific
deadline so they
can let you
know how long
it
takes to produce
your
project.
TIP:
Review and approve copy
before it gets
to the mechanical
stage.
It is much
cheaper
to catch
a copy error
before
your job goes
to the print
shop.
5.
Get More for
Less.
Print
as many pieces
as you
think you
will need –-
and even
more --
to be on
the safe
side.
Why?
Because it costs
about
the same to get
an offset
press
ready to print
10,000
as
it does
1,000.
The price difference
between
the two
quantities is mostly
the cost
of
the additional
paper.
Given that, you
should
print as many pieces
as you
can afford now,
because
the additional
cost
for the
extra pieces is
small.
Reprinting
a job
is
more
expensive, because
you must
pay for
setting up the
press
again.
If
you are
sending out
invitations
to
a big event,
make
sure
the
print shop
knows
you
need
an
exact amount.
Often
print
shops
produce
a standard
of
10
% +/-
of
the quantity
you
request,
which
means
you,
could
get
anywhere
from
10%
more to 10%
less
than
you
specified.
Whether you are a seasoned buyer, new to the
print business or in-between, these simple guidelines
can save you time, money and aggravation on any
print project. With a little planning and teamwork,
you can make the most of your print budget and
get your project printed on time, within budget
and looking just the way you envisioned it.
Understanding
the Pantone Color Matching System
The
PANTONE® Matching System (PMS) is the
dominant spot color printing system in the
United States. Printers use a special mix
of ink to achieve the color needed. Each
spot color in the Pantone system is assigned
a name or a number. There are over a thousand
Pantone spot colors available.
Are
PANTONE 3258 C, PANTONE 3258 U, and PANTONE
3258 CVU the same color? Yes and No.
While
PANTONE 3258 is the same ink formula (a shade
of green), the letters that follow it represent
the apparent color of that ink mix when printed
on different types of paper.
The
letter suffixes of U, C, and M tell us whether
that particular color is how it will appear
on uncoated, coated, or matte finish papers,
respectively. The coating and finish of the
paper affects the apparent color of the printed
ink even though each uses the same formula.
Pantone
swatch books — printed samples of ink
- come in coated, uncoated, and matte finishes.
You would use these swatch books or color guides
to find the desired spot color for the type
of paper used in your project.
Software
programs such as Photoshop and CorelDRAW contain
color palettes for various printing systems,
including PANTONE colors. You can add additional
color palettes or create custom palettes for
your software.
In
today's software color palettes, you may encounter
suffixes such as CV, CVU or CVC. CV stands
for "computer video" and is an electronic
simulation of the Pantone color. PANTONE Reflex
Blue CVU is an on-screen simulation of how
PANTONE Reflex Blue will appear when printed
on uncoated paper. Likewise, CVC is a simulation
of the color on coated paper. Be aware that
there are additional suffixes for process colors
but for this discussion we'll stick with spot
color.
Quick
Suffix Overview:
U = uncoated paper
C = coated paper
M = matte paper
CV = computer video (electronic simulation)
CVU = computer video - uncoated
CVC = computer video - coated
Name
That Color
So, which designation should you use when specifying colors? It doesn't really
matter as long as you are consistent. While PANTONE 185 CV and PANTONE 185
CVC are the same ink formula, your software may see them as two different colors,
even if your monitor shows them as virtually identical.
If
PANTONE 185 is the shade of red you want, use
either PANTONE 185 CV or PANTONE 185 CVC but
not both in the same print job. Capitalization
is also important. PANTONE 185 CV, Pantone
185 CV, and PMS 185 CV are three different
colors as far as your software is concerned.
Software programs may use differing Pantone palettes. For example, Adobe InDesign
1.5 has Pantone coated (CVC) and uncoated (CVU) palettes while CorelDRAW 7
has a single Pantone CV palette. If you are importing images created in CorelDRAW
into InDesign you'll need to rename your colors in CorelDRAW to match the InDesign
color palettes.
When
you define your own colors or creat custom
palettes, use a consistent naming scheme. You
can use oddball names to represent any color — such
as Ruby Red Grapefruit #2 — but it is
usually best to stick with a familiar naming
convention: PANTONE in all caps, the name or
number, then CVC or CVU as the suffix.
