FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (F.A.Q.)
Q: What is the turn-around time?
Q: What is this output charge and do I need it?
Q: What is the 10% over/under policy?
Q: What is the difference between the paper stocks?
Q: What is a handpack fee?
Q: What is disc replication?
Q: What is disc duplication?
Q: Do I need a barcode? Can Imprint supply me with one?
Q: What is the difference between process and spot colors?
Q: What is a PMS fee?
Q: How are my completed CD's shipped?
Q: What is dropshipping?
Q: What does 1 over 1 (1/1), 4 over 4 (4/4), etc. mean?
Q: What is glass mastering?
Q: What is a matrix number, and do I need to have one?
Q: What computer applications can I use to submit my artwork?
Q: What is the process of making booklets and traycards?
Q: What do you need to print on the CD label?
Q: How are the plates made?
Q: Does Imprint accept films?
Q: What is the Pantone Matching System?
Q: How are CD labels printed?
Q: What do I need to know about working with color?
Q: What are crop marks?
Q: What are registration marks?
Q: What is a bleed?
Q: What are perforation marks?
Q: What is the safety margin?
Q: How do I ensure that my scanned images will look their best?
Q: How can I send my files in?
Q: What if I convert all my type to paths or curves?
Q: Do I have to send my scans if they are embedded in the layout program?
Q: What if my spot color artwork requires trapping?
Q: Could you provide me with a final checklist?
Q: What is the turn-around time for orders? back to top
A: Detailed information regarding turn time can be found here.
Q: What is this output charge and do I need it? back to top
A: In order to reproduce artwork from digital files, the files need to output to an imagesetter or similar type machine. At Imprint we use a direct to plate system that cuts out the need for films. Quality is increased over film output because there is one generation less in reproducing your files. Instead of outputting film, and burning the film to a plate, we are going directly to plate from our computer. These "plates" are used during the printing process itself to ensure accurate representation of your files. This applies to CD booklets, traycards, record covers and any item where printing is required.
Q: What is the 10% over/under policy? back to top
A: More often than not you will find your order arrives in a quantity that seems a bit odd. For instance, a 1000 piece order might show up on your doorstep with only 983 units or perhaps 1042. Very rarely will you receive exactly 1000 CD's. This is because we reject any disc that contains even the slightest flaw (from playability to the ink on the CD face). Depending on the number of rejects, your total quantity will vary slightly, plus or minus 10%. If we are short for any reason you will not have to pay for the products you are not getting. Likewise, if there are any overs you will pay for them. If we cannot apply the overrun deposit to the full amount pressed, we will refund any unused portion of the deposit or apply it as credit toward your next project. Ultimately, you pay for the exact number discs received. This is standard industry practice.
Q: What is the difference between the paper stocks? back to top
A: 100# glossy text is our standard print stock for cd covers and posters. This is pretty much the standard stock for CD covers used worldwide. Because the sheet is a coated stock, we are able to fully automate your print into jewel cases (this requires no hand assembly). 80# uncoated text is available for an additional charge. This is what you are looking for if you want no trace of gloss whatsoever. Projects of this nature can NOT be automated into our packaging procedure (for CD covers, etc). Each piece would have to be inserted into the jewel cases by hand and subject to handpacking fees.
For 7 inch covers our standard stock is 10 pt. glossy card (gloss on one side). 80# uncoated card stock is available for an additional charge.
Q: What is a handpack fee? back to top
A: Anytime that the assembly of your compact disc project involves materials that cannot be automated into the normal functions of our packaging equipment, we must assemble these components by hand. This of course requires additional manual labor, which calls for additional charges to your project.
Common situations that call for handpacking include: unfinished paper stock, digipaks, certain catalog/coupon configurations, non-standard folding patterns (booklet), non-automatable stickers, and ecopaks. If you have any questions about your order possibly requiring handpacking, please contact us.
