Here are some of the Frequently asked Questions to do with printing and NZPC.
Q. How long from start to finish does it take for my printing job to be complete?
A. Obviously the size and complexity of the job will mean that some jobs take longer than others. The best thing to do is to ensure your job is processed as quickly as possible is to let us know as early as you can that you need something printed. For simple print runs such as business cards, we estimate a run of 1,000 to take less than half a day, however some larger runs require a longer timeframe. If you would like an estimate of how long your job will take, give us a call today or fill out the Contact Us form here with your job details and we will discuss your timeframe.
Q. What’s the difference between digital and offset printing?
A. Digital printers are toner based so the toner particles stick to the photoconductive drum in patterns that are determined by laser beams and are then transferred to paper and fused in place by a hot roller.
Offset printing is a printing technique where the inked images are transferred to plates which are dampened first by water, then ink. The ink then sticks to the image area, the water to the non-image area. Then the image is transferred to a rubber blanket which repels water and from the rubber blanket to paper.
Nearly all jobs can be produced by offset printing. NZPC finds, based on experience, runs of 300 and over, larger format jobs and specific brand colours are better suited to offset printing. Here at NZPC we recognise the importance of both techniques which is why we have merged traditional offset printing with evolving digital to provide a solution for all print jobs.
The value-added advantage by combining the multiple production methods can save time and money for most high-volume consumers of printed products. A common misconception of “digital printing” is that of quality, but with digital printing becoming a serious alternative to traditional offset in the late 1990’s, it brought with it the very solution that many businesses needed and a viable printing solution that many wouldn’t dream of doing without these days!
Because our-colour printing in small quantities can often be very expensive, NZPC offers a solution for our clients which make it possible to print short runs quickly at a reasonable price.
Q. How do I ensure my work is okay to print and there are no mistakes?
A. Before sending us your work it is a good idea to check your artwork and files thoroughly. This means that any changes can be identified as early along in the process as possible to avoid delay down the track. We recommend the following three steps:
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Proof your layout. Having several different people proof your work is a good way to check the accuracy of the job being printed. To proof the layout you can look to make sure all visual elements are where they should be. Check for overlapping and images that may have been hidden or partially covered.
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Proof your text. Although you may check your design on the computer screen for layout, proofing text on screen is a notoriously unreliable means of catching text errors. Check for spelling and grammatical errors as sometimes the spell check on the computer does not pick up these little things. It’s always good to get a fresh eye to look over the job as it’s easy to miss errors when you’ve been looking at the same item for a while.
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The Final Check! A proof is a high resolution PDF that is emailed to you to ensure that everything is perfect before printing. (Hard copy proof available upon request). While the colour accuracy is dependent on many factors it is as close to the print job as possible. This is your last chance to change things so be as thorough as possible.
Q. What does CMYK stand for?
A. CMYK is the colours used in four process colouring. The colours are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black). The combinations are mixed to create the full colour spectrum.
Q. How much notice do I have to give you in order to get a job done?
A. As much as possible! Of course we realize this isn’t always possible so give us a call with your tight deadline and we’ll see what we can do for you. The more notice you give, the better placed your job will be to get done smoothly.
Q. Do I have to design the job myself or will you do the design? How much does it cost?
A. You can design the job yourself, or we can do the design, it’s up to you. If you have a design team we are happy to work with them. If you prefer to use our design team we can give you a quote depending on the job.
Q. What specials do you have on at the moment?
A. Our specials are constantly being updated, so visit our Specials of the Month page
here to view the latest specials.
Q. Does it cost extra for delivery?
A. It does not cost extra to deliver your printing to the distribution point in Waikato, however we will not organise distribution for your printing. If you wish to have your printing delivered outside of the Waikato district, there will be a cost involved.
Q. How do I get the files to you?
A. You can either mail a CD with the files or you can upload directly to our site via FTP. Please take note of the upload directions.
Q. What are the file requirements?
A. Please
click here to view the file requirements.
Q. How do I decide what type of paper to use?
A. This all depends on your job. For business cards you can go either matte or gloss, full colour or black and white, usually 350gsm is a good depth. If you want a tabloid, anything from 100gsm to 175gsm is good, matte or gloss, full colour or black and white. You can see from our portfolio here what we have used in the past to give you an idea of what paper to choose.