Remember,
what you see on the screen is simply a simulation
of the printed color. To insure the most accurate
color, you should use Pantone swatch books
to find the right ink colors for your project.
What
is PostScript?
Modern
desktop design is centered around a programming
language called PostScript. It has become the
industry standard because it provides a simple
link between the desktop publisher and their
printer. PostScript is a language for output
devices. It allows a common software interface
despite differences in hardware platform. PostScript
controllers exist for output devices ranging
from 300 dots per inch paper printers, to over
6000 dpi imagesetters, for film recorders,
color printers and color copiers. Without PostScript,
every text formatter has to understand the
idiosyncrasies of every vendor's hardware.
PostScript is a trademark name of the page
description language developed by Adobe Corporation.
This
page descriptive language translates objects
within a page as a series of points, lines
and curves (vectors). A PostScript interpreter
within the output device then takes this information
and converts it into a bitmap (or raster) image
of the page. This raster image processor (RIP)
then records (or plots) the image to plate,
film or paper.
PostScript
laser printers are slowly becoming affordable
enough that any designer can have a way to
present clear and accurate proofs when submitting
their electronic art to printers and service
bureaus for high-end imagesetting. Most people
who generate documentation for a living (be
it ads, manuals, or magazines) use PostScript,
as it is a well documented open standard used
on Windows, Macintosh, DOS, and UNIX systems.
Encapsulated
PostScript is a subset of the PostScript page
description language. Art saved in the EPS
format can be easily resized with no detriment
to detail. This is accomplished because the
elements in an EPS file are represented by
lines and bezier curves that can be readily
scaled based on mathematical formulas. Each
element in the drawing is either a line or
closed set of lines. Closed items in the drawing
have a stroke width, a stroke color and a fill
color.
When
an EPS is placed, it sometimes appears rough
on the monitor due to the information that
accompanies the file for the screen image.
This is just a rough representation of the
artwork and should be regarded as a positioning
aid. For more information about PostScript,
visit www.adobe.com.
Caring
for your Magnetic Vehicle Signs
Before
You Apply Magnetic Signs
The magnetic sign and metal surface should be
clean and dry. In any outdoor application, such
as car signs, the metal surface should be waxed.
If the surface is dirty or gritty, the signs will
not adhere well to the surface, and you risk having
the sign fall off while driving.
Application
Tips For Magnetic Signs
Magnetic Sheeting holds best to flat surfaces
and surfaces with slight curves. When the magnetic
signs are placed in the wrong position, remove
the sign and realign. Do not pull the magnetic
sign to realign when it is against the surface,
as the material may stretch due to resistance
cause by the high magnetic strength. Make sure
the entire magnet is against the metal surface
(no air pockets). Do not apply to newly repainted
surfaces. Do not apply the signs over sharp creases
or moldings.
Cleaning
Magnetic Signs
Moisture and dirt from normal driving will collect
behind magnetic signs - especially during the
winter months. Remove and clean both the signs
and the surface with mild detergent and allow
both to dry thoroughly. Repeat cleaning process
weekly when used in an outdoor environment. For
extra assurance, remove and clean signs daily
during harsh weather conditions.
Storing
Your Signs When Not In Use
The magnetic sheet is more pliable and easier
to work with when it is near room temperature
when applied. The best way to store magnetic signs
is flat. Avoid laying signs on protruding objects.
Roll the signs loosely, if at all.
What
is the Best Graphic Format for Supplied Artwork
Files?
- Do
not use your layout software to reduce/enlarge
or otherwise manipulate imported graphics. Use
graphics software for these effects and import
the graphic at its final size and orientation.
- If
the image will be used in a printed piece that
we will be creating for you, we request that
you save all graphics in the TIFF or EPS formats.
NO OTHER FORMAT IS ACCEPTABLE when a quality
image is needed. Other file formats like .jpg
and .gif formats are primarily used for the
web, and the quality is not good enough for
the printed piece.
In
general, the TIFF format is used for bitmap
images such as photos, while the EPS format
is used for vector graphics produced by Adobe
Illustrator and CorelDraw.
The
EPS format is also used to save scanned images
containing clipping paths and duotone bitmap
images.
Save
bitmap line art, such as maps and drawings,
in TIFF format at 600 - 1200 dpi at their
final size and orientation.
