What is the difference between "spot colours" and "four colour process"?
A spot colour is colour that can be assigned a PMS (Pantone Matching System) number. Example: Reflex Blue is one spot colour and not a mixture of colours. Four colour process is a combination of CMYK (C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black) to produce a variation of colours.)
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What is the difference between RGB and CMYK?
RGB refers to the primary colours of light, Red, Green and Blue that are used on your computer screen.
CMYK refers to the primary colours of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Many programs have the capability to convert the layout/images from the RGB to the CMYK.
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What is DPI?
DPI stands for dots per square inch. The measurement of resolution for page printers, photo type setting machines and graphics screens. Graphics screens usually reproduce 60 to 72 dpi, most page printers 300 dpi and typesetting systems 1,000 dpi. Most images off the internet are 72 dpi, which is very poor quality to print from.
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What is the difference between coated and uncoated stock?
Uncoated stock is a rough porous type of paper. It is normally used in newspapers and tends to be less expensive. Coated stock has a smooth glossy finish. Printing on this type of paper will sharpen your text and graphics layouts. Coated stock, however, can be a bit more expensive.
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What are halftones?
A halftone is a reproduction of a photograph having highlights, shadow and intermediate tones.
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What are colour separations?
A colour separation is an image that defines where one specific colour will be printed. Colours can be mixed by overlapping areas of different colour separations so that one ink is applied on top of the other. By combining this technique with halftones, many variations of colours are possible.
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What is the Pantone Matching System?
The Pantone Matching System also known as PMS colour system is a popular colour matching system used by the printing industry to print specific colours. PMS match book is a book of colour where each PMS colour has its own name or number that helps you make sure your colours are the same each time you print, even if your computer monitor displays a different colour or if you change printing services.
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What is camera ready art?
Camera ready art is a high quality black and white print that is ready to be printed from.
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Will you match a colour sample from my own printer?
There is no guarantee your finished piece will be exactly like your printed sample. This is due in part to the widely varying results from the different output devices including inkjet and laser printers, continuous tone proofing devices, high-resolution film-based proofs and different than true offset lithography. In particular, inkjet and laser prints are known to look substantially different than true offset.
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How do I prepare my text for the printer?
Adobe PDF is the preferred text format for most printers. It works with virtually all image-setters, place-setters, and digital output devices. Most popular file formats, including MS Word and MS Publisher are easily converted to PDF. PDF is a "locked" format so there are no problems with text reflow when the files are opened on different computers. PDF can be read on any PDF reader, free at the Adobe website.
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Do I need to impose my business cards 8-up or 10-up if they will be printed more than 1 to a sheet?
No, send us a single layout of your job un-imposed, we will handle any imposition needed on our end.
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How should I take pictures with my digital camera?
The digital camera takes pictures as RGB. Save the images onto the picture (memory) card at the highest quality possible. Remember images should be at 300 dpi in their final size in the layout.
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What is a "bleed"?
A "bleed" is when the ink prints to the very edge of the paper. When using "bleeds" you must allow for the art to extend 1/8" beyond the page border.
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Why is Microsoft Word not suitable for offset printing?
Microsoft Word is not a desktop publishing program. It creates and displays colour only in RGB. RGB colour formats do not colour separate for offset printing.
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What is a Die, Score and Cut?
A "steel rule" die is manufactured, which is composed of thin pieces of steel that will be used to stamp a line or rule on the printed material. To die cut is to cut the printed piece almost like a cookie cutter. An example of this is a "presentation folder".
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What are the different Fold Types?
The type of fold used to complete your print job. A Letter Fold is a paper folded in thirds. A "Z" Fold differs in that the parts do not overlap but form a Z at the end. A Parallel Fold is a half fold; Double Parallel folds in half and then half again vs. a right angle where the second fold is done on a 90 degree angle from the first. Accordian Fold is just more panels than the Z and similar. A Gate Fold is where the two end panels meet in the center panel being the width equal to both end panels and a double gate folds in half towards the center after the initial gate fold.
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What is a Saddle Stitch?
Two staples added into the center of the piece on the fold line. Magazines and newsletters are typically saddle stitched.
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What is Perfect Binding?
A squared off edge and glued pages define this bindery type. An example is your typical pocket book.
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What is Perforate?
It is the creation of holes either by die or a bindery rolling process, for tear outs or coupons.
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What is Foil?
To stamp with a metal die a material onto the paper. If the foil touches ink on the piece or is raised by embossing, it is called "registering".
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What is Emboss?
The use of a metal die to form a raised image on paper.
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