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How To Orderpage A

How to supply press ready artwork:Preparing press-ready artwork for commercial printing can be confusing, especially if this is your first time. Please use this checklist as a guide before uploading your artwork, as it may help you save valuable time and avoid any unnecessary printing delays.

Before submitting your artwork, please check that:

1. Your artwork is the correct size and is exported as single pages, not as spreads (this is for 1up posters or flyers and saddlestitched jobs only)

2. Your artwork has 3mm bleed around all edges.

3. Yur artwork is set using CMYK colours.

4. All rich blacks are set to C = 20%, M = 20%, Y = 20%, K = 100%.

5. All fine black text is set to C=0%, M=0%, Y=0%, K=100% and is set to overprint.

6. All fonts are outlined (converted to curves) or embedded

7. All links are embedded.

8. Ink coverage does not exceed 300% (240% for uncoated stocks).

9. All lines in your artwork are at least 0.3pt and all text should be at least 8pt using a non-narrow, non-ultra light or non-thin style font. Fine fonts do not print as well as on screen.

10. All borders in your artwork are at least 5mm wide.

11. All images in your artwork are 300dpi when placed at 100%.

12. Your artwork is the correct size and contains trim marks

For folded jobs: Artwork should be supplied at the flat size (for example an A3 folded to A4 should be supplied as 2x A3 pages and not as 4x A4 pages). Please check page A for further information.C

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What type of files do you accept?We love PDF press ready files.

You can design in all kinds of programs such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher, however always export with press ready PDFs.

The maximum file size that we accept is 1gb. However, it is quite rare to receive such large files as most correctly prepared artwork is much smaller than this.

Image ResolutionA common printing mistake is to set image resolution too low or too high.

An image with a resolution that is too low will result in inferior image quality, a resolution that is too high will increase overall file size without actually increasing the print quality. We advise all images in your artwork are always set to 300dpi when placed at 100% scale. Ti

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Do you have guideline templates?Yes we certainly do. Please check our website for downloadable resources related to your product you want to order. When using the templates please ensure you read the “Read Me File” first.

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RGB, CMYK & PMS Spot Colours

CMYKCMYK is the standard colour profile for printing. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black inks are combined to create printed coloured images. When all colours are mixed together, a rich black is produced. CMYK colours do not appear as bright as RGB (they are missing the added bonus of a lighted screen).All files are converted to CMYK by our automated pre-press processes. This conversion can slightly change colours as they may appear different from what is seen on screen. We will unfortunately not accept responsibility for the outcome of such files.

RGBRGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the colour profile used for digital screens and devices. Your screen mixes red, green & blue light to produce bright colours you see on your display. Websites, mobile apps, video etc are in RGB.

Spot Colour (PMS)PMS (Pantone Matching System) is used to correctly match materials with their corresponding RGB or CMYK colours.Each Pantone colour has a specific code which different printers and manufacturers can refer to in order to ensure colour consistency.

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Item Flat Printed Size (mm)

Finished Visual Size (mm)

A0 841 x 1189 841 x 1189

A1 594 x 841 594 x 841

A2 420 x 594 420 x 594

A3 297 x 420 297 x 420

A4 210 x 297 210 x 297

A5 148 x 210 148 x 210

A6 105 x 148 105 x 148

A7 74 x 105 74 x 105

DL 99 x 210 99 x 210

Business Cards 90 x 55 90 x 55

Business Cards Rounded Corners 90 x 55 90 x 55

With Compliment Slips 210 x 99 210 x 99

Letterheads (A4) 210 x 297 210 x 297

4pp DL Folded 198 x 210 99 x 210

4pp A6 210 x 148 105 x 148

4pp A5 296 x 210 148 x 210

4pp A4 420 x 297 210 x 297

C4 Envelopes 229 x 324 229 x 324

C5 Envelopes 162 x 229 162 x 229

C6 Envelopes 114 x 162 114 x 162

Pull Up Banners (850 x 2000mm) 850 x 2200 850 x 2000

Pull Up Banners (1000 x 2000) 1000 x 2200 1000 x 2000

CommonSizes

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CommonPosterSizesDiagram

A1

A2A3

A4A5

A6A7

594 x 841mm(23.4 x 33.1in)

420 x 594mm(16.5 x 23.4in)

297 x 420mm(11.7 x 16.5in)

210 x 297mm(8.3 x 11.7in)

148 x 210mm(5.8 x 8.3in)

105 x 148mm(4.1 x 5.8in)

74 x 105mm(2.9 x 4.1in)

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Do I need to include bleed with my artwork?For borderless printing files must have a minimum of 3mm external bleed.