Save
B&W photos (grayscale) in TIFF format
at 300 dpi at final size and orientation.
Save
color photos as CMYK in TIFF format at 300
dpi at final size and orientation.
- Scanned
bitmap images require a clipping path to prevent
a colored background printing behind the image.
See your software's manual for details on how
to include clipping paths in your graphic.
-
Your computer monitor is most likely set to
display 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Therefore, low resolution
graphics (such as web graphics) appear sharp
and clear. However, professional printing requires
much higher resolution. Do not use 72 dpi web
graphics or use an image editing program to
increase the resolution of images. The resulting
output will be of low quality.
Glossary
of some Common Printing Terms
DESCRIPTION:
What type of item do you need the quote for? (book,
brochure, catalog, business cards, etc.)
QUANTITY:
How many of the above item do you need. It is
a good idea to estimate high on your needs, as
the unit pricing is more favorable once you are
on press and running. It's always more expensive
for an additional 50 or 100 after the fact.
NUMBER
OF PAGES: How many pages does your book
or brochure have? This is different from how many
sheets of paper. It is best to always deal in
page count and not sheet count for a given item
when describing the project.
TRIM
SIZE FOLDED: What is the size of your
final piece once cut to size and folded. (Example:
if you fold a letter to fit an envelope, the folded
size is "3 2/3 x 8 1/2" verses the flat
size of the letter you started with of 8 1/2 x
11").
FLAT
SIZE: This is the flat size of the mechanical
of your piece before folding. (Example: and 8
1/2 x 11" 4 page brochure spread out as a
2 page "spread" would be 17 x 11 ")
NOTE: IN PRINTING THE WIDTH IS ALWAYS THE FIRST
DIMENSION GIVEN.
TEXT
STOCK: The paper you require for the
inside of your periodical, and is commonly used
for letterhead, brochures, resumes, etc. If there
were not a separate cover, then could be the stock
for the entire piece.
COVER
STOCK: Commonly a heavier weight paper,
this is the paper you require for the outside
pages of your periodical, providing that it is
different from the text. If it is not, then your
piece is a "self cover".
BASE
INK: The ink you require for the majority
of your piece. There are 2 main kinds of inks,
CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) for process
printing, such as color photos and Pantone inks
also known as spot color, such as PMS # 187. PMS
stands for Pantone Matching System. This a universal
system to pick the same color every time. (Note:
always count on a slight variation of color from
paper to paper and press to press.
SECONDARY
or COVER INK: Ink that is often
used as an accent or highlight color within a
piece. Often times, many booklets have a separate
color on the cover that varies from the color
on the inside of the piece.
COVERAGE
%: The amount of ink on the page. Always
let your printer know if there are large solid
areas of 100% ink on a job and the overall ink
coverage. It better allows the printer to place
your job on the appropriate press, and price it
accordingly.
BLEEDS:
A bleed occurs when your design allows the ink
to print to the very edge of the paper. If your
bleed on one side goes completely across the side
from top to bottom, that would be 3 bleeds and
not one. The reason for this is due to the fact
that you would then also be "bleeding to
the top and bottom. In order to print a bleed,
a large sheet of paper is used, and then trimmed
to size once printed. Bleeds always increase the
cost of a project. Please let the printer know
ahead of time when bleeds are involved.
CAMERA
READY ART: This is art on board or paper
output that is ready to be printed, and can be
photographed without alteration. If there is more
than one color, they need to be separated to different
boards or sheets. A composite of your separations
should also be included as a guide for press.
OUTPUT
READY DISK: A disk that is complete and
does not require any further production other
then to "rip" (the conversion from digital
to final piece) to print. This disk should also
contain a folder for all of your images and another
for your fonts used.
HALF
TONES: A black and white photo shot with
a camera with a honeycombed lens or scanned, that
recreates your image as a series of dots required
in printing.
SET
TYPE: To chose the appropriate font (typeface)
and type your copy and laying it out on the page.
DESIGN:
Combining your type, images, colors, logo and
other items into a finished eye pleasing piece
for output.
DIE
SCORE OR CUT: To die score a piece is
to make a "steel rule" die, which is
composed of thin pieces of steel that will be
used to stamp a line or rule where your piece
needs to fold. This action compresses the paper
and allows for ease of folding and prevents cracking.