Q: What is disc replication? back to top
A: Replication is the manufacture of an optical disc (CD-Audio, CD-Rom, or DVD). This term is generally used when referring to large-scale press runs where data is "stamped" onto the disc.
Q: What is disc duplication? back to top
A: Duplication is the copying of data onto recordable media (such as a CD-R). This term is generally used when referring to small-run CD projects where data is "burned" onto the disc. The difference between "burning" and "stamping" is that stamping is done on large industrial machinery and burning is a process that can be done on differing scales from your personal computer to larger, custom CD-R burning units.
Q: Do I need a barcode? Can Imprint supply me with one? back to top
A: A barcode, also commonly referred to as a UPC code, is essential if you're planning to sell your CD's to distributors or direct to stores. In certain instances we can supply a unique barcode for a fee of $25 per title/catalog number. From there, your barcode can either be dropped into the scheme of your layout or temporarily applied to the disc via two methods: a topspine or a barcode sticker.
A topspine is an adhesive strip placed over the top of the jewel case that makes your product more visible in stores. It generally features the band name, title of record, catalog number, and barcode. It is a disposable, relatively inexpensive option and is used by many of our clients who are aesthetically opposed to using an barcode in their artwork.
The barcode sticker is simply your unique barcode printed on a small sticker that is then placed on the overwrap or jewelcase itself for retail purposes. It is also disposable and somewhat inexpensive.
Q: What is the difference between process and spot colors? back to top
A: Process colors are the colors needed for 4-color process printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black... commonly referred to as CMYK). This is a standard printing method employed by printers worldwide to simulate color photographs or illustrations.
Spot color printing is a technique in which solid ink is applied to a printing surface (as opposed to the CMYK patterned dot method). This is used on projects where special inks (like metallics) are part of the color scheme and in circumstances where pure and complete ink coverage is called for.
Q: What is a PMS fee? back to top
A: A PMS (Pantone Matching System) set up fee applies anytime your printwork/layout uses spot color as opposed to process CMYK or in addition to CMYK. This applies to metallic ink as well. This fee is an industry-wide practice and is in place simply because spot colors customize your job (we have to set up an additional station to facilitate each spot color). NOTE: There is no PMS fee for the actual CD face. This is because it is standard to screen the colors directly onto the disc itself. The manner in which CD faces are printed differs entirely from the way we print your booklets and traycards.
Q: How are my completed CD's, posters, 7 inch covers, etc. shipped? back to top
A: We ship via UPS ground, unless otherwise specified. We do not ship to PO boxes, so please be sure to provide a street address when placing orders.
Q: What is dropshipping? back to top
A: Dropshipping is simply sending various quantities of your order to different locations (distributors, software fulfillment centers, band members, tour venues, etc.). This is done to meet deadlines, ship dates and so on.
Q: What does 1/1 (1 over 1), 4/4 (4 over 4), etc. mean? back to top
A: 1 over 1 means 1 color of ink is printed on one side of a sheet of paper and 1 color of ink is printed on the other side of a sheet of paper. For example, a full color cd booklet and tray card with 1 color printing on the inside of the booklet would be referred to as 4 over 1 printing, or 4/1 for short. If you have a 2 color 7 inch cover with printing on the front and back cover, but nothing on the inside, that would be referred to as 2/0 printing. Got it?
Q: What is glass mastering? back to top
A: Once you supply us with a CD-R master or an approved Proof Positive Reference CD, glass mastering is the first step toward the replication of your compact discs. In this stage, premastered data or audio (including PQ subcode, DDP and disc Table of Contents) is transferred via a Laser Beam Recorder (LBR) to a glass substrate over an extremely thin layer of photoresist (i.e. film) on the surface. The LBR copies your information onto the glass by exposing small portions of the film. These exposed surfaces on the film represent data bits which are easily read by your CD player. When the glass master is completed, it is run through an electroforming process where a more durable representation of your data is created (the stamper) which goes on to press the pits which represent your data or audio into molten polycarbonate (i.e., your CD).
