questions & answers
Do not be intimidated by the print industry's terminology; we will talk to you using plain everyday language to ensure you get what you want.
We are here to make it easy for you; we will make recommendations on what will work best for you, what is the most cost effective solution and then take your job and ensure it achieves what you need.
Below you might find some answers to your initial questions.
In what format can I send my artwork
We can handle just about every type of file that is produced on any program available.
Whilst some programs are not really suited to printing a high quality job, that does not matter as we can accept your file and recreate it in a suitable program. Just let us know what program you have created your design in and we can advise you on the next step.
Generally a mainstream graphic arts program such as Corel Draw, Photoshop, Indesign and similar ones are going to give the best result, however these are expensive programs not everyone will have. Microsoft products are not really suitable for offset printing, but we can take the required information from these and still get your job printed.
We prefer to receive artwork as a PDF created according to our distiller settings for experienced users.
If you can not supply us with a PDF please contact us to discuss what other options there are for you to provide us with the artwork. We will come back to you with a solution.
What do I need to send you for you to create my artwork?
We can handle just about every type of file that is produced on any program available.
Whilst some programs are not really suited to printing a high quality job, that does not matter as we can accept your file and recreate it in a suitable program. Just let us know what program you have created your design in and we can advise you on the next step.
Generally a mainstream graphic arts program such as Corel Draw, Photoshop, Indesign and similar ones are going to give the best result, however these are expensive programs not everyone will have. Microsoft products are not really suitable for offset printing, but we can take the required information from these and still get your job printed.
We prefer to receive artwork as a PDF created according to our distiller settings for experienced users.
If you can not supply us with a PDF please contact us to discuss what other options there are for you to provide us with the artwork. We will come back to you with a solution.
What does a gang run mean?
Every week we have several print gang runs. It is the most economical way to print standard requirements. It means that we join several jobs together that have the same requirements, meaning it only has to go through the press once. We save costs and we calculate them through to you too!
What stock shall I use for my print job?
What kind of paper to print on really depends on what function the print product will have. Brochures generally range from 125gsm up to 180gsm. Business cards range in thickness from 280gsm and above. Also what kind of image do you want to portray? Gloss, matt, or uncoated finishes will all have a very different effect on the final product.
What do bleed and text margins refer to?
This is print industry, 'jargon' and with bleed, it is not what it sounds like!
Bleed is the area of a printed job that will be trimmed off with the excess paper or card following printing. All jobs are printed on a sheet BIGGER than the finished item will be. Bleed exists so that any images or colour flow right to the page edge if they are intended to do so.
Every print job that has images or colour printed right to the edge of the page must have at least 2mm bleed on all edges added to the artwork. Essentially this means your artwork must be 4mm higher & 4mm wider than what you wish the finished product to be.
A margin is going in the other direction. We keep a 3mm margin for text and illustrations, that do not need to bleed off the edge of your job. That means there is a 3mm space between the text and the edge of the page.
What software should I use?
For us it does not really matter what software you are using to create artwork for us to print.
If you are not using a recognised graphic design program, we can redo your artwork free of charge from whatever program you have used.
For photos, to get the best result a very good quality scanner is required (typically a $100 scanner is not going to be suitable) just send us the photos and we can scan them for you (there may be additional costs involved).
Microsoft products are not really designed for high quality print; they create files for screen use.
If in doubt contact us, we will assist as required.
If you are doing a big job such as a book or a multi page brochure, it is best to contact us first so we can give you guidance from the beginning; this will save you time and ensure a great job.
What is a proof and how do I approve the proof?
A proof is a print of what your final printed product will look like. It will be a very close sample of the finished article.
We do a lot of proofing on line. If we are comfortable that the program you are using is able to produce CMYK, then an emailed PDF will be fine. If this is not the case we will post you a proof so you can see the final print interpretation of your job.
We do not charge for proofs - it is all part of the one easy to understand price.
If we email or mail you a proof you can simply approve the proof by confirming in an email.
What resolution images do you print?
Resolution is the sharpness or clarity of an image. We generally ask for 300 dpi images (high resolution). dpi stands for dots per inch, the more dots per inch, the higher the resolution.
Most images used on the web are very low resolution, typically lower than 150dpi. These will not be suitable for printing, they will be grainy and fuzzy (on a computer screen they look fine due to the way a screen shows images).
If you have an image at say 600dpi, it can be reduced to 300dpi and the quality is fantastic. However if you have an image at say 100dpi, you can not just make it 300dpi - you can only go down in dpi and not up, a bit like gravity!
A large image such as an A3 size at 100dpi can be shrunk down to say a postcard size and the image will have a higher dpi.
Remember, if in doubt contact us for advice.
Often people judge you by the quality of the images used in printed material, so it is important to get it right.
How long does it take before I get my print job?
That depends on quantity, format, if any special finish is required etc.
For standard brochures, flyers and business cards, we generally have the finished product ready for despatch the day following printing.
Once the artwork has been approved to go to print, we schedule it in the first available print run.
Please contact us to find out if your deadline is achievable.
How do I receive my printing?
We select the best option that will achieve delivery to your location in good condition.
Typically we use Fastway Couriers, we also use parcel post and for larger jobs normal road freight companies.
Fastway Couriers are an express service and goods are typically delivered within 3 work days in all capital cities or 2 to 4 work days in major country towns.
Can you send print jobs overseas?
Yes we can and we regularly do. However if it is outside Australia there would be an additional charge. We send work to most of the island nations in the Pacific, some to USA and many to PNG.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards (Visa and Master Card), direct debit, cheques and cash.
For orders placed via the website, payment is required prior to despatch of goods