Simply use our online estimate request form by clicking HERE. Otherwise, the best way to ensure that we get all the information necessary to do an accurate quote is to give us a call and speak with one of our customer service representatives.

1. Quantity – This can be one quantity or a range, we can provide up to 5 quantities (or more if needed). Other that the obvious reasons, the quantity also determines which print method will be most economical for your project.
2. Size – both flat size and finished size if applicable. Along with quantity, the size of your print project is the most important information and has the most impact on price.
3. Paper (Stock) – Stock is the primary material cost of a printed project and there are many choices available. Paper weight, text or cover, and paper finish are needed. See paper section for more info about the different categories and finishes.
4. Inking or Color Spec’s – In general, we need to know how many colors per side and whether your artwork “bleeds” off the edge of the piece or not. Full color printing is considered as 4 color process (CMYK). Examples are 4/0 with bleeds, 4/4 with bleeds, or 1/0 black ink no bleeds.
5. Finishing Information – Does the piece just trim to final size? Fold? Score? Diecut? Foil Stamp, Emboss, Deboss? If it’s a book, does it saddlestitch? Perfect bind? Other binding option? Does the piece get mailed? Anything that needs to happen to the piece after printing.

Every job is different. Some jobs can be produced in minutes while some may take several days to complete. Let us know when you need your job completed and we’ll let you know if it can be done. We go to great lengths to meet even your most demanding timelines.

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is generally the preferred file format for submitting a document for printing as it works with virtually all professional printing and digital output devices. By design, a PDF file incorporates the information needed to maintain document consistency from system to system. Most other file formats such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Microsoft Word are easily converted to PDF format.

A proof is a one-off copy of your printed document used for visual inspection to ensure that the layout and colors of your document are exactly how they are intended to be. A proof is made prior to sending the document to the press for final printing.

Typically, we will produce a proof that will be sent to you online in PDF format or on printed paper, which can be either viewed in our store or delivered to you in person. For multiple-color jobs, we can produce a proof on our output device to show you how the different colors will appear on the final product.

Your approval on the final proof is the best assurance you have that every aspect of our work and your own is correct, and that everything reads and appears the way you intended. Mistakes can and sometimes do happen. It benefits everyone if errors are caught in the proofing process rather than after the job is completed and delivered.

In the digital age of printing, it means that an image file submitted for printing is ready to be transferred to the printing plates without any alterations.

Pantone colors refer to the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a color matching system used by the printing industry whereby printing colors are identified by a unique name or number (as opposed to just a visual reference). This helps make sure that colors turn out the same from system to system, and print run to print run.

OK, here’s where the donut analogy comes to play. As you can see, a coated donut has a smooth, shiny finish, while the uncoated donut has a dull, textured finish. This is like coated and uncoated paper!

So, what’s the difference when it comes to printing? When ink is applied to uncoated paper it seeps into the fibers of the paper and can spread out a bit. This makes for softer colors and a more muted look.

When paper is coated, the coating creates a barrier between the ink and the paper fibers. Because the ink sits on the coating and doesn’t seep into the paper fibers it produces sharper images and deeper colors.

No. White is not generally considered a printing color as typically the paper itself will be white. If a colored paper (something other than white) is chosen, then white becomes a printing color if any text or graphics require it.

Postcards are found in three common sizes: 4” x 6”, 5” x 7” and 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”.

The most common card stocks used for postcards are:

• 100# stock coated on both sides: The most popular postcard stock
• 100# stock coated on one side: Well suited to mailing
• 12 pt. stock coated on both sides: a premium coated stock

Some of the common methods of binding books and other multi-page documents include:

Pros

• Fast
• Up to 80 impressions a minute
• Little setup time
• Use of variable data
• Output is printed on both sides, dry and ready for any bindery work
• Colors are bright and brilliant
• Images are crisp

Cons

• Toner layers
• Dark inks are always glossy
• Cannot print on stock under 50# or on stock over 130#
• Cannot run plastic or metallic stocks
• Cannot run standard envelopes
• Cannot accurately match most Pantone colors
• Printed pieces cannot be imprinted or printed on with customer’s laser printers

Offset

• Better and more cost effective for larger runs
• The right choice when a specific Pantone color or metallic ink must be used
• The choice when the stock sheet size exceeds 23” x 29”
• If the printed piece must go back through a customer’s laser printer, you need to use offset printing

Digital

• More cost effective for shorter runs
• Perfect for shorter runs with multiple originals – even with different quantities of each
• When a short deadline must be met
• When the job uses variable data