Q: What is a matrix number, and do I need to have one? back to top
A: A matrix number (also referred to as "release number" or "catalog number") is simply an identification number used by retailers, distributors, and pressing plants to more efficiently classify your project. The number generally consists of a combination of up to seven letters and numbers. This combination is generally picked by you and based on any combination of letters or numbers. The most common format for a catalog number would be to take three letters from the record label or artist name and follow it with numbers indicating which release this title is on the label. For example, the 81st release on No Idea records would bear the catalog number NIR-081. Not only does this help out your retailers, but it also helps us keep all of your parts in order, as all of our computer and inventory records are based off of the catalog number. In short, it's a great idea to have your catalog number figured out ahead of time and to have it appear on all parts you are supplying to us. Of course if you do not supply us with a catalog number, we will assign one upon receipt of project materials and press on.
Q: What computer applications can I use to submit my artwork? back to top
A: We accept files compliant with most major page layout, illustration, and image editing applications. These are our preferred formats:
Page Layout Applications:
- Adobe InDesign 1.0 and up (preferred)
- Quark XPress 3.31 and up (if you must)
- Adobe PageMaker 6.0 and up (wow, PageMaker is old)
Image File Types and Application:
- Adobe Photoshop
- TIFF (preferred file type)
- Photoshop EPS with 8-bit TIFF preview
Vector Art File Type and Application:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Illustrator EPS with 8-bit TIFF preview
Portable Document Format (PDF):
- Press Optimized PDF files are happily accepted. Please ensure the source files used for creating the PDF are to proper specification (resolution, size, etc.).
If you are using files within applications other than those specified here, please contact us to discuss these matters in detail. We do not accept Microsoft Publisher or graphics embedded in Microsoft Word.
Attention Windows users! We only accept flattened tiffs or eps files with fonts outlined... we cannot accept Pagemaker or Quark files from Windows computers. Please call with any questions.
Templates are available for download at here.
Q: What is the process of making booklets and traycards? back to top
A: In order to make your booklets and traycards, our printing press requires plates generated from your artwork. A special printer commonly referred to as an image setter (or plate setter) is used to create these plates, which are in turn used on the offset printing press to transfer ink to the paper at high speeds. To make color booklets, the printing press uses four ink colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK. By varying the percentage of each of these four colors, you can achieve the effect of any color desired.
NOTE: Any color photographs or images within your layout must be converted to CMYK in order to create color booklets. Please make sure that you do this because a common mistake is to save your images according to the computer as default RGB setting.
Every color design in CMYK requires four plates, one for each color. Designs that are black and white (grayscale) only need one plate. Please note that it is acceptable and perfectly feasible to combine color panels with black and white panels.
Many professional graphic artists prefer some of their layouts to be printed with spot colors to create a special look or effect they are trying to achieve, the most common being a metallic spot color (an effect that cannot be realized through traditional CMYK layering). We can print any given number of spot colors, but keep in mind that you will incur PMS set up fees to cover this custom service.
Finally, when designing folders or booklets, you need to use printer's spreads. This means that we need your layout to be set up in the same manner that we will print and bind the job. For instance, a four page booklet will have two printer spreads: the outside of the booklet having the cover (pg. 1) on the right and the back cover (pg. 4) on the left. The inside spread will contain pg. 2 on the left and pg. 3 on the right. The same is true for all other folders or booklets.
Q: What do you need to print on the CD label? back to top
A: We need digital artwork designed using one of our templates.
The cost of replication with Imprint includes up to three (3) Pantone colors on the disc label. If you require full color print (CMYK) on your CD label there will be an additional charge of 5 cents per disc.
Art printed on a metal disc background will appear different than art printed on a white disc background. Please take this into considertaion when preparing your artwork for print. A white background is no additional charge if it's one of the included three (3) disc face colors. If your artwork uses three (3) Pantone spot colors, and requires a white base, there will be an additional charge of 5 cents per disc.
