FAQs AND TIPS . . .
What is the difference between Matte and Gloss Paper Stock?
What is the difference between Offset and Coated (Matte or Gloss) Paper Stock?
What is the difference between Cover Stock and Body Stock?
What is the difference between Body Stock and Text Stock?
What does the # in 70# or 80# paper mean?
What is the difference between 70# and 80# of the same type text paper?
Does weight of the paper stock effect durability and quality?
What are the advantages of full color printing?
What is the difference between File Upload and File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?
What is the best File Transfer option?
How can I reach someone for questions or instructions?
Why doesn’t my file transfer to The Print Spot?
Can I make changes to my document prior to it being printed?
When can I call The Print Spot for help?
How long will it take for an e-mail reply to an inquiry?
Does the Turnaround Time include Shipping Time?
What kind of electronic file format does The Print Spot recommend?
Do my graphics need to be a certain resolution to ensure quality output?
Why doesn’t the color on my printed materials match the color on my computer screen?
Can you do 4 color separations from Microsoft PowerPoint, Publisher and Word?
For further info regarding printing terminology, refer to our GLOSSARY
What is the difference between Matte and Gloss Paper Stock?
Matte stock is a coated paper that has a dull finish. It is often used to make pages easier to read that are text intensive or that contain numerical charts. Gloss stock is a coated paper with a shiny or highly reflective finish. It is most often used in 4-color printing to help full color photographs, images and graphics appear more vivid, real and appealing.
What is the difference between Offset and Coated (Matte or Gloss) Paper Stock?
Offset stock is uncoated paper which is most commonly used for 1-color pages in books, reports, letters and business forms. Offset stock is usually less expensive than coated stocks which are described in 1. above.
What is the difference between Cover Stock and Body Stock?
Cover stock is the outside page and is thicker than body stock. Body stock is the inside pages and is less thick than cover stock.
What is the difference between Body Stock and Text Stock?
Nothing, body and text stock both mean the inside pages of a book or catalog.
What does the # in 70# or 80# paper mean?
It is the basis weight in pounds of a text stock type or the weight of a ream (500 sheets) of 25” x 38” sheets. For a cover stock type, it’s a ream of 20” x 26” sheets. With that in mind you now know the reason that 100# cover is heavier and thicker than 100# text stock.
What is the difference between 70# and 80# of the same type text paper?
The difference between 70# and 80# is the weight and thickness of each sheet of paper. The 80# would be slightly thicker and heavier than 70#. See question 6 above for further detail.
Does weight of the paper stock effect durability and quality?
Yes, but only within the same type. For instance, let’s assume you chose 70 # vs. 50# offset text stock for a newsletter. The 70# stock would be more durable over time and result in less show through of the printed image from on side of a sheet to the other. However, let’s assume you choose 70# gloss text vs. 70# offset for your newsletter. The gloss stock would be more durable and result in greater ink holdout and glossier images than the uncoated offset stock.
What are the advantages of full color printing?
The highest quality and most appealing print publications are printed in full color using the 4-color (CMYK or Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black) digital or traditional offset printing process. In contrast, computer monitors use a different color model called RGB (Red-Blue-Green). The result is often a difference between what we see on the screen and what we see in a printed piece. Studies have shown that full color increases readership and that there is over a 60 % increase in retention with full color versus black and white. Pick from an almost endless pallet of colors to create your next high quality, impact document in full living color.
What is the difference between File Upload and File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?
File upload is transfer files via our web site, File Transfer Protocol or FTP will allow you to transfer larger files via our FTP site, using an FTP client such as CuteFTP, WSFTP, FTP Voyager or one of many other available choices.
What is the best File Transfer option?
It depends; all of them have their bright spots. File upload can be done right on the web site and will allow you to quickly send files over the Internet. E-mail will allow you to attach files and send quickly through the e-mail servers. Both File upload and e-mail can have restrictions in the size of the files being sent over the Internet. FTP or File Transfer Protocol, can handle very large files, and is very stable when transferring. The easiest option for sending larger files is to use an FTP replacement site such as YouSendIt.com which allows you to upload your files for free without the hassle of logging into an FTP server. Depending on the size of your files you should choose the option that you are most comfortable with.
How can I reach someone for questions or instructions?
The Print Spot wants to answer any questions you might have. Call us, e-mail us or fax us. We will answer your inquiry quickly. Learn how to reach us at the Contact Us page.
Why doesn’t my file transfer to The Print Spot?
Sometimes files are too large for certain types of file transfers. If your file takes a very long time to transfer, you probably need to use FTP to exchange the files. FTP is very stable and quick at sending large files over the Internet. If you are not familiar with using FTP, try YouSendIt.com which allows you to upload your files for free and comes with easy step by step instructions.
Can I make changes to my document prior to it being printed?
Yes, but you must approve a new proof before we begin printing. If changes are needed that you request us to make, you must also approve the related charges before we proceed.
When can I call The Print Spot for help?
The Print Spot’s customer service representatives are available from 9:00 am to 6:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time) M-F. You may e-mail or fax us at any time.