This is used on heavy stock, especially where
there is "cross over art" (ink going
from one panel to the next), and especially on
the spine (outer edge). To die cut is to create
a steel rule die and to cut like a cookie your
piece. The most common example of this is a "brochure
with a slit to hold a business card". The
slit cut to hold a business card is an example
of die cutting.
FOLD
TYPE: The type of fold you require in
order to finish your piece. A letter fold (3-folded
piece) is a paper folded in thirds with each end
folding towards the center. A "z" fold
differs in that one third of the sheet folds to
the front and the other to the rear and so on.
SADDLE
STITCH: Two staples added to the center
of the piece on the fold line, with the head of
the staple on the outside of the folded piece.
PERFORATE:
To perforate or die score in holes that allow
one to cleanly remove a coupon or page from the
piece with ease and not destroy the piece. If
the perforation goes from top to bottom, that
is a vertical perforation. If from side to side,
it is a horizontal perforation.
DRILL/HOLES:
Punching or "drilling" holes in the
piece to allow for binder or other use.
Printing
Trade Customs
- Quotation:
A quotation not accepted within 30 days of being
given may be changed. As paper and supply prices
change on a daily basis, price quotes will have
to be adjusted accordingly.
- Orders:
Acceptance of orders is subject to credit approval
and contingencies, such as fire, water, strikes,
theft, vandalism, acts of God, and other causes
beyond the provider's control. Cancelled orders
require compensation for incurred costs and
related obligations. Order will not be printed
unless the artwork is proofed and approved by
the customer prior to printing.
- Experimental
Work: Experimental or preliminary work
performed at customer's request will be charged
to the customer at Print Master's current rates.
This work cannot be used without the prior written
consent of Print Master.
- Accuracy
of Specifications: Quotations are based
on the accuracy of the specifications provided
by the customer to Print Master. Print Master
will requote a job at time of submission if
materials do not conform to the information
on which the original quotation was based.
- Property:
Film Negatives, positives, tapes, disks, and
all other items supplied by the customer will
be returned to the customer upon completion
of the job, and upon full payment by customer.
Print Master reserves the right to retain a
lien on all such items in the event of nonpayment.
- Electronic
Manuscript or Image: It is the customer's
responsibility to maintain a copy of the original
file. Print Master is not responsible for accidental
damage to media supplied by the customer or
for the accuracy of furnished input or promises
made about Print Master's ability to work with
jobs submitted in digital format, and no liability
is assumed for problems that may arise. Any
additional translating, editing, or programming
needed to utilize customer-supplied files will
be charged at prevailing rates.
- Alterations/Corrections:
Customer alterations include all work performed
in addition to the original specifications.
All such work will be charged at Print Master's
current rates.
- Prepress
Proofs: Print Master will first submit
completed layouts/designs as black and white
copies for approval prior to printing for the
customer's review and approval. Corrections
will be returned to Print Master on a "master
set" marked "OK with corrections",
or "Revised proof required" and signed
by the customer. Until the master set is received,
no additional work will be performed. Print
Master will not be responsible for undetected
production errors if: proofs are not required
by the customer; the work is printed per the
customer's O.K.; and requests for changes are
communicated orally and are not clearly written
on the proof sheets.
- Color
Proofing: Because of differences in
equipment, paper, inks, and other conditions
between color proofing and production pressroom
operations, a reasonable variation in color
between color proofs and the completed job is
to be expected. When a variation of this kind
occurs, it will be considered acceptable performance.
- Over-Runs
or Under-Runs: Over-runs or under-runs
will not exceed 10 percent of the quantity ordered.
Print Master has the ability to bill additionally
for any over-runs that are in addition to the
actual quantity delivered within this tolerance.
If the customer requires a guaranteed quantity,
the percentage of tolerance must be stated at
the time of quotation.
- Customer's
Property: Print Master will only maintain
fire and extended coverage on property belonging
to the customer while the property is in Print
Master's possession. Print Master's liability
for this property will not exceed the amount
recoverable from the insurance. Additional insurance
coverage may be obtained if it is requested
in writing specifically by the customer, and
if the premium is paid to Print Master prior
to production of the said job.