Q: How are the plates made? back to top
A: Your digital files are "printed" directly to an image setter (in our case a Mitsubishi DPX 420 plate setter). The plates are then hung on the press, and your job is printed... this is sometimes referred to as "hang and bang".
Q: Does Imprint accept films? back to top
A: Imprint no longer accepts films. Since Imprint now goes direct to plate (for all paper printing), we can no longer accept films. For CD face printing, we can accept films, but if you are getting your complete CD package through us, face films are free anyway, so why bother?
Q: What is the Pantone Matching System? back to top
A: Pantone Matching System, or PMS, is a universal color numbering system used by printers everywhere to duplicate any color you desire. To see a color and its corresponding PMS number, you can go to a film house or copy center and reference their PMS color wheel chart. Only this color swatch book or look-up table will give you an accurate PMS color; DON'T RELY ON YOUR COMPUTER MONITOR. Unless your computer screen has been professionally calibrated, the color you see on the screen will be much different that what is output to film and paper. Note that a letter will follow the PMS number (such as PMS486c). If you are printing on a coated stock, choose the color with the suffix "c" at the end. If you are using a dull or unfinished stock, choose the letter "u".
Q: How are CD labels printed? back to top
A: Most CD labels are printed using PMS spot colors, though full color (CMYK) disc labels are becoming more common.
Imprint now goes direct to plate on CD label artwork. Your submitted artwork is sent to a RIP (Raster Image Processor) and color separated before plates are output, and the disc is printed.
Some notes regarding CD label printing:
Art printed on a metal disc background will appear different than art printed on a white disc background. Please take this into considertaion when preparing your artwork for print. A white background is no additional charge if it's one of the included three (3) disc face colors. If your artwork uses three (3) Pantone spot colors, and requires a white base, there will be an additional charge of 5 cents per disc.
Q: What do I need to know about working with color? back to top
A: When working with color, you MUST be sure to use CMYK process color. Computer screens and most scanners operate in RGB (red, green, and blue) mode, so you must make sure that all of your pictures and images are in CMYK mode. This is important because anytime you import an RGB picture into a publishing program, your colors may wash out when it comes time to make the film (even if the image appears as it should on the monitor).
Q: What are crop marks? back to top
A: Due to layout requirements such as bleeds, the plate for your layout will always be larger than the actual image. Thus, it is important that the printer knows exactly where the boundaries are for each panel of your print. This is where crop marks come in. Crop marks are a tool that shows us exactly where to cut your print. Be sure to follow all of our specs and double check that the crop marks are .75 mm thick and colored in 100% cyan, 100% magenta, 100% yellow, and 100% black (also known as Registration color).
Q: What are registration marks? back to top
A: Since there are four process colors that make up each color image, there are four film negatives generated to represent each process color. The printer has to line these four negatives up perfectly to avoid such things as moray patterns and other problems that may surface during printing. When the colors all stack directly on top of each other, you will achieve the perfect color balance. Registration marks are used to accomplish this task. They are simply circles located in the same place on each piece of film that are colored in 100% values of each of the four colors. These marks are usually 1/8" diameter and placed within 1/2" of the artwork and should be in registration color.
Q: What is bleed? back to top
A: To prevent white gaps at the edge of your print once when your print is cut down to size, we require that any images on the edge of the page extend 1/8" past the crop lines.
Q: What are perforation marks? back to top
A: Perforation marks are dotted lines placed .25" in from the tray card's left and right edges. This is where the printer will score the sides of your tray card in order to fold up the spine for insertion into the jewel case.
Q: What is the safety margin? back to top
A: The safety margin is a concept put into place to prevent trimming of essential elements to your layout (such as text). We require that your type and any other important non-bleed element be 1/8" inside the crop marks. This way, if the cutter is slightly off, your type or images won't end up on the cutting room floor.
