In addition to the questions answered here, visit our
Forms and Info
section for detailed information on file preparation and submission, digital capabilities, an equipment
list, and a handy print job checklist.
Commercial printing uses thermal digital plates that are produced by lasers driven by digital data. Color
is very accurate and is matched to an approved contract proof calibrated to the commercial sheetfed press.
When the printing plates are made, they are mounted to a plate cylinder. As the cylinder rotates, it comes
into contact with rollers wet with dampening solution and with rollers wet with ink. The dampening solution
wets the non-printing areas of the plate, preventing the ink from wetting these areas. The ink wets the image
areas, which are transferred to the blanket cylinder. The inked imaged is then transferred to the paper as it
passes between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder.
For commercial sheetfed printing, your files should be saved with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Our preferred
platform is MacIntosh, and we use Apple OSX. Please consult the File Preparation instructions on the
Forms and Info section of this site for detailed instructions. If you are
using Apple OS9 and need information on migrating to OSX, Apple has a helpful guide at
www.apple.com.
If you need to send PC files, we can often adapt them if we know in advance what you are sending.
Screen printing uses a mesh screen and squeegee technology (similar in theory to T-shirt printing). Ink is
applied to the screens and squeegee with the proper pressure for application to the product.
Proofs are used for color reference in 4/C process mode, but may vary slightly throughout the run of the job.
In screen printing, PMS inks are recommended for more accurate color consistency. Using PMS colors is also less
costly than it would be in the commercial sheet-fed press.
You need to have your files saved with a resolution at least 200 dpi. You will only be printing at a linescreen
of 100 lpi or 120 lpi. Full details on File Preparation can be found on the
Forms
and Info section of this site.
Unless you have a specially calibrated monitor on your computer, color monitors are setup as RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
color guns that calculate and store the variations and intensities of those three colors.
By contrast, your contract proof and the commercial sheetfed press use process inks - CMYK (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black)
the combination of which allows for the reproduction of many colors in the spectrum.
Postal regulations require that one color (Black) be used on the printed piece.
License agreement prohibits any altering of the DVD standard logo.