- Delivery:
Unless otherwise specified, the price for all
jobs quoted does not include shipping or delivery
charges. The customer understands that the order
is to be picked up at Print Master once payment
has been received in full, or other terms have
been agreed upon by both parties. Proposals
are based on continuous and uninterrupted delivery
of the complete order. If the specifications
state otherwise, the Print Master will charge
accordingly at current rates. Charges for delivery
of materials and supplies from the customer
to Print Master, or from the customer's supplier
to Print Master, are not included in quotations
unless specified. Title for finished work passes
to the customer upon delivery to the carrier
at shipping point; or upon receipt and payment
of invoices for the finished work or its segments,
whichever occurs first.
- Production
Schedules: Production schedules will
be established and followed by both the customer
and Print Master. In the event that production
schedules are not adhered to by the customer,
delivery dates for the completed project will
be subject to renegotiation. There will be no
liability or penalty for delays due to state
of war, riot, civil disorder, fire, strikes,
accidents, action of government or civil authority,
acts of God, or other causes beyond the control
of the provider. In such cases, schedules will
be extended by an amount of time equal to delay
incurred.
- Customer-Furnished
Materials: Materials furnished by customers
or their suppliers are verified upon delivery
to Print Master. Print Master bears no responsibility
for discrepancies between customer specified
quantities and actual counts. Customer-supplied
paper must be delivered according to specifications
furnished by Print Master. The specifications
will include correct weight, thickness, pick
resistance, and other technical requirements.
Artwork, film, color separations special dies,
tapes, disks, or other materials furnished by
the customer must be usable by Print Master
without alteration or repair. Items not meeting
this requirement will be repaired by the customer,
or by Print Master at current rates to be paid
for by the customer.
- Outside
Purchases: Unless otherwise agreed
in writing, all outside purchases as requested
or authorized by the customer are chargeable.
- Terms/Claims/Liens:
Unless specified in writing to the contrary,
payment is 50% with the placement of the order
with the balance due and payable before the
final product is presented/delivered to the
customer. Claims for defects, damages, or shortages
must be made by the customer in writing to Print
Master no later than 10 calendar days after
delivery, and must also include a copy of the
paid invoice. If no such claim is made, Print
Master and the customer will understand that
the job has been accepted. By accepting the
job, the customer acknowledges that Print Master's
performance has fully satisfied all terms, conditions,
and specifications. Print Master's liability
will be limited to the quoted cost of defective
goods, without additional liability for special
or consequential damages. As security for payment
of any sum due under the terms of an agreement,
Print Master has the right to hold and place
a lien on all customer property in Print Master's
possession. This right applies even if credit
has been extended, notes have been accepted,
trade acceptances have been made, or payment
has been guaranteed. If payment is not made,
the customer is liable for all collection costs
incurred.
- Liability
Disclaimer of Express Warranties: Print
Master warrants that the work is as described
in the original quotation and as noted on the
signed customer proof. The customer understands
that all sketches, copy, dummies, and preparatory
work shown to the customer are intended only
to illustrate the general type and quality of
the work. They are not intended to represent
the actual work performed.
- Disclaimer
of Implied Warranties: Print Master's
maximum liability, whether by negligence, contract,
or otherwise, will not exceed the return of
the amount invoiced for the work in dispute.
Under no circumstances will Print Master be
liable for specific, individual, or consequential
damages.
- Indemnification:
The customer agrees to protect Print Master
from economic loss and any other harmful consequences
that could arise in connection with the work.
This means that the customer will hold Print
Master harmless and save, indemnify, and otherwise
defend him/her against claims, demands, actions,
and proceedings on any and all grounds. This
will apply regardless of responsibility for
negligence.
- Copyrights:
The customer also warrants that the subject
matter to be printed is not copyrighted by a
third party. The customer also recognizes that
because matter does not have to bear a copyright
notice in order to be protected by copyright
law, absence of such notice does not necessarily
assure a right to reproduce. The customer further
warrants that no copyright notice has been removed
from any material used in preparing the subject
matter for reproduction. To support these warranties,
the customer agrees to indemnify and hold Print
Master harmless for all liability, damages,
and attorney fees that may be incurred in any
legal action connected with copyright infringement
involving the work produced or provided.
