Resources

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

Well, since you are here, we would suggest you use our online estimate request form. 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 talk with one of our customer service representatives.

and make them print-ready and acceptable for us to print.

The preferred format for submitting your design file is a high resolution PDF. PDF files are easier to handle and will likely speed up your turn-around time. Below are instructions on how to convert your file to a PDF:

Adobe InDesign
1 Choose File > Export.
2 Specify a name and location for the file.
3 For Save As Adobe PDF Preset, choose Press Quality.
4 If your design has bleeds,
5 Click on Marks and Bleeds, add checkmark to Crop Marks box and offset to 0.125”.
6 Change Bleed to 0.125” for Top, Bottom, Left and Right.
7 Select Export.

Adobe Illustrator
1 Choose File > Save As.
2 Specify a name and location for the file.
3 For Save As Adobe PDF Preset, choose Press Quality.
4 If your design has bleeds,
5 Click on Marks and Bleeds, add checkmark to Crop Marks box and offset to 0.125”.
6 Change Bleed to 0.125” for Top, Bottom, Left and Right.
7 Select Export.

Adobe Photoshop
1 Choose File > Save As.
2 Specify a name and location for the file.
3 For Format, choose Photoshop PDF.
4 For Save As Adobe PDF Preset, choose Press Quality.

Microsoft Word
1 Click the Microsoft Office Button, choose Save As > PDF.
2 Specify a name and location for the file.
3 Next to Optimize for, click Standard (publishing online and printing).
4 Click Publish.

Microsoft Publisher
1 Choose File > Export > Save for Commercial Printer.
2 Choose Commercial Press.
3 Click Pack and Go Wizard.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SIGN AND BANNER ORDERS: The preferred file format for signs and banners is vector. Vector files are images that are built by mathematical formulas that establish points on a grid and can infinitely adjust in size without losing resolution. Vector files can be created with Adobe Illustrator (.ai) and Corel Draw (.svg), or if your design is text only, you may save your file as a high resolution PDF.

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.

In printing terms, a proof is a one-off copy of your document after all modifications and printing setup processes have been completed. It is your last and best opportunity to make sure that the print job comes out the way you want. By carefully inspecting the proof, you can help us assure an accurate, flawless delivery of your print job on the first run. On simpler jobs, we will send you a PDF proof via email.

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.

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.

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.

Typically, we like to have 5-7 business days. Some jobs (a simple business card) can be completed quickly, while a complex job (a print job that requires special finishing and bindery) can take longer. We always strive to provide an accurate estimate of the turnaround time for each job we do. And we’ll always work with you to find ways to complete your project when you need it.