Why do we need bleed?Bleed allows no white edges to occur if small movement occurs during the cutting process.

Bleed

3mm bleed around all edges

Crop / Trim Mark

We’ve got all the ingredients to surprise Mum!

...with love from

Mother’s Day Sunday 11 May

3mm bleed around all edges

Crop / Trim Mark

Crop / Trim Marks These indicate where the artwork will be trimmed

External Bleed Margin All background images, colours, patterns and graphics must continue to the bleed margin.

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ExplainingBlacks

What type of black do you recommend I use in my artwork?We recommend all fine black text/lines are set to: C=0%, M=0%, Y=0%, K=100%. All such text/lines should also be set to overprint.

For a full rich black we recommend you use the combination of: C=20%, M=20%, Y=20%, K=100%. Rich black should only be used for areas 30mm square or larger, excluding text. These areas should not be set to overprint.

Photoshop Default BlackPlease do not use Photoshop Default Black in your artwork (C=75%, M=68%, Y=67%, K=90%). It is fine for web sites/screen presentations; however it is not appropriate for commercial printing.

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What is the minimum line thickness I should use in my artwork?All lines in your artwork should be at least 0.3pt and all text should be at least 8pt using a non narrow, non ultra light and non thin font.

What thickness should my borders be?Please ensure all borders are a minimum of 5mm wide. Due to automated cutting systems there can be a +/- 2mm trimming variance, if borders are too narrow this can result in uneven borders after trimming.

How should the fonts in my artwork be set up?Please ensure all fonts in your artwork are outlined (converted to curves). If this is not possible please ensure all fonts are fully embedded in your artwork.

Font & Line Thickness

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Saddle Stitching

Perfect Binding

Wire Binding

Saddle stitching is a form of binding in which all pages are bound in the center of the booklet from the outside in using wire staples. Saddle stitching is ideally suited to booklets or magazines in the 8 to 48 page range.

When ordering saddle stitched magazines/booklets, it is very important that your artwork is setup correctly. Please supply artwork as single pages with trims and bleed. Our imposition software will automatically place the pages in order. Please place artwork in order from beginning to end (ie. page 1 is the cover and your last page is your back cover).

Perfect binding is a form of booklet making in which all pages are glued along the spine using special adhesive. Perfect binding is ideally suited to large books (from 48 pages to over 300 pages).When supplying artwork for perfect bound books it is very important that the artwork is created correctly. Please see online the downloadable instructions when supplying perfect binded artwork.

Wire Binding is a form of binding in which all pages are punched and bound using wire coils. When ordering wire bound books, it is important to ensure that your artwork is setup correctly. Please supply artwork as single pages with trims and bleed. Our imposition software will automatically place the pages in order. Please place artwork in order from beginning to end (ie. page 1 is the cover and your last page is your back cover).

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Folding InformationWhen creating artwork for folded brochures, it is very important to set the panel orientations and panel widths correctly.

Please note: Always supply artwork as spreads For example, 4pp A4: artwork will be supplied as 420 x 297mm however will be scored down to 210 x 297mm.

A5 Cards Folded in half (4pp A6)

A4 Brochures Roll Folded to DL

A3 Brochures Folded in half (4pp A4)

A4 Brochures Z-Folded to DL

Double DL Brochures Folded to DL

A4 Brochures Folded in half (4pp A5)

FoldingInfo

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Have you ever had a question and either didn’t know where to find the answer or were a little embarrassed to ask? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

As the name of this page suggests, this is a compilation of answers to the questions many of our customers commonly ask.

All of our customer support and service is conducted via email, for conversation tracking purposes. If you cannot find an answer to your questions below, please feel free to ‘Drop Us A Line’ on our Contact Us Page with the details of your query. Our customer service team will assist you as quickly as possible.

• Payment Questions• Ordering Questions• Artwork Upload Questions• Proofing Questions• Delivery Questions• Printing QuestionsFA

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Frequently Asked Questions

What payment methods can I choose from?We accept payment by credit card (VISA and MASTERCARD only).

What happens if my credit card declines?The webpage will show that an error has occurred at the time the user is putting through the transaction. If your card is getting declined make sure the information on the account - or guest account on a B2C - matches the card being used.

Do you keep credit card information on file?We do not store any client credit card information on our sites. These details are transferred directly to the merchant provider over a secure connection at the time an order is checked out, they are not kept in our logfiles. All we can see is a response code from the merchant provider indicating success or failure for a transaction.