- Personal
or Economic Rights: The customer also
warrants that the work does not contain anything
that is libelous or scandalous, or anything
that threatens anyone's right to privacy or
other personal or economic rights. The customer
will, at the customer's sole expense, promptly
and thoroughly defend Print Master in all legal
actions on these grounds as long as Print Master:
promptly notifies the customer of the legal
action; and gives the customer reasonable time
to undertake and conduct a defense. Print Master
reserves the right to use his or her sole discretion
in refusing to print anything he or she deems
illegal, libelous, scandalous, improper, or
infringing upon copyright law.
- Storage:
Print Master will retain intermediate materials
until the related end product has been accepted
by the customer. If requested by the customer,
intermediate materials will be stored for an
additional period, and may include an additional
charge issued by Print Master as deemed necessary.
Print Master is not liable for any loss or damage
to stored material beyond what is recoverable
by the provider's fire and extended insurance
coverage.
- Taxes:
All amounts due for taxes and assessment will
be added to the customer's invoice and are the
responsibility of the customer. No tax exemption
will be granted unless the customer's Exemption
Certificate (or other official proof of exception)
accompanies the order. If, after the customer
has paid the invoice, it is determined that
more tax is due, then the customer must promptly
remit the required taxes to the taxing authority,
or immediately reimburse Print Master of any
additional taxes paid.
- Telecommunications
/ Electronic Communication: This includes
but is not limited to Faxing, E-mail, and FTP
methods. Unless otherwise agreed in writing,
the customer will pay for all transmission charges.
Print Master is not responsible for any errors,
omissions, or extra costs resulting from faults
in the transmission.
- Paper:
Prices quoted and any schedules submitted are
subject to change in either price or availability
of paper. Price of finished job will be based
on the cost of paper at the time of shipment
of paper. Most grades of paper are available
on the terms of "price prevailing at time
of shipment". Scheduled deliveries of paper
are subject to change at the discretion of paper
mills.
- Jurisdiction:
The parties agree that all disputes arising
under this agreement shall be governed by Connecticut
law. The parties further agree that the Courts
of the State of Connecticut shall be the sole
and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in which
any dispute arising under this agreement shall
be determined.
Do
It Yourself File Preparation Tips
In
order to help you prepare your files for printing,
here are some basic rules that will help you avoid
many potential pitfalls.
Color--
Make sure that all RGB images have been converted
to CMYK.
Line
Screen-- Set a scan resolution of 300
dpi (150 line screen) for halftone images.
Screen
Shots-- When printing "screen shots"
or Internet images make sure the resolution at
the printed size will be adequate for a clear
image. Note that these images will often come
out blurry and washed out.
Illustrations--
Take a little time to check all your illustrations
to find the fonts used in them.
Hairline
rules-- If you wish to use a hairline,
define it as a .25 point line.
Fonts--
Select all your fonts from the font menu. Do not
use any font style options on the Macintosh. (i.e.
Bold, italic, etc.)
Bleeds--
Should be 1/8" minimum. Extending any elements
off the page the desired amount can usually do
this.
Setup--
Each side of each item to be printed should be
a separate document page or file. We prefer to
do all imposition for the press/output.
Page
Sizes-- Set up your jobs at actual page
size desired. For instance, if you want an 8.5x11
inch page, the document setup in your application
should reflect an 8.5x11 inch page.
Linked
Graphics-- Always include all linked
graphic files used in your job. All applications
will need these to refer back to when printing
to a high-resolution device. This refers to any
"outside" object used within your document,
such as clip art, photos, illustrations, etc.
Additional information:
Inks--
This is real ink on high-quality printing stocks,
not toner!
Sheet
Size-- Our standard press sheet size
maximum is 11" x 17".
File
Types-- We print from Macintosh
and PDF files. For PC file conversions,
additional charges may apply.
Always
Proof Your Job-- It is a good idea to
provide us with a laser proof of what you expect
to be produced. It should be output on a printer
with a Postscript RIP. Postscript is the language
of the devices we use to print to and is the standard
in the graphics arts industry. If you can't separate
the job with the appropriate color breaks, then
you have defined your colors incorrectly. Ink
Jet outputs can not be used for reproduction.
