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>> Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-press process quickly and to print correctly when sent electronically. We encourage reading this section from time to time as software. We encourage reading this section from time to time as software changes quicklys.
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| 1. |
Do I need to be familiar with print to work with you?
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No, if you're unfamiliar with buying print, printing terminology or the production process, don't worry. All you need to do is provide us with the ready to print artwork or contact our design studio who will work with you on your project so we will have all that we require.
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| 2. |
Is your production quality up to my standards?
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Yes. You'll get printing that's as good as, or better than you're getting now. We have invested heavily in the latest equipment and technology. Our quality control standards are as rigorous (ISO sampling plan) as those of the top printers in Europe and America.
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| 3. |
What is the standard delivery time?
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We normally produce jobs faster than your regular printers. Our factory works 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Normal production time is 5 to 10 days after receiving your ready to print artwork, dependant upon the size and complexity of the job. Allow an average of 21 days shipping by sea to most European ports. Customs clearance and inland transportation usually adds 3 to 4 days. Delivery times to other countries may require slightly more or less time.
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What if I need it faster?
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We can ship by air at an additional cost and you will receive the job normally within three days. We ship by air on rush jobs, or when you need a partial shipment. Please note airfreight is expensive and will add a considerable cost to your order.
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| 5. |
Is there a minimum order?
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No. We have no set minimum order. All jobs will be reviewed and quoted for on their own merit. If you have any questions about the feasibility of your project being printed by us in Asia, just send us an e-mail and we'll be happy to advise.
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| 6. |
What about payment?
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We work in US$ (United States Dollars) as this is the currency of international trade. However, don't worry, you don't need a US $ account. You will make payment in your local currency through your normal bank, which will send payment to us in US$.
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| 7. |
What format can I use for the artwork?
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Just about any format you want. Our pre-press capability is state-of-the-art. We can accept all of the standard media. Our design studio will be able to advise on the most suitable format for the job.
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| 11. |
Why web graphics don't work in print?
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Several Reasons. Most web graphics are low resolution - usually 72 dpi (dots per inch). Colour separation is often a problem... just because you see the colours you want doesn't mean the graphic will print separations as needed. Web graphics use an Indexed color or an RGB color space instead of the Spot Color or CMYK color space needed to print. File formats are sometimes not supported in high resolution printing and resizing the graphics can cause it to become blurry or pixelated. They are raster images (as opposed to vector images) that are resolution-dependant. In general, graphics created for the web don't have the quality needed to reproduce well in print. |
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| 15. |
Which software should I choose to create my artwork?
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This totally depends on the kind of work to be printed and your software’s abilities. For example, brochures and magazines we suggest Adobe Indesign or Quark Xpress… Where as for smaller projects like leaflets you may find software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or Freehand more suitable. |
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| 16. |
Convert spot colour in CMYK?
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The computer sees different named colours (i.e. Pantone 153 CV and Pantone 153 CVC) as two different plates. If a spot colour is used from a colour matching system (like Pantone) and is converted to CMYK values, it will not match exactly the spot color chosen (usually "off" by 5-10%). Please note; if you use a percentage of a spot color it will no longer match that spot color (30% PMS153 vs 100% PMS 153).
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| 17. |
What is the difference between Mac & PC?
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Whatever the platform, Windows or OSX (Apple) the printed results will be the same. Apple is probably more used and more efficient for any creative works (Printing, Design, Video and sound).
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| 19. |
How to scan my images?
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Save scans as Tiffs whenever possible, and use Photoshop to save your scans. Photoshop writes cleaner Tiff files than programs that come with desktop scanners. Do not save as RGB rather save your images in CMYK, or convert them to spot color before sending the job to us. Remember, when scanning images any line art included should be scanned at 600dpi, any photographs or color charts should be saved at 300dpi, after you save an image DO NOT SCALE IT more than 120% or it will interpolate.
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>> Design Tips
Select Printing's commitment to quality covers every phase of our production process. The following guidelines have been designed to help your job move through the pre-press process quickly and to print correctly when sent electronically. We are here to assist you every step of the way.
Hard Copy :
If possible, a printed copy of your artwork is always welcome and helps us check the file(s) for any problems (i.e. text reflow, missing images, etc). If not, Select Print will create an PDF file from the received files which gonna be send to the customer prevent any mistakes in the files to be printed.
Collecting for Output :
Always provide the artwork in folders. Most of the time you'll provide three folders: one for source documents, one for fonts, and one for imported images. Do not submit duplicates of a file to be printed or include items not necessary for output. This will eliminate any confusion.
File Name :
Be specific when you're naming a file, for example "Brochure final 2-2-2005" instead of "Brfinal#22-5-2205". Do not use special characters (i.e.: #@%^) or extremely long file names (this includes images).
Fonts :
All fonts used to build the document, including those used in graphics, should be submitted along with the application files. Do not apply bold or italic to typefaces. Always use the actual typeface (i.e. Times Bold, Times Italic, etc...) Whilst we have a large database of fonts, we don't have all fonts.
Images :
Be sure to include all images and graphics used (even if the image is imbedded instead of linked). They should be saved as CMYK or Spot Colour, not RGB (RGB is used for monitor display and video). Be sure to inform us if you use any Duotones in the document. Proper image format should be TIFF (.tif) or EPSF (.eps) depending on image use.
Any image or graphics should be scanned at least at 300 DPI. Please use 600 DPI for high definition images. Always use exact size or larger image measurement, never increase a small image beyond 120%.
Colors :
Use only Pantone, Trumatch, or Custom CMYK colours. Never use RGB, HSL or any other non-standard color models. You should not have any spot colours in any of your files unless they are actually printing as a spot color ink (ei: logo printed in gold color). Please try to delete any unused colors.
Spot Colours Separation :
Spot separations should be built as spot colours. When using spot colors, the spot plate needs to have the same spot colour name exactly. Example "Pantone 356CV" and "Pantone 356U" while they may both have the same components and look the same on screen, they will provide separate plates when imaged.
Bleeds :
Any element that extends to the final trim edge needs bleeds extended to at least 0.5 mm. Do not include the bleed when setting up your document size.
Dies & Embossing :
Die lines for cutting should be solid lines. Lines for folding and scoring should be dotted lines. Embossed files also should be drawn in Illustrator as 100% yellow.
Proofing :
We are not responsible for errors in the body text of a publication. It's preferable to double-check your artwork by more than one person in your organization, before submitting your files to us.
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