Have a question? We have put some of the more common questions, and their answers below. If your question isn't here, ask us.
What about the design?
Before something is printed, it has to be designed first. If you have artwork ready, we can use it to print. However, it needs to meet some requirements to look good:
- PDFs are preferred, since they usually look the same on different computers
- The file needs to be 300dpi resolution
- CMYK works better than RGB
- Text and pictures should be at least 1/8" away from the sides of the final size unless it is part of a bleed
Whoa, slow down, take some deep breaths. If you have no idea what any of that means, that's alright. We can do the designing for you; prices for that vary, but can be as low as $5. The size and complexity of the piece determine the final price. We'll give you a ballpark figure before we get started.
How long will it take?
We'd like to be able to have your projects ready for you immediately, but we can't; it does take some time. How much time? It depends (that has to be one of the most loathed phrases, but it is right). Simple things, like plain copies can be done in minutes, but anything that must be designed will take longer. The time that you are about to read is going to sound slow if you compare it to other places, but we will explain why it is like that. On average, products like business cards, brochures, etc. take around 8 business days.
Yes, that seems like an awful long time, but there is a reason. We are very careful to make sure that it looks right, and we check the design several times to ensure this. Plus, we are a small business (there's only two of us here), and we have several things that we take care of in a given day. We aren't telling you this to excuse us for being slow, we just want you to know upfront what to expect.
What about pictures/artwork?
This can be tricky area. Besides the resolution being at least 300dpi (more on that here), you need to be careful not to use artwork that you don't have permission to use. As easy as it is, just searching on the internet and copying a picture may not be legal. Many people copyright their work so that others cannot claim them, and you can only use it after you get permission, and possibly pay a fee.
Please make sure any pictures or other artwork you find are free of restrictions, and that you have permission to use them. If you need help, we have several places to look for free artwork, and we can help you locate what you need. If you want to use a paid service, we can help with that, too.