Can I set up a payment account?Sorry, this is not possible. We require payment in full when each order is placed.

Do your prices include GST?Our prices always include GST.

Why are your prices so low?We use state of the art machinery and processes, and we run a fully automated file upload/order processing system.

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How do I place an order online?

Please see our “How to Order” Guide on page 25.

How do I place multiple items on the one order?

Once you have added an item to your shopping cart, please click ‘Continue Shopping’ to keep browsing for more products. When you are ready to place your order, please navigate back to your shopping cart and click on ‘Proceed to Checkout’ to begin the checkout process.

How long will my order take?

When you order your product, you will have the opportunity to select the urgency for your product from 24 hour turnaround to 7 day turnaround.

Will I receive an email notification and tax invoice when I place an order?

Yes, when you successfully place an order you will receive an order confirmation/tax invoice email.

Is it possible to re-print a tax invoice?

Yes, you can re-print your tax invoice by following these instructions:

- Click here and log in to your ‘My Account.’ - Locate your order and click on ‘View Details.’- Click on ‘Re-print Tax Invoice’

Is it possible to order a re-print of a previous job?

Yes it is. If you require a re-print of a previous order, please follow these instructions:

- Login & Click “Order History”- Locate the order you would like to re-print and click on ‘View Details.’ - Click ‘Re-print Job’ to place your order.

Can I order a larger quantity or an item not listed on you website?

Please send an email to [email protected]. We can help you!

What happens after I place my order?

On receipt of your order and payment, your artwork will be download and a soft PDF proof will be created for your approval.

If your artwork is incorrect and a soft PDF proof cannot be created you will be notified by email and given instruction on how to re-supply your artwork.

On approval of your soft PDF proof, your order will be sent to print. Please note, approval is final, once approval is received, it is not possible to change your order/artwork/delivery address in any way.

OrderingQuestions

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How & Where do I upload my Artwork?

Uploading artwork is part of our online ordering system.

Please understand that it is not possible to place an order without uploading your artwork unless it is not a print item.

After successfully uploading artwork, you will receive an on screen confirmation of your order.

What files should I upload?

Please upload press ready artwork which is correctly prepared for commercial printing. For help with creating your artwork, please refer to our Artwork Checklist.

Do you accept artwork via email?

We do not accept artwork via email. All artwork must be uploaded through our online ordering system. If you attempt to send us artwork via email, your email and attachment will be rejected from our server.

What is the maximum file size I can upload?

We can accept files up to 1gb in size. This is more than large enough to cater for correctly prepared press ready artwork.

If your artwork/files are bigger than 500mb, we advise you flatten any/all complex vector graphics to reduce the file size.

How many different files can I upload?

If the product is two sided, we need the file to be in one PDF. For example if it is a two sided A4 flyer, both sides of the flyer need to be in the one PDF.

Transparencies in Artwork

In accordance with Adobe recommendations, all artwork must be supplied with all transparencies flattened. Artwork that is supplied un-flattened may cause printing issues.

Artwork Upload Questions

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What is a “proof?”

A soft PDF proof is supplied for every order. The soft PDF proof allows the customer to confirm we are printing the correct file and that the trim marks are in the correct location. Every order must be approved prior to printing.

Will I be sent a soft PDF proof before my order is sent to print?

Yes, a soft PDF proof is always supplied for your approval prior to printing. Printing cannot commence until the proof has been approved.

Can I supply artwork via email?

Sorry, this is not possible. All artwork must be uploaded through our online system. It is not possible to re-supply artwork free of charge

What if I need to make changes after I have approved my proof?

We use a fully automated system and unfortunately it is not possible to change/cancel an order once approval of a proof has been made. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

Do you offer hard copy proofs?

Yes we can, please contact us at [email protected]

Can you amend my artwork for me?

Yes we can. We offer the following pre-press and graphic design services. Please use our contact form online to speak to one of our graphic designers.

Proofing Questions

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What is the cost of delivery?

Cost of delivery depends on location around Australia. Our online freight system will determine the price for you when you type in your address.

Is it possible to change my delivery address?

Once an order is placed it is not possible to change the delivery address. In light of this, please ensure that you take extra care to enter the correct address when placing an order online.

Can I arrange pickup of my order?

Unfortunately it is not possible to pick up your printing.

Can my order be left at my delivery address without a signature?

Yes this is possible. During the order process, on the Billing/Shipping page, under Delivery Conditions there is the option to leave your printing outside or near the front door of the delivery address if no one is available to sign.

