1814 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-241-0300
Fax: 314-241-6032
FAQs / Tips / Terms
FAQs
Can I send files in Microsoft Word?
Programs like Word and Excel may allow you to layout a professional-looking flyer or brochure, they are not professional print applications. If you must send Word files we will try to work with them, but we can not guarantee the results. If possible, saving the page as a PDF and sending that to us is the best option.
What does 4/4 mean?
4/4 means four-color printing on both sides. Almost all color printing is accomplished by using percentages of the four printing colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. A piece printed in four colors could include photographs and graphics.
Do you do digital printing?
Yes, we do. Digital printing is a great alternative for small jobs that require a low quantity, usually from 1 to 500 pieces. We can produce flyers, postcards and small brochures digitally.
What does bleed mean?
A bleed is an area where an image or color goes right to the edge of the piece. In your design any area that bleeds MUST extend at least 1/8 of an inch beyond the page edge.
Tips
Make sure that all required files (fonts, images, artwork) are on your disk.
For four color process jobs, be sure that all photos and artwork are saved as CMYK.
Print a proof of the job FROM THE DISK that you are sending to us. It helps us to know what to expect when we process your files. And if the files don’t print correctly for you, chances are that they won’t print correctly for us.
Make sure that any areas that are intended to bleed extend past the edge of the page.
If you are sending PDFs, make sure that they are print quality PDFs.
If your piece folds, be sure to check with your account representative as to how the document should be created. A panel that folds into another will often need to be slightly short to allow the piece to fold correctly.
Remove any unnecessary type or images from your document. Leaving unnecessary information in your files can lead to confusion and mistakes.
Make sure that all supplied files have the correct extension (.eps for EPS files, etc.). Do not use symbols like : ; # & in the name of your files as this can cause problems for some servers.
If your piece requires any special processes (spot varnish, die cutting or embossing for example) make sure to contact your account representative BEFORE you send us the files so we can let you know how to create the files.
Terms
Binding
The fastening of papers to create a brochure or book. The most common binding styles are saddle-stitch, perfectbound, side-stitched, case or edition, and mechanical.
Bleed
A printed color or image that extends past the trimmed edges of a page, usually an 1/8th inch.
Clipping path
A vector-based outline used to "clip" or silhouette an image from its surroundings so only the desired part will print.
Creep
The phenomenon of the middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond the
outside pages.
Crop
The blocking out of unwanted parts of an image to fit a layout space or deleting portions that are
not relevant.
Crossover
An image or type that continues across a spread of a brochure, book or magazine to another page.
CMYK
Acronym for the ink colors used in four-color process printing. The letters stand for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black). Also called process colors.
DPI (Dots-per-inch)
In offset printing, the number of dots that fit horizontally and vertically into a one-inch measure. Generally, the higher the dpi, the sharper the printed image.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
File format for images or graphics.
Finish
The surface characteristics of paper - such as gloss, matte, silk, velvet, satin, and dull. Finishing Post-press operations, including trimming, scoring, folding and binding.
Font
A typeface family that includes all letters and numbers in the same style.
Form
Pages of a book or brochure that are printed on the same sheet of paper as it passes through the press. Once the sheet is folded and trimmed, the form becomes a "signature."
Four-color process
Method of printing using cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) inks to simulate full-color images. Also called full-color printing and process printing.
FPO (For position only)
Usually a low-resolution image (72 or 100 dpi) file used only to indicate placement and size. It is meant to be replaced by a high-resolution image before printing.
Hard copy
A paper printout at 100% size of digital files. It is usually output on a desktop laser or inkjet printer.
Hi-res
High-resolution image, usually 300 to 350 dpi.
Knockout
An area of background color that has been masked out (knocked out) by a foreground object and therefore does not print.
Low-res
Low-resolution image, such as 72 or 100 dpi.
Mark-up
Instructions written on a hard-copy printout.
Match color
A custom-blended ink color that matches a specified color in a color system such as Pantone ®, Toyo® or TruMatch®. It is not built from a combination of CMYK.
Overprint
Printing one ink over another, such as printing type over a screen tint.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
Adobe ® Systems file format to facilitate cross-platform viewing of documents in their original form.
Prepress
RIPing files, platemaking, and other work performed by the printer, separator or service bureau in preparation for printing.
Proof
Print made from digital files to check for errors and flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.
RGB Red, green and blue
the additive primaries used in monitors. They are not printing colors.
RIP (Raster Image Processor)
This device is designed to interpret PostScript files and create a document suitable for printing.
Source File
The original graphic file.
Spot Color or Varnish
Specific color or varnish that is applied only to portions of a sheet.
TIF or TIFF (Tagged Image File format)
Raster file format used for image placement in page layout programs. TIFs can sometimes be tinted and modified in a page layout program where EPS images cannot.
Trim size
The size of the printed piece in its finished form.
UV coating
Liquid applied to a coated sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light. UV Coating created an extremely glossy look.
Vector graphics
Graphics that use mathematical calculations to describe lines and curves. Illustrator ® is the most common vector program.