useful information

Print - Frequently Asked Questions

I work in Microsoft Word on a PC - can you print from a file in this format?

Yes
As well as Apple Macintosh applications we have developed reliable methods for printing from the majority of applications available on the PC.

Will the colour of my printing match the colours shown on my monitor?

No
Unless your monitor has been calibrated to our press then the colours on your printing will not match what you see on screen.

Will colours print as vibrantly on Cartridge paper as they do on Gloss Art Paper?

No
The nature of cartridge paper means that the ink dots will spread more (Dot Gain). This has the effect of darkening images and colours especially colours which are dark to start with.

What is the difference between spot colour and full colour printing?

Spot colour printing is a method that uses a different ink for each colour. Full colour printing uses four inks mixed in different quantities to produce the illusion of multicolour images. The colours of these four inks are cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Colour produced using these inks is referred to as process colour, CMYK or full colour printing.

Will the colour of my printing match the colour hard copy I have printed out on my desktop printer?

It is unlikely. If you would like us to closely match the printing to your colour print, we may need to amend the colours in your file

What is digital print?

A conventional, or analogue copier relies upon a hard copy original to produce a copy. A digital copier produces an image using a digital file taken straight from disk, or sent to it. It can also create a digital file by the high-resolution scanning of an original. This creates a digital image that is used to create each copy.

Does a digital print mean fast turnaround time?

Certainly - as there are no pre-press operations, no couriers, and the ability to proof on line, we can offer very short lead times.

Given the short lead times, can I order product literature etc, in smaller quantities and virtually eliminate stock becoming obsolete?

That is one of the main advantages of digital print, however, price wise it is only suitable for small quantities.

What's the difference between printing & copying?

Traditional printing, known as wet printing or litho printing, uses plates and inks to make up the colours and components of an image. Copying relies on creating an electronic image from an original piece of hard copy or a digital file, which is then transferred.

Which is best for my job?

Factors that decide this are the run size, time, and quality. Litho printing still remains unsurpassed for print quality, sharpness of image and richness of colour. For larger runs it is also cheaper, per unit, than copying, especially for colour.

Digital technology has raised copy quality far beyond that available a few years ago, and because set-up times are a fraction of those of litho printing, the turnaround is faster, and the unit cost for small runs is far lower.

Every requirement is unique. That's why it simply wouldn't work to produce guidelines as to which method is most appropriate. Our staff are here to provide you with the best solution to your requirements

Can printing & copying be combined?

Yes - a common example is where the cover of a document is litho printed, whilst the content pages are produced using high volume digital black and white copying (instruction manuals etc). The result is a quality document with a fast turnaround time produced at reasonable cost.

What is UV Varnishing?

This process involves applying an extra high-gloss varnish (a clear liquid) over the top of a printed area, either to specific areas of a design such as logos in order to highlight them, or to the entire surface of a printed item, resulting in an extremely glossy and luxurious appearance. This is also available as a textured or rough finish on selected items

What is Sealing?

A "Seal" is recommended on print jobs where the material specified is a silk or matt art paper. As ink dries more slowly on these papers than, say, a gloss paper, the seal (a clear liquid coating, not normally visible except to the very expert eye), is applied at the printing stage to prevent the ink from smudging or rubbing off the paper during subsequent handling

What is Laminating (Gloss or Matt)?

This process coats the printed sheet with an extremely thin layer of either glossy or matt plastic. It should not be confused with encapsulation which uses much thicker plastic, and which extends beyond the edges of the item being encapsulated.

The advantages of lamination are that it provides a highly professional, extra smooth finish, as well as protecting the paper or card surface from markings such as fingerprints and scratches caused by everyday handling.

Lamination also removes the danger (which is otherwise present) that ink in heavy ink coverage areas may come off slightly if rubbed. Additionally, lamination is especially recommended if the design in question features a dark colour which bleeds, in order to preserve clean edges where the dark ink meets any very slight roughness in the edges of the paper or card itself.

What is a Pantone colour?

A "Pantone colour" refers to a colour identified in the Pantone Matching System, which is a worldwide standard for describing colour, owned by Pantone Inc. Pantone, the company, sell printed "colour guides" showing hundreds of different colours on different types of paper. Two parties in different locations who are both looking at current versions of the Pantone Guide can be confident that they are both looking at very similar colours. When a client or designer specifies a colour for a printing job they will often tell the printer what Pantone colour(s) to print it in.