FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
- What resolution should I save images and graphics at?
- What file types do you accept?
- What products and services do you provide?
- Why do I need to see a proof if it looks ok on my screen?
- Why do the printed colors sometimes look different than the colors on my screen?
- What is a PMS color?
- What is the largest size copy you can make?
- How long will it take to finish my job once it is submitted?
- What type of blackline files do you accept?
On this page you will find the answers to some of the more common questions our clients ask. Of course, we’d be happy to answer your questions in person, by phone or at the shop.
- What resolution should I save images and graphics at?
Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.
Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are usually low resolution, typically 72 dpi. Avoid using these graphics because they will look pixelated when printed.
Also, if possible save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode. Images saved as RGB do not typically print as true to color as CMYK images. - What file types do you accept?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents installed. With the intallation of a PDF print driver on your computer, nearly all programs can produce a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.
If creating a PDF file is not an option for you, in most cases we can work with the following formats:
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Pages, as well as graphic images such as .jpg, .tif, .eps.If this is all greek to you, give us a call and we’ll make it easy for you.
- What products and services do you provide?
Great question. We are a full service shop and offer a wide variety of services and products that you can find on our Services page. - Why do I need to see a proof if it looks ok on my screen?
In printing terms, a proof is a one-off copy of your document after all modifications and printing setup processes have been completed. Occasionally a document will print out differently on our equipment than how it appears on your monitor or printed on your desktop printer. There are multiple reasons this can happen. That is why it is important to see a final proof to make sure the end product is exactly how you want it. - Why do printed colors sometimes look different than 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 many—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color 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.
Color is an especially important factor in why it is important to see a final proof. (See question 4.)
- What is a PMS (Pantone Matching System) color?
The Pantone Matching System is a color reproduction standard used for printing inks (similar to picking out a paint swatch at the paint store.) These colors are used for printing inks only, but can be translated into digital colors via the CMYK model. Note: not all PMS colors translate exactly to a CMYK equivilant used for color copiers and 4-color process on the press. We have swatch books that will show you what the CMYK equivilant will look like. - What is the largest size copy you can make?
The largest color copy we can make is 12″ x 18″.The largest b/w copy we can make 11″ x 17″.
We also have the capability to make oversized b/w engineering drawings (blacklines) and large format color prints. The largest blackline roll we have is 36″. Since the paper is on a roll it can be virtually any length. This feature comes in handy for making long b/w banners. The largest color roll we have is 42″ wide. There is a choice of midweight matte stock or heavyweight matte or gloss stock. Our large format color printer is a Canon 8400 and it produces vivid, archival copies.
- How long will it take to finish my job once it is submitted?
Simple jobs are often completed in less than an hour or even while-you-wait. Some jobs, however, may take several days to complete depending on their complexity and quantity. We always strive to provide an accurate estimate of the turnaround time for each job we do. And we’ll always work with you to find ways to complete your project when you need it. - What type of blackline files do you accept?
Our equipment can only process PDF or TIF files.
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