Resources & Support

Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Start by selecting one of the links below. If you don’t see what you need – call or contact us online.

1. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
2. Do I have to create my own artwork?
3. Is white considered a printing color?
4. Tips on how to save your design files
5. What are customer portals and how can customer portals benefit my company?
6. What are promotional tools?
7. What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
8. What is the Pantone Matching System?
9. What type of products and services do you provide?
10. Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?

1. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?

   Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.

   Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.

   Also note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode when possible. Images saved in RGB mode may not print properly. If you are unable to save your image in CYMK mode, please let us know.

2. Do I have to create my own artwork?

   NO
   The success of your project begins with its design. We'll start you off on the right foot with our award winning design department. We utilize the latest versions of all software for both Macintosh and PC based files, including: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Pagemaker, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Powerpoint, QuarkXpress, and Freehand MX.

3. Is white considered a printing color?

   Not typically. Because white is the default color of paper, it is simply recognized as the absence of any ink. However, when using colored paper, white ink may be used if any text or graphic requires it.

4. Tips on how to save your design files

   Make them print ready and acceptable for us to print.

   COREL DRAW:
   Saving your Corel Draw file as an Adobe Illustrator EPS
   • Embed all Images
   • Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
   • Export as Illustrator EPS

   FREEHAND:
   • Embed all Images
   • Convert all your text/copy to paths
   • Export as Illustrator EPS or PDF

   PAGEMAKER:
   Saving your PageMaker file as an EPS
   • Embed all Images
   • Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
   • Export your file as an EPS using the below settings:
   Postscript Level 2
   CMYK Mode
   TIFF format and
   Binary

   PUBLISHER:
   You will need to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you don’t please download and use our Adobe Job Ready Program. If you do have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF please follow the steps below.
   Under File, Print, select Adobe PDF writer
   Under Properties select Press Quality and Save your PDF

5. What are customer portals and how can customer portals benefit my company?

   Once you join our free, online Customer Portal system, you'll have access to your company's Document Library. This pasword-protected utility enables you to view an archive of your past jobs and reorder frequently used forms such as business cards, letterheads and envelopes.

   Your personal Web site within our Web site also allows you to send files, view proofs, place new orders and request estimates with a few simple clicks.

   Please give us a call to set up a Customer Portal so you can start using your personal Document Library.

   We've just made your life easier.

6. What are promotional tools?

   Promotional Tools are personalized products designed to convey your message.

   Whether you are a small business or a large corporation, we have just what you are looking for. There are over 800,000 different promotional products, shirts, mugs, hats, trophies, are only a few of the items available to you.

   • Trade-Show Give-aways

   • Corporate Gifts

   • Awards and Trophies
     
7. What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?

   PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.

8. What is the Pantone Matching System?

   The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color reproduction standard in which colors all across the spectrum are each identified by a unique, independent number. The use of PMS allows us to precisely match colors and maintain color consistency throughout the printing process.

9. What type of products and services do you provide?

   Good question! We are a full service shop and offer a wide range of products and services. To see a full listing and description of what we can offer you, checkout out the Products & Services area in the Customer Service Section of our website.

10. Why do the printed colors look different from 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 most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. Depending on the equipment used, CMYK generally matches 85–90% of the colors in the RGB 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.