My printing was returned to the depot, how do I get it re-delivered?

If you missed your delivery and it was retruned to the depot, there are 2 options available to you:

1. You can call the courier company on 13 23 45, and quote the consignment number shown on the card the driver left. You will then be able to arrange to pick up your order from the appropriate delivery depot.

2. Alternatively, we can arrange the re-delivery of your consignment for you. To order and pay for re-delivery of your consignment please click here

Please note, our ordering process will require you to upload a file to complete you re-delivery order/payment. When you are prompted to upload a file, please upload a text file containing your order number.

On receipt of your order and payment, we will dispatch your printing to the address you have specified.

DeliveryInfo

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Do you print offset or digital?

We are proud to use both multimillion dollar digital as well as offset presses in our production facilities – Our digital presses are not digital photocopiers, but state of the art digital production presses.

The quality of both our offset and digital printing is equal to the glossy magazines found on newsstands. Many instant printers claim to be digital printers by using colour copiers; this is not the case with us.

What is cracking?

Occasionally with magazines/folded jobs there can be a small amount of cracking of the paper along the fold/spine. Paper being made of fiber can naturally crack the printed ink, this is unavoidable. If this is an issue for you we recommend avoiding heavy ink coverage in your design where the folding is to occur.

What paper types/brands do you use?

We use a range of different paper types and paper suppliers. These can change due to price, availability etc. From time to time certain paper or card stocks may be unavailable. We reserve the right to substitute any paper or card with an equivalent type of gsm paper without notice.

Printing Questions

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1-up / singles – When artwork is supplied 1-up it is un-imposed. Each printed page is a separate page within the artwork file. When two pages are supplied on the same page in an artwork file, this is considered as being imposed or 2-up.

1 PMS Colour Printing - For a 1 PMS colour print job artwork must be supplied containing only one PMS colour. The PMS colours must be selected from the Pantone Solid Uncoated range.

2 PMS Colour Printing - For a 2 PMS colour print job artwork must be supplied containing exactly two PMS colours. The PMS colours must be selected from the Pantone Solid Uncoated range.

Bleed – External Bleed is when an illustration, background or image is extended beyond the trim edge of the page. This allows for a small amount of movement that may occur when your order is being cut to size. We require 3mm of external bleed on all files

Bleed Size – This is the size of your artwork including external bleed.

E.g. the size of a DL flyer including 3mm of external bleed is 105 x 216 mm.

Border – A margin/strip around the outer edge of the artwork. We recommend that all borders are a minimum of 5mm wide on all trim edges.

Celloglaze – This is a plastic film heat bonded to printed products such as booklet covers, business cards and postcards. This provides protection, as well as a matt or gloss finish. It can be applied to one side, or both sides of a printed item. Also sometimes referred to as laminate.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) – These are the colours used for full-colour printing.

Cyan, Magenta and Yellow are subtractive colours. If you combine cyan, magenta and yellow on paper, you will get what is perceived to be black. In order to get strong rich dark colours, black (K) ink is added in increasing proportions, as the colour gets darker and darker thus commercial printing is done in CMYK.

Coated Paper - Printing papers that have had a surface clay coating to give a smoother, more even finish with greater opacity. This paper is not recommended for overprinting.

Colour Mode – This is the colour setting used to create your artwork. Depending on the software you are using the default colour mode may be either RGB or CMYK. For full colour printing we require all artwork to be in CMYK colour mode.

Crop Marks – These are the black marks in the corners of your soft proof. These crop marks show where the job will be trimmed to size. Anything outside of the crop marks will be trimmed off.G

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Finish Size – This is the final size that your artwork will be trimmed to, e.g. the finish size of a DL flyer is 99x210mm.

Finishing – Any process that occurs after printing. This includes but is not limited to: trimming, folding, stitching, binding and laminating.

Folding - to bend the paper over itself so that one part of the sheet lies on over another part.

For additional information about folded print jobs please click here.

Greyscale - A range of grey shades from white to black, as used in a monochrome or single colour printing.

Half Fold - A method of folding where the paper is folded in half down the center of the page.


Imposed / Imposition - The arrangement or layout of pages on a printed sheet.

Laminate - This is a plastic film heat bonded to printed products such as booklet covers, business cards and postcards. This provides protection, as well as a matt or gloss finish. It can be applied to one side, or both sides of a printed item. Also sometimes referred to as celloglaze.

Low-resolution Images – If you have been advised that there may be low-resolution images in your artwork, this means that some or all of the images in your artwork are less than 250ppi. We recommend that all images be supplied at 300ppi for optimum print quality.

