HELP + RESOURCES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
STANDARD QUESTIONS
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Click here to fill out our form on-line. Once we have your details we will email you an estimate or give you a call. If your project is very complex the best way to make sure we are giving you an accurate estimate is to simply call our main office 816.474.8211 and speak to one of our customer service representatives.
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Most of what we print is custom which makes the deadline of every project different. While some print projects take a single day others may take several. Our team has over 40 years of experience and we work diligently to move your project through each step as efficiently as possible. For a precise turn around time speak with a customer service representative about your project details 816.474.8211
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Setting up an account is easy! For more information about Business Accounts or Online Portals click here.
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Can’t remember your account number? Reference one of your latest invoices or call 816.474.8211 to ask a customer service representative.
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While we do not recommend rushing orders we understand that emergencies happen. For more information about expediting an order please call a customer service representative at 816.474.8211
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We can definitely scan your artwork. Some original art will do well with scanning while others may not reproduce well. For details about dimensions and acceptable artwork contact our main office 816.474.8211
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We accept all major credit cards, cash and checks.
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A proof is either a digital file or a printed sheet of your document used for inspection to ensure that the content, layout and colors of your document are exactly how they are intended to be. The proofing step of a project is very important as proof-reading will help avoid typos among other errors. A soft proof is part of our standard process. We email a PDF file of your final piece for approval, once approved we move forward to print.
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We keep hard printed archives as far back as 3 years and digital archives for several more, making reprinting a breeze. If you’d like to print something that is older than that we would request a hard printed sample to make sure our colors and paper options match.
FILE SETUP & DESIGN
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Red, Green, Blue (RGB) This color mode produces images on a screen, made of pixels. Each color can be represented as a number between 0-255. A color made in RGB is considered an additive color. Additive meaning that you start with no color (a blank screen) and add color to produce light. When all three are added together (255, 255, 255) it produces white. This color mode is used for screen, for example, your TV, Computer, and phone. RGB is the ideal color mode for any design to be used on screen.
When using RGB remember LIGHT ON A SCREEN
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, also known as Key color (CMYK) This color mode is produced using ink and is known as subtractive color. Colors made in CMYK are represented by a combination of numbers. Each individual color of CMYK is assigned a number between 0-100. For example, if you wanted 100% black the combination would be (0,0,0,100). CMYK is the preferred color mode when designing items to print, i.e., books, cards, magazines, etc.
When using CMYK remember INK ON A PAGE.
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The color calibration from monitor to monitor differ greatly. Although there are steps you can take to minimize the variance when you go from screen to print there will always be a bit of shift because of the difference in possible colors that can be reproduced in each color mode (color gamut). If you are wanting to match a specific color we can use the Pantone Matching System or request a printed sample of the piece and color you are wanting to match.
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This term is used in the print industry when a file is 100% final and ready to be transferred to plate without any edits, revisions or alterations.
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We accept many different file formats. Our preferred file format is a Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF file is the most consistent when transferring and minimizes the chances of file transfer issues.
Most programs used to design make it easy to generate a PDF. If you are wanting to print a piece that bleeds or has multiple pages we ask that you send us single pages including the bleeds. No imposition is necessary when transferring files.
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The first decision to make when starting a design is choosing a size. When placing an order or requesting an estimate this is one of the most important details that will determine cost and turn-around time. If you need a reference guide for standard dimensions, see our print resources below for printable size charts and helpful links!
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Click here to upload your own design.
When uploading your own design please remember to include bleeds and all necessary items to print. Have questions? Call our Customer Service Team 816.474.8211
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Click here for design templates. Safe zones are specific margins on a page or printed piece that are there to avoid cutting off important text or images (usually 0.25” in from the edge). When using our design templates you will see a trim line, safe zone and sometimes fold-lines these are there so you can visualize and layout a piece with minimum error in production. The bleed requirements we have for most of our printed pieces is minimum of 0.0625″. To be safe you can include a 0.125″ bleed or call our customer service team to see what is best for your custom print 816.474.8211.
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When printing images or photographs it is very important to know the resolution. The preferred resolution for clear and crisp image reproduction is 300 dots per inch (DPI). Resolution at a lower DPI ratio will reproduce fuzzy or unclear images. Images taken with cameras or phones will automatically be saved in an RGB color mode. A good practice when sending images to print is converting the color mode from RGB to CMYK. The color mode conversion will give you, on screen, a more realistic visual of the final print.
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A common problem with many file transfers are fonts. When uploading or emailing a file to print outlining all fonts will help reduce errors. A quick and easy way to do this is to select all of your type and ‘Create Outlines’ or flatten your pdf before transfer. If you’d like to keep the live text for an editable file, we prefer that you package your file with all links and fonts included. Packaging or outlining fonts will help us move your prints on to production as effectively and efficiently as possible.
MAIL SPECIFICS
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The Mailing Services Department at Soli Printing offers a convenient solution for the mailing of printed pieces, from invitations to direct mail marketing campaigns. In conjunction with our design and printing services, we can take your project from conception all the way to the mail. We are able to address a wide selection of mail-pieces using both laser and inkjet technologies. Additionally, we have mail inserting equipment capable of stuffing envelopes and applying postage, saving you time and money. Combined with our equipment we have the expertise to optimize your lists for mailing and to pre-sort mailings in order to take advantage of discounted postage rates.
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First Class Mail is an ideal choice for invitations with a formal look or for time-sensitive mailing projects. USPS (United States Postal Service) allows for a wider range of fonts when addressing First Class Mail, including serif and script style fonts. The delivery time for First Class Mail is also superior to most other classes of mail, with delivery usually happening in 1 to 3 days. Some types of mail, such as personal correspondence, account statements, and bills must be sent as First Class Mail.
Marketing Mail (previously known as Standard Mail) is a great choice for marketing and advertising materials, as the name suggests. Marketing Mail offers significant postage savings when compared to First Class Mail. The delivery time can be slower, ranging from 1 day to 3 weeks, depending on the workload of USPS at the time of mailing. Also, the design of the mail piece will need to conform to standards which USPS has set. Notably, among these standards, the address must be printed in a sans-serif font.
Nonprofit Mail is similar to Marketing Mail and allows for even more postage savings. Nonprofit Mail is available to Nonprofit Organizations who have been applied for and been approved by USPS for a special, Nonprofit, mailing status. If your organization is approved for Nonprofit mailing, sending your mailing project out as Nonprofit Mail allows you to take advantage of the lowest postage rates which USPS has to offer.