Every job is different. Some jobs can be produced in days, some take weeks. We go to great lengths to meet even your most demanding timelines.

The differences between the colors you see on your monitor and what you see in print can be subtle or substantial. Digital displays and printing use different primary colors to display the full color spectrum and monitors need to be color-calibrated to display colors as accurately as possible. Digital displays use RGB light (red, green, blue) and color printing uses CMYK inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Inks are also available in solid colors. Those are call spot-colors. While printing in full color can often represent spot color inks, the match is rarely exact. If you have specific color requirements, please let us know in advance, so we can do the best job for you.

A proof is a one-off copy, usually digital, of your printed document used for visual inspection to ensure that the spelling, layout and colors of your document are exactly how you want them. A proof is made prior to sending the document to the press for final printing.

Typically, we will send a proof in pdf format for your inspection. If you have more specific color requirements, we can mail you a hard proof. For demanding color requirements or for larger jobs, press proofs can be made at additional expense.

Your approval on the final proof is the best assurance you have that every aspect of our work and your own is correct, and that everything reads and appears the way you intended. Mistakes can and sometimes do happen. It benefits everyone if errors are caught in the proofing process rather than after the job is completed and delivered.

The basis weight of a given grade of paper is defined as the weight (in pounds) of 500 standard-sized sheets of that paper. With that in mind, here are different examples of paper grades and their respective basis weights:

Bond: Most commonly used for letterhead, business forms and copying. Typical basis weights are16# for forms, 20# for copying and 24# for stationery.

Text: A high-quality grade paper with a lot of surface texture. Basis weights range from 60# to 100# with the most common being 70# or 80#.

Uncoated Book: The most common grade for offset printing. Typically 50# to 70#.

Coated Book: Has a glossy finish that yields vivid colors and overall excellent reproduction. Basis weights range from 30# to 70# for web press, and 60# to 110# for sheet press. Coatings are usually applied to coated book to give a truly glossy finish after printing.

Cover: Used in creating business cards, postcards and book covers. Can be either coated or uncoated. Basis weights for this grade are 60#, 65#, 80# or 100#.

Uncoated stock paper is comparatively porous and inexpensive. It is typically used for such applications as newspaper print and basic copying. Coated stock, by contrast, is made of higher quality paper and has an enamel coating to give a smooth glossy finish that works well for reproducing sharp text and vivid colors.

Commonly called “press ready” means that a file submitted for printing is ready to be transferred to the printing plates without any alterations.

Color separation is the process of separating a colored graphic or photograph into its primary color components in preparation for reproduction. For example, to print a full color photo with an offset printing press, we would create four separate printing plates for each of the four primary printing inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) needed to reproduce the image.

Halftone printing converts shades of color into a pattern of different size dots that simulate continuous shading. When examining the page closely, you will see a series of dots spaced slightly apart. At a normal viewing distance, however, the spacing between dots becomes essentially invisible to the eye and what you see is a continuous tone.

Pantone colors refer to the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a color matching system used by the printing industry whereby printing colors are identified by a unique name or number (as opposed to a name or visual reference). This helps make sure that colors turn out the same from system to system and print run to print run.

No. White is not generally considered a printing color as typically the paper itself will be white. If a colored paper (something other than white) is chosen, then white becomes a printing color if any text or graphics require it.

Standard sizes for catalogs and booklets are 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, 8 1/2″ x 11″,and 11″ x 17″.

Common brochure sizes are 8 1/2″ x 11″, 8 1/2″ x14″ and 11″ x17″.

Business envelope sizes are referenced by a number such as #9 or #10. The chart below indicates the most common sizes in use today:

The address window on a typical business envelope is 4 1/2″ x 1 1/8″.

These are the U.S. Post Office requirements to keep in mind when designing an envelope:

All mail pieces 1/4″ thick or less must be rectangular in shape, at least 3 1/4″ high and at least 5″ long.

Any mail piece less than 4 1/4″ in height must be at least .007″ (7 pt.) thick.

Any mail piece greater than 4 1/4″ in height or 6″ in length must be at least .009″ (9 pt.) thick.

Postcards are found in three common sizes:3 1/2” x 5”, 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″ and 5 ” x 8 1/2″.

• The most common card stocks used for postcards are:
• 100# stock coated on both sides: The most popular postcard stock.
• 100# stock coated on one side: Well suited to mailing.
• 16 pt stock coated on both sides: a premium paper with a high luster finish. Coating on both sides is not allowed for automated mailing services.

Materials for labels and their application include:

• Paper, Uncoated: Use where you need the label to be easily written on by hand or printed on by machine.
• Paper, High Gloss: Use when you need good printability. Keep in mind that it cannot be written on easily by hand.
• Vinyl: Use vinyl for outdoor environments, or if applying a label to a vinyl surface.
• Acetate: Use when the label needs to be transparent.
• Mylar/Polyester: Best for applications where the label needs to be applied to an object with sharp, angular corners.
• Food Grade Labels: Can be waterproof or not and are made with non-toxic materials and glues.