Once the Print Shop receives your work order, the turnaround time will be determined based on the nature and size of your work order. We strive to accommodate all deadlines.
Here are the acceptable file formats: .xls (Excel), .csv (comma separated file), or a .txt (plain text file).
- Data process of one mailing list ($25 for each additional list)
- C.A.S.S. Certification (Coding Accuracy Support System)
- N.C.O.A (National Change of Address)
- De-dupe list
- Pre-sorting
- Ink-jet setup and addressing
- Post Office delivery
- Presorted Standard – minimum 200 pieces
- Presorted First Class – minimum 500 pieces
- Non-Presort First Class – minimum 200 pieces
- Non-Profit (Standard) – minimum 200 pieces
We make reordering easy. Just call or send us an email! Most of our packaging will contain a shipping label with the reorder number on it. If you do not have the re-order number all you have to do is provide us with the basic information such as your organization name, project description, the quantity, and whether or not the order is an exact or reprint with changes.
PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format. A high-resolution PDF with embedded fonts and graphics, bleeds and crop marks is ideal. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.
We can also work with other file types such as:
- .EPS Encapsulated Postscript (please convert all text to outlines and make sure all assets are embedded, linked assets will not work with our process).
- .TIF Tagged Image (High Resolution, 300 DPI at 100%)
- .JPG (High Resolution, 300 DPI at 100%)
- .PUB Microsoft Publisher (please include all fonts and graphics used when supplying file)
- .DOC or .DOCX Microsoft Word (please include all fonts and graphics used when supplying file)
- .PPT or .PPTX Microsoft PowerPoint (please include all fonts and graphics used when supplying file)
However, keep in mind that some programs or file types may alter fonts and spacing, may require additional effort to convert them to a usable printable format, or may hinder final output quality. We suggest whenever possible to provide a PDF file.
Work orders can be submitted through e-mail. If it is too large to email then we suggest sharing a DropBox folder or Google Drive folder with us.
Resolution should be set to 300 dpi. Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.
Design programs allow you to resize an image, but it’s important to understand why resizing a low resolution image will not create a high resolution image. When you resize and make a low resolution image larger all you are really doing is stretching the image. Since high resolution images are based upon the number of pixels an image contains, resizing will not create new pixels, and will only make each pixel larger by stretching it. The only way to ensure high quality printing of your photos and images is to start with a high resolution image.
It’s also important to note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode whenever possible. Images saved in RGB will be converted to CMYK and may shift the color.
Bleed is when an image or element on a page is printed to the sheet, leaving no margin, it is said to bleed. Printers cannot print right to the edge of a page, so a slightly larger impression must be printed and then trimmed back with a cutter. It may bleed or extend off one or more sides. Particular steps need to be taken in order for your final artwork to be “bleed ready.”
The way to do this is to make your document .125” (1/8”) larger in both dimensions. For instance, if the final size is 8.5” x 11” then make your document 8.75” x 11.25”. Place guides on the layout that are .125”(1/8”) from the edge all the way around. Now create your design keeping in mind that the layout will be cut off where those guides are. Because that is exactly what will to happen. Make sure that any photographs or backgrounds that you want to bleed go clear out to the perimeter of the document, past the guidelines. Then after we have printed your piece we will trim off that extra .125” (1/8”) all the way around. Now you have color all the way to the edges of your piece.
If you are not sure that your file will work, you can email it to us and we will examine it to see if there are any flaws that would prevent us from printing your job.
Electronic Proofs are available on every job. Hard copy Proofs are not a standard part of our service. We can provide a hard copy digitally printed proof upon request. Press Proofs are not available.
Digital proofs are typically emailed to our customers.
Changes, corrections and approvals should be submitted via e-mail or in writing to our office. Once a job has been approved it will move into production. Please make absolutely sure your file is correct before approving. Your written approval constitutes acceptance and full responsibility for all errors, omissions and legal and ethical compliance of your project. Latka Printing will not accept liability for errors overlooked in the proofing stage. To ensure that your order remains on schedule please respond as soon as possible.
Bleeds: Make sure any design element that bleeds extends an ⅛ of an inch beyond the trim line when exporting your PDF and include crop marks.
Resolution: Images should be at least 300 DPI for print production. Low resolution images, such as those used on websites, will reproduce poorly when printed. They will appear blurry, especially when an image is enlarged from its original size.
Proofing and Text: Please proofread your files before you send it to us. Check for proper spelling and grammar. Also, make sure text can easily be read against your chosen background color. We can not be held responsible for artwork that has been provided and artwork that has been approved for production.
Digital printing uses only 4 colors. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK). If the document uses a Pantone and/or a metallic color, the digital press must translate those colors as close as possible using only CMYK. While the translation will come close to a lot Pantone colors, there are some that digital printing just cannot match. Especially metallic or fluorescent. There are many Pantone colors that are outside the color gamut of the 4 color process. You can see more about gamut here.
The short answer is that printers and monitors produce colors in different ways. Monitors use the RGB (red, green, blue) color model, which usually supports a wider spectrum of colors. Printers use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, which can reproduce most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. When a color is selected from the RGB model that is out of the range of the CMYK model, the application chooses what it thinks is the closest color that will match. You can see more about gamut here.
Every monitor is different and the same file will look different on each. This is also true with Digital output. The file may look one way on your monitor but after the file is processed or “ripped” (or rasterized) it may look differently. When the color is not a solid cyan, magenta, yellow or black digital printing is made of dots of those colors to make all other colors.
While both offset and digital use CMYK to print, the difference between ink and toner mediums will cause a slight different look to the printed piece. Offset and digital are rasterized through two different rasterization (or RIP) systems which also cause variations in color, especially if the file happens to contain RGB elements.
Typically, quantity (because of cost) is the most deciding factor between digital and offset, second only to deadlines.
Offset
•Better and more cost effective for larger runs
•The right choice when a specific Pantone color or metallic ink must be used
•The choice when needing a large stock size
•If the printed piece must go back through a customer’s laser printer, like letterheads and statement, you may need to use offset printing. If your laser printer fuses the toner at a higher temperature than our digital press then some transferring (ghosting) of the pre-printed image may occur. We can provide some sample outputs for you to try through your laser printer. We can’t guarantee that it will never transfer, but we find that most times if the samples print through your laser printer OK the remainder will also. If you are using and Ink-Jet printer then transferring is not an issue.
Digital
•More cost effective for shorter runs
•Perfect for shorter runs with multiple originals – even with different quantities of each
•When a short deadline must be met
In todays world, digital printing is the most common printing used for most projects.
We provide so many printing and specialty services for a wide range of needs. From the initial concept to the final printed piece. We even offer mailing services that gets your material to your customers door at the lowest postage rates. Because of breadth of services, we can’t possibly list everything we do on our site. Who wants to read that much anyway! If your exact project isn’t found on our website, please contact us to discuss your needs and find the best solution to get it produced.
We accept cash or check. We also accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. A 50% deposit is required on all jobs for new customers, and the remainder is required upon job completion. Job must be paid in full before you can have the final product. Once a trusted relationship is established, we will then bill you for your projects and most of the time the 50% deposit is not needed. Some restrictions apply.