We have collected some of our most commonly asked questions. If you don’t see what you need or still have questions, please contact us today. Our friendly and experienced staff is ready to help make your experience as smooth as possible.
- How can I get a quote from you?
A. You can get a quote one of three ways. You can call us, come by our office or email our Services Specialist at orders@graphicpublishing.com. The more information you can give us, the more accurate quote we can provide you. Please let us know what type of project you need (business cards, manuals, banner), the finished size, whether you need it in color or black and white, and any other information you can.
- What kind of services do you provide?
A. Here at Graphic Publishing we offer a wide range of products. From personal invitations to business cards, from church mailers to sports banners, our staff is ready to help you. You can see some of our services listed on the tabs for Digital Printing, School & Sports Publishing, and CD & DVD Duplication. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please contact us today.
- What is the best file format for me to send to you?
A. PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and most preferred format for digital printing as it works the best with virtually all professional printing devices. Most programs can save to a PDF format file. If not, there are several commercial and free PDF print drivers available online. You may even have one installed already. Simply try to print your file, but instead of printing to your normal printer, try scrolling to see what other options you have already installed. If you see one that says “Print to PDF”, that option will allow you save your document into a PDF file. If you’re not sure, or don’t think you have access to any of these options, contact us today.
- Why can’t I use Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word document?
A. You can, but those formats are problematic. If our version of Microsoft Excel doesn’t match exactly to your version, including any and all fonts and features that you may have downloaded on your own, then small changes in spacing, sizing, fonts and general layout can and most often will appear sporadically throughout your document when we send your file to print. For that reason we ask that you convert your documents to PDF before submitting them to us. However, if that’s not possible and you would like us to convert them for you, we do ask that you review a hard-copy proof to check for any errors, and sign a Proof Approval Form before we begin printing.
- What is a Proof and why do I need to look at it?
A. A proof is a printed or electronic copy of what your document will look like in it’s final printed form. We ask that you review it carefully for any errors before we submit it for printing. It’s your best opportunity to be sure that your work is exactly as you want it. Any changes that you want made, whether it be to the overall layout or something small like a spelling error, can made at this point. We ask that you sign a Proof Approval Form to look us know that you are ready to send the document for final printing.
- Will the printed colors look the same as the colors on my monitor?
A. It’s very hard to get a perfect match in short because monitors and printers produce colors in different ways. A monitor uses light to display the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) gamut of colors in a wide spectrum. Printers use ink to display the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) gamut of colors that can match most- but not all- of the RGB color spectrum. Depending on the personal settings of your monitor, colors can also vary from monitor to monitor, and consequently from screen to print. Reviewing a proof copy is the best way to ensure your satisfaction.
- What does “bleed” and “no bleed” mean?
A. Bleed refers to a background color or image that extends all the way to the edge of the finished paper, leaving no white margins at the edges. It’s very difficult for a printer to apply ink up to the exact edge of paper. An extra 1/8 inch margin needs to be added on each side of the design to allow the design or colors to extend past (or “bleed off”) the paper’s final cut edge. This extra area will be cut off of the final document to ensure a better, cleaner product. In contrast, a document with no bleed will keep all elements (background colors, pictures and text) a minimum of 1/8 inch inside and away from the edge of the paper on all four sides. Nothing is printed to the edge of the paper and a white margin will exist on all sides.
- How long will it take to finish my job?
A. Every job is different. A simple job may be completed in a few hours, while a more complex project may take several days to finish. We always try to give you an accurate estimate of when your job will be finished, and whenever possible we try to complete it earlier than expected. If you know you will need it by a specific date, please let us know so that we can work with you.
- What types of binding do you offer for multi-page documents?
A. We have several options for you depending on the quantity of pages in your project. Saddle-stitch binding uses staples along the folded edge of the booklet to hold the pages together. Spiral binding is more durable for large books like sports programs or business manuals, using plastic spirals threaded through punched holes along the edge of the paper. This allows the document to lay flat when opened. Three-ring binding uses holes drilled into the documents and then inserted into a binder of varying sizes. We also offer Perfect-binding, where the edges of your documents are glued together with the cover to create a paperback-type of book. Feel free to visit us to see samples of all of these bindings.