Printing Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

1. Sending Artwork ( Big files)
2. Accepted software formats (Mac & PC)
3. What is CMYK?
4. What is RGB?
5. What is a spot colour?
6. What is a PMS colour?
7. What is Resolution?
8. What is DPI?
9. What are the main types of images?
10. How long does it take for you to complete my order?
11. Why do I need to look at a proof if I've already given you everything I need to have done?
12. What resolution should my images be?
13. What is a "proof"?
14. How do I get a quote?
15. Can I specify delivery conditions?
16. How will my photos and text appear?
17. How do I place an order?
18. Can I supply a publisher or word file?
19. What is a Finished Proof?
20. How do I approve the Proof?
21. Can you design my cards?
22. Why are there additional charges for some services?
23. What currency are the prices listed in?
24. Do the prices include GST?
25. What payment methods can be used?
26. Which is the best payment method to use?
27. How do I receive my finished printing?
28. How long until I receive my cards?
29. Where do you ship to?
30. How is digital printing different from Press Print?
31. Can we print both sides?
32. Can you match PMS colors?
33. Are Prints Waterproof?

 

Contents

1. Sending Artwork ( Big files)
You can send artwork by email up to around 5-10MB with broadband. You can also send files up to 100MB with yousendit.com - its easy. Just enter our email address - art@selectprint.com.au and attach your file.

2. Accepted software formats (Mac & PC)
Adobe InDesign - Include all linked images and convert fonts to outlines Adobe Photoshop - CMYK Colour mode all images at 300dpi and full size plus bleed.
Adobe Illustrator - PDF or EPS files. in CMYK colour with all images embedded and text converted to outlines QuarkXPress - Include all linked images and convert fonts to outlines.

3. What is CMYK?
CMYK stands for the ink colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black - these are the four process colours. CMYK is a colour model in which all colours are described as a mixture of these four process colours. CMYK is the standard colour model used in offset printing for full-colour documents. Because such printing uses inks of these four basic colours, it is often called four-colour printing.

4. What is RGB?
RGB is the colours of light - Red, Green, Blue. Therefore on a computer monitor all colours are made using the RGB system. One of the most difficult aspects of desktop publishing in colour is colour matching -- properly converting the RGB colours into CMYK colours so that what gets printed looks the same as what appears on the monitor.

5. What is a spot colour?
Refers to a method of specifying and printing colours in which each colour is printed with its own ink rather than a composite of the process colours (CMYK). Spot colour printing is effective when the printed matter contains only one to three different colours, but it becomes prohibitively expensive for more colours. spot colours are used when you want to print a specific shade, metallic or a fluorescent colour.

6. What is a PMS colour?
PMS stands for Pantone Matching System, a popular colour matching system used by the printing industry to print spot colours. Most applications that support colour printing allow you to specify colours by indicating the Pantone name or number. This assures that you get the right colour when the file is printed, even though the colour may not look right when displayed on your monitor.
PMS works well for spot colours but not for process colours, which are generally specified using the CMYK colour model.

7. What is Resolution?
Refers to the sharpness and clarity of an image. The term is most often used to describe monitors, printers, and bit-mapped graphic images. For example, a 300-dpi (dots per inch) printer is one that is capable of printing 300 distinct dots in a line 1 inch long. This means it can print 90,000 dots per square inch.

8. What is DPI?
Abbreviation of dots per inch, which indicates the resolution of images. The more dots per inch, the higher the resolution. A common resolution for laser printers is 600 dots per inch. This means 600 dots across and 600 dots down, so there are 360,000 dots per square inch.

9. What are the main types of images?
There are two main types of images 1) vector graphics and 2) bit-mapped graphics.
Vector Images use a composite of lines and nodes while bit-mapped graphics use a composition of a pattern of dots (sometimes called raster graphics). Programs that enable you to create and manipulate vector graphics are called draw programs (freehand is a draw program), whereas programs that manipulate and create bit-mapped images are called paint programs (photoshop is a paint program).

10. How long does it take for you to complete my order?
There really isn't a short answer to this question. Some jobs can be produced in minutes and some jobs may take several days. Please let us know your deadlines and we will bend over backwards and do our best to meet them. We do provide 3 different services, there is however a surcharge for both the premium and priority services causing prices to vary.
• Promotional Service (7-14 working days)
• Priority Service (1- 2 working days)
• Premium Service (5-6 working days)

11. Why do I need to look at a proof if I've already given you everything I need to have done?
If final press ready artwork is not supplied, your approval on the final proof is assurance that you have looked over every aspect of our work and approve it as accurate. It benefits everyone if errors are caught in the proofing process rather than after the job is completed and delivered. Our Art department will email/fax you an approval form attached with your artwork. Upon receiving it, you should check that all specifications and information are correct.