Q: How do I ensure that my scanned images will look their best? back to top
A: There are a few key guidelines that you must follow to ensure the quality of your scans:
- All CMYK/Grayscale/etc. scans must be made at the very least 300 pixels per inch at actual print size.
- Do not scan at a smaller size and then stretch the photo in the page layout software.
- Do not scan at a low resolution and then increase resolution in Photoshop.
- If you have an image editor, such as Adobe Photoshop, you must convert your scans to CMYK color mode before using them.
- Save your scans as .TIF or .EPS files. Do not use .BMP, .JPG, or .GIF files as they can degrade the quality and do not allow you to save in CMYK mode. If you use .EPS files, please make sure that you save the image with an 8-bit TIF preview.
- If you are scanning bitmap line art, scan your image in at 1200 pixels/inch and save it as a TIF file. This will give you a smoother image to work with.
Q: How can I send my files in? back to top
A: Since layout files tend to be large, we recommend any of the following storage mediums: CD or DVD. If you have a high speed internet connection, or are quite patient, you can also upload your files using our file upload page. FTP is the most popular means for uploading files to us, see the file upload page for more information.
NOTE: We do not return media unless you supply us with a self addressed stamped envelope with specific instructions to return your disk(s). All artwork is archived on DVD for internal use only. If, at some point, you need your digital art returned to you, there will be a $25 charge to pull files from the archive. It is recommended that you keep a copy of all your digital artwork yourself, since we are not resonsible or liable for your artwork after sucessful completion of your print/replication.
Q: What if I convert all my type to paths or curves? back to top
A: If you are working in Adobe Illustrator, you can outline your type by choosing the type menu and selecting "Create Outlines". It's important to carefully proof your artwork before creating outlines, since once the type is oulined it is no longer editable. Also, to be safe, it's best to keep an "un-outlinted" version of the file in case of changes.
Q: Do I have to send my scans if they are embedded in the layout program? back to top
A: Yes, we will need your scans because if we need to do any editing on the scans, we will need to access the individual TIFF's or EPS's. Each program handles embedding differently, but regardless of whether the images are embedded or not, we need the graphic files.
Q: What if my spot color artwork requires trapping? back to top
A: Trapping must be done by the designer, we do not do custom trapping for spot color artwork.
Q: Could you provide me with a final checklist? back to top
A: When you are ready to send in your project, please make sure that you have included all of the following:
- your layout files
- your fonts (both the printer and screen fonts)
- your images (TIFF's & EPS's)
- hardcopies of every file with color proofs for color files and separations (if you are sending your artwork in on a disc via UPS, FedEx, USPS. Not necessary if you are uploading your artwork.)
- a listing of the files on your disk
- any special instructions you may have Here are a few more quick tips... Read these and take note... They're helpful...:
- If you are using reversed type in your design, avoid using type smaller than 7 pt., since the type can fill in when the type is so small. This is especially true with uncoated paper, since uncoated stock absorbs the ink more than a standard coated sheet.
- Composites and separations... when printing out proofs it is enormously helpful if you also print separations (CMYK or spot). Separations can help pinpoint any problems your layout may incur before plates are output. Adobe InDesign also has a very helpful funcation called "Separation Preview", check it out... it's the best thing since sliced cheese.
- Do not use the menu style function for your type. This will often revert your type back to PLAIN upon output. Only use the specific font you have selected (e.g.: HelveticaItalic, FuturaBold.)
- Avoid using True Type fonts. They are not Postscript Compatible and often fail upon output. We CANNOT accept Windows fonts... Sorry.
- When using your own templates, make sure all crop, registration, and perforation marks are in Registration Color Mode (100% cyan, 100% magenta, 100% yellow and 100% black.)
- The limit for acceptable ink coverage is 300% total ink density. Make sure none of your files or colors created in your layout application have TID of more than 300%.
- Do not use LZW compression when saving your TIFF files.
- If you are ever in doubt, feel free to call us with any problems you might be having. |