Perfect Binding – A form of booklet making in which all pages are glued along the spine using special adhesive (all of our perfect bound books are created with PUR adhesive). PUR adhesive offers a distinct performance advantage in comparison to regular glues. For further information in regard to this please click here.

Pixel – The coloured dots that make up the images on a computer or television screen.

PMS (Pantone Matching System) – PMS colours are standardized colours listed in the Pantone Colour Matching System. Each Pantone colour has a specific code which different printers and manufacturers can refer to in order to ensure colour consistency.

If you have ordered full colour printing but you have upload files that contain Pantone (PMS) Colours, these PMS colour will automatically be converted to CMYK. For this reason, artwork should always be supplied using CMYK colour mode.

PP (printed pages) – When we refer to PP (printed pages), we mean the actual number of printed pages not the number of sheets of

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paper. For example, an 8pp A4 magazine is 2 x A3 sheets, double sided, folded and saddle stitched to A4.

PPI (pixels per inch) – For printing we recommend all artwork is supplied at 300ppi (300 pixels in every square inch). E.g. if you are printing a postcard that is 150x100mm (6x4 inches) you need 1800x1200 pixels for optimum print quality at 300 pixels per inch.

Pre-flight - In digital prepress this is the procedure used to analyse or evaluate every component needed to produce a high quality print job.

Rasterized Fonts - If you have been advised that there may be rasterised fonts in your artwork, this means that some or all of the text in your artwork is made up of pixels rather than vectors.

When creating text in desktop publishing software (e.g. Microsoft Publisher / Adobe InDesign), or vector software (e.g. Adobe Illustrator / Corel Draw), the text is made up of shapes which can be scaled indefinitely without losing quality. However, if a design is saved to an image file format (e.g. JPEG / Tiff), the text automatically becomes rasterised (it is no longer made up of vector shapes, it is now made up of pixels). This means that if you enlarge text it will lose quality.

High resolution rasterised text may look the same as vector text when printed. However if rasterised text is low-resolution it may appear blurry, jagged or pixelated. If the rasterised text is very low resolution it may appear so blurry and pixelated that it is no longer legible.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) – This colour mode is the language of computer monitors and TV screens and is not suitable for printing. RGB is based on additive colours – combine red, green and blue light, and you get white light.

If you upload RGB files they will be automatically converted to CMYK. This automatic conversion can slightly change colours. For this reason artwork should always be supplied using CMYK colour mode.

Roll Fold - A method of folding in which the two panels on the edges of the page fold in over the center panel.


Saddle Stitched - A form of binding commonly used to create magazines and booklets from 8pp to 72pp (printed pages). The magazine or booklet is stapled through the middle fold of its sheets using two wire staples.

Soft Proof – A digital PDF file created from the customers supplied artwork. A soft PDF proof is supplied for every order. The soft PDF

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proof allows the customer to confirm we are printing the correct file and that the trim marks are in the correct location. For every order the soft proof must be approved prior to printing.

Trim Edge – The edge along which the job will be cut to size.

Uncoated Paper - Printing papers that have had a surface without clay coating, also called bond or laser bond. An example of an uncoated paper would be a letterhead.

Vector Text and Graphics - Text and graphics created using mathematical equations that define geometric shapes. You can enlarge vector text and graphics indefinitely without losing quality.

Z Fold - A method of folding in which each fold opens in the opposite direction to its neighbor, giving a pleated effect.

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Please note: It is not possible to have bleed (printing right to the edge of the page) with Microsoft Word. If you require full bleed we suggest you use Microsoft Publisher or a commercial graphics program such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop.

The below templates are available online as downloadable files for your reference. These are set up correctly and include 3mm bleed. There is a “Read Me File” in there to help you export files properly.

• Business Card Standard Size Templates

• Business Card Round Corners Templates

• A0 Templates

• A1 Templates

• A2 Templates

• A3 Templates

• A4 Templates

• A5 Templates

• A6 Templates

• DL Templates

• A3 Folding Templates



• DL Templates

• Envelope Templates

• With Compliment Slips

• Pads

• Sails

• Presentation Folders

• Stationary

• Pull up Banners

• Banners

• OtherTem

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Select Item

Artwork upload

Add Item to cart

Login/Create an account

Click onto ‘Shopping Cart’

Click ‘Shipping/Billing information’

Checkout

Order Finished

Here is a quick guide on how to use our online ordering process. The guide is broken down into a series of simple steps for your convenience.

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Help Links

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Transcript of Help Links