Organize
Your Job-- When submitting your job,
it is best to provide one folder with the job
alone. It should contain the main file plus any
other linked graphics. Do not supply any files
that are not needed in reproducing the job. Also
in this folder should be a folder labeled "fonts"
with all necessary fonts included for the job.
Typefaces--
Always include all typefaces used in your job.
This includes screen and printer fonts, as well
as any TrueType fonts used. Don't forget to check
your imported graphics for any fonts used.
Pertinent
Files Only-- Only provide us with what
we need to properly output your job. Please do
not give us your entire hard drive or your entire
collection of 20,000+ fonts.
Keep
a Copy for Yourself-- When you're ready
to package up your job, always provide us with
copies of your files, never the only one in existence!
Murphy's Law applies.
Setting
up your disk for Digital Output
- Use
only PostScript fonts. TrueType fonts do not
output as consistently in this form of printing,
since there is an inherent tendency for the
digital RIP to use its own resident PostScript
fonts as replacement for any TrueType fonts
it encounters in a document while processing.
When supplying a file to Print Master on disk,
don't forget to include the printer fonts along
with the screen fonts; also, it's important
to include all original images with your output
file.
-
Avoid large solid areas in your design, as they
do not print well. All scans should be saved
as CMYK or grayscale in TIFF format. Do not
use RGB images or JPEGs.
-
When using graduated blends, please note that
lighter ones are preferable as darker blends
tend to band. Introduce noise to blends to help
counter banding problems.
-
Make sure all your colors are either Pantone
Numbered Colors or are converted to process
CMYK. "Crayon" or "Library"
colors will not output anything near the color
you view on your screen.
-
Never hand off a disk for output with anything
other than the files to be output. It can cause
confusion and waste time and your money.
-
ALWAYS include some form of printed proof with
your file; that will allow us to check that
what we print looks as you intended (otherwise
we may not be able to catch text reflows or
color shifts). If your job is to be folded,
remember to include a folded proof so we can
verify that your pages are printed in the proper
order (because of the pagination difference
between reader's spreads and printer's spreads).
- Please
check with us to make sure that the program
you are using to create the file is compatible
with the programs that we use for output.
At
Print Master, we are Mac-based, and threfore,
there may be some issues and additional
charges associated with PC-conversion
files.
-
Please remember that just because you feel the
file you supplied to us is complete - it may
not be suitable to our printing specifications.
Once we review the files, any discrepancies
will be noted, and you may have to make some
alterations so the file is usable by us.
Digital
Camera Photo Tips
Here
are a few guidelines to help you make your digital
photo experience both worth your while and inexpensive.
Bad
pictures will give bad prints
Before
you take pictures with your digital camera make
sure you have the right equipment to obtain the
quality of digital photos that you desire. For
very high quality picture you will need a camera
with high resolution. The higher the megapixel,
the better quality the final output will be.
In
general, the larger the size of the digital photos
you desire, the higher the resolution needs to
be to obtain high quality digital photo printing.
If the camera itself produces low resolution images,
there's not much the printer can do correct this
and to print good quality pictures.
Good
image editing software, which is essential for
the keen digital photographer, can modify color
casts, remove red-eye, improve brightness and
contrast, and more, but there is a limit to how
much a photo can be improved. If you’re
shooting in low light or with low resolution settings,
you will definitely hit this limit. With digital
photos, the garbage in garbage out rule applies.
Image
size for reproducing Digital Photos
Image
size is very important when reproducing digital
photos. It is most important to know what size
you want your final ouput to be. Make sure the
photos you save are at least of this size and
a minimum of 300 dpi resolution for best digital
photo printing results. Be warned that this may
make for some LARGE files. It is easy to reduce
final image size for printing if the original
images have high resolution and are of a larger
size. But its almost impossible to enlarge images
that have been captured in low resolution and
obtain good quality digital prints, even with
the best of image manipulation software.
Digital
photo software
Image
manipulations can be achieved using digital
photo
editing software like Adobe Photoshop. These
software packages are rich in features and
can make a world
of a difference to your digital photos before
you are ready to have them printed. But learning
how to use the software can become a humungous
task and it is best left to the professionals
to do the actual image alterations and manipulations.
At Print Master, we know and understand the
inner
workings of programs such as Adobe Photoshop,
and will best be able to optimize your digital
image files
for good quality digital photo printing.
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