We prefer hi-res PDF but we can accept Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop files. We will also accept Microsoft Word, Publisher, Excel and Powerpoint documents although these files are not normally good for full colour printing and are unpredictable. They are normally in an RGB colour format which is great for viewing on screen but not good for printing.

We can often convert them to the correct cmyk format but your colours will change, looking dirty or dark. Fonts can be slightly different from one PC to another and can throw out the formatting or may substitute to a default font with undesirable results. However, we can usually use these files without problems for general photocopying or digital colour printing – if you can, please PDF them, making sure you embed the fonts.

Printed colours are often different to what you see on screen – for example a very bright lime green may turn into a dark forest green. We will check your file to see if it is usable and contact you if you need to have it re-designed. Allow extra time if supplying in these formats.

This is also called process printing and uses four colours to reproduce all the different colours and shades that you might see on a printed page. The colours are referred to as CMYK – cyan, magenta, yellow and black. If possible, we ask you to set up your artwork/images in this format so that they will print correctly and you will avoid undesirable results.

The technology of design, layout and printing has come a long way to the point where much of the work is done in a WSYWIG (What You See Is What You Get) digital environment. However, there are sometimes noticeable differences in colour calibration and spatial conformity from monitor to monitor and consequently from screen to print. The process for minimising any variance begins with adjusting your monitor for optimal color and clarity according to the manufacturer’s recommendations as outlined within its product manual or website. Doing this will alleviate a number of potential issues.

Beyond that, for the greatest conformity in colour from screen to print, there are tools available that will ensure exact colour calibration. Perhaps you have already invested in such a tool. If so, let us know what you use and we’ll work with you to achieve the best results. If you are considering investing in a colour calibration tool, talk to us first and we’ll be happy to offer our advice.

‘Camera ready’ means that an image file submitted for printing is ready to be transferred to the printing plates without any alterations.

Colour separation is the process of separating a coloured graphic or photograph into its primary colour components in preparation for printed reproduction. For example, to print a full colour photo with an offset printing press, we would create four separate printing plates. Each plate accounting for one of the four basic printing inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) needed to reproduce the image.

As the paper is fed through the press, each single-color plate puts onto the paper the exact amount of ink needed at exactly the right spot. As the different coloured wet inks are applied, they blend together to create the rich and infinite pallet of complex colours needed to reproduce the original image.

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

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

This is the weight of the paper, the higher the number the heavier or thicker the stock. For example, 80 gsm is often used for photocopying. 90-100 gsm is used for letterhead and with compliment slips. 150-170 gsm is a good weight for leaflets and brochures. 200 gsm and above is referred to as card or board rather than paper.

Uncoated stock paper is comparatively porous and inexpensive, and is typically used for such applications as newspaper print and basic black-and-white copying. Coated stock, by contrast, is made of higher quality paper having a smooth glossy finish that works well for reproducing sharp text and vivid colours. However, it tends to be more expensive.

Some of the common methods of binding books and other multi-page documents include:

Perfect binding: Gluing the outside edges of the pages together to create a flat edge.

Saddle-stitch binding: Using staples along the folds of the pages to bind them together.

Spiral binding: Wires in a spiral form threaded through punched holes along the binding edge of the papers. Allows the document to lay open flat.

Plastic comb binding: Similar to spiral binding but using a tubular plastic piece with teeth that fit through rectangular holes punched into the binding edge.

Three-ring binding: Holes are punched into the pages and fitted into a binder.

Case binding: Sewing the pages together and then attaching them to a hard cover.