How long will it take for an e-mail reply to an inquiry?
We consider customer questions a top priority so we try to answer questions within three hours during the business day. If you require an immediate response, please call us.
Does the Turnaround Time include Shipping Time?
No, the Turnaround Time is how long it will take The Print Spot to complete your project. This is the time from final proof approval to when the job is ready for pick-up or shipment.
What kind of electronic file format does The Print Spot recommend?
We can accept many different formats, but your original application files are the easiest to deal with followed by a PDF.
The native application file formats that we currently support are:
PC Applications:
Microsoft Office
Freehand
Pagemaker
QuarkExpress
Illustrator
Photoshop
Microsoft Publisher
MAC Applications:
Microsoft Office
InDesign
Freehand
Illustrator
QuarkExpress
Photoshop
Microsoft Publisher
Do my graphics need to be a certain resolution to ensure quality output?
Yes, 400 dpi at the final printed size for film output and 300 dpi at the final printed size for digital printing.
Why doesn’t the color on my printed materials match the color on my computer screen?
There are many factors involved when viewing color. Viewing accurate color on a computer monitor requires careful monitor calibration. Also, monitors create color using RGB light. Printing creates color using CMYK color pigments. These two processes are very different and will not yield an identical color match.
Should my graphics be saved in CMYK or RGB color mode?
For film output, the CMYK color space is required. For digital printing, either CMYK or RGB is fine, however, it is best to be consistent with your selected color mode throughout each print job.
Can you do 4 color separations from Microsoft PowerPoint, Publisher and Word?
Yes, however these programs are not designed to do so. Expectations should be set at “pleasing color” rather that “accurate color”. If you are looking for an exact color match, it is best to use professional layout programs such as Quark Express, InDesign or PageMaker.
Glossary - Some Common Terms Defined
If you are new to the “mysteries of printing”, you may find some of these definitions helpful.
Acrobat - A program developed by Adobe Systems, Inc. for creating, editing, distributing, and viewing Portable Document Format files, also known as “PDF’s”.
Bitmap Image - A type of image file format that uses a grid of pixels to create shapes. Bitmap images, sometimes called raster images, consist of a fixed number of individually editable pixels. Photographs and screen captures are usually bitmap images. Popular bitmap file formats include GIF, JPEG, and TIFF.
Clipping Path - In computer graphics and imaging, a curve or polygon that defines the boundary of an image. Only the portion of the image that is enclosed within the clipping path will be visible when the item is printed or displayed. Clipping paths can be created in a program such as Photoshop; the Pen tool is used to draw the path around the object in questions, and the image must then be saved out as an EPS file.
Compression (scheme) - an algorithm that significantly reduces file sizes by removing redundant data. Common compression schemes include JPEG, LZW, and RLE.
Digital Proof - Refers to proofs made directly from digital data. NOT analog film.
DPI - an abbreviation for dots per inch. Refers to the resolution at which a device, such as a monitor or printer, can display text and graphics.
Electronic Publication - a document that is distributed by computer rather than on paper. Electronic publications can usually be printed as well, but they are primarily intended to be read on-screen, searched, and saved for future access.
Font - One style, weight, and width of a typeface. An example is Times Roman Bold Extended. Times is a typeface family; Roman is a style; Bold is a weight; Extended is a width. The terms font and typeface are to be used interchangeably.
FTP Site (File Transfer Protocol) - FTP is a communications protocol that lets people and companies make files available for transfer from their computer to your computer.
Imposition - The arrangement of pages for printing on a large sheet in such a way that they appear in order when the sheet is folded.
PDF (Portable Document Format) - A file format designed for cross-platform document creation and distribution. An electronic snapshot of a document, which may be printed or displayed on-screen, saved in a compressed PostScript format. PDF files can simply mimic print documents or provide interactivity through links and dynamic media.
PostScript - A page description language invented by Adobe Systems, Inc., that consists of software commands which, when translated through the raster image processor (RIP) forms the desired image on an output device, such as a laser printer or image setter.
Preflight - A check to a digital file before output that involves ensuring that images and other color usage are in the correct color space for the target output device, that all images are at a suitable resolution and image size, that all fonts are present and accounted for and any other problems that may prevent consistent or quality output are identified.
Resolution - The number of pixels per inch in an image. The more pixels, the finer the image and the more realistic it appears. When an image is scanned, a certain number of pixels per inch are captured. From this original capture, the image may be displayed at different resolutions according to how many pixels the monitor can display. When an image is printed, the resolution is controlled by how many dots per inch the printer is capable of printing.
Soft Proof (monitor proof) - The ability to generate a file from the customer’s ripped page, that is viewable on a monitor. This allows operators to check the file against supplier laser proofs for content, type flow and correct trapping. It can also be a PDF file, generated from the ripped file and sent to the customer to view at their site before any materials are used.
Definitions obtained from The GATF Encyclopedia of Graphic Communications Yearbook, the Adobe Print Publishing Guide and The Adobe Electronic Publishing Guide.