12. What resolution should my images be?
For best results we recommend 600dpi images but good results can be achieved with images between 300dpi and 600dp. You should never supply images greater than 600dpi.

13. 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. If we receive press ready artwork from you, a proof is usually not necessary, but we can email you a proof upon your request.

14. How do I get a quote?
Click here and fill in our contact form with all the relevant questions and we'll have your quote to you very quickly - usually within a couple of hours

15. Can I specify delivery conditions?
Delivery can be organized in a variety of ways. We offer Express Post, and a Courier Service at a minimal freight cost. You will also be able to pick up your orders between 9am and 6pm. We will contact you once your orders are ready to be collected.

16. How will my photos and text appear?
see Printing Tips and Helpful Guides for details

17. How do I place an order?
Please refer to the "Order" section. If you have any further questions after reading the section for the product category you require, please contact us for further assistance.

18. Can I supply a publisher or word file?
Yes, we can accept these files as a guide. Since these files are not always in "print ready" quality, we may need to re-create your artwork in an acceptable format. Additional charges are incurred for this service. Please see the "Design Support" page for more information.

19. What is a Finished Proof
A Proof is the finished document prepared for printing. You will receive an email copy of the finished document to be reviewed to ensure that the information you supplied is correct, and the design team has produced the artwork to suit your requirements. Printing will not commence until the proof has been reviewed and you advise that the proof documents are approved.

20. How do I approve the Proof?
You will receive an email copy of the finished document to be reviewed to ensure that the information you supplied is correct, and the design team has produced the artwork to suit your requirements. Once you are satisfied that the information and artwork is correct, you return the signed email or fax advising that the proof is read and approved. Printing will not commence until the proof has been reviewed and you advise that the proof documents are approved.

21. Can you design my cards?
Yes, we can provide design support for you. If you already have a logo for your business, we can design a card to suit your needs. The initial cost of design is easily returned by the professional cards we create, helping you to create a lasting impression.

22. Why are there additional charges for some services?
In order to keep costs as low as possible, if you can supply artwork, then there is no need for any further charges to be incurred. We have a table of reasonable charges as "one time only" costs for assistance in creating professional cards for your requirements. These charges only relate to the initial template. The number of names and the number of re-prints using this template is unlimited.

23. What currency are the prices listed in?
All prices listed on this site are in Australian Dollars ($AU). Please convert to your local currency if you are outside Australia using your banks exchange rate to see exactly how low our prices are, and compare that to what you are paying now.

24. Do the prices include GST?
No, all prices listed on this site exclude GST. To calculate the GST price, multiply the listed price by 110% for the total price including GST

25. What payment methods can be used?
Our preferred method is Direct Deposit. Cheque may be posted in to our Postal Address with your order.
We can also accept Credit Card payments. Additional fees are applicable for Credit Card payments.
If PayPal payments are required, please advise at the time of ordering.

26. Which is the best payment method to use?
The best method is direct deposit from your online banking, as this helps keep both of our bank fees low. By keeping our costs to a minimum, we can continue to offer low prices for your cards. Direct Deposit details will be found on the Order Confirmation received, after your order is placed.

27. How do I receive my finished printing?
Your finished goods are sent via overnight express or courier to major Australian cities. You will be advised a tracking number on the day the goods are shipped.

28. How long until I receive my cards?
Standard printing and delivery takes approximately 7-10 days. Please note that printing does not commence until a deposit is paid and artwork has been approved

29. Where do you ship to?
We ship cards to any destination that is reachable by the global postal services. For international destinations, please email sales@redder4.com.au for a quote, stating the receiving destination town and country. EMS charges are quite reasonable, and goods can be tracked on-line to most destinations around the world.

30. How is digital printing different from Press Print?
see Printing Tips and Helpful Guides for details

31. Can we print both sides?
Yes we can print double sided!

32. Can you match PMS colors?
No, colour matches are not guaranteed.

33. Are Prints Waterproof?
Digital Prints by nature are not waterproof. One has to think of them in the same way as one would a Watercolor Painting or a color photographic print. They require the same kind of special care or protection.