Here are some frequently asked questions.

Many graphics software programs give you the choice to work with graphic files in CMYK or in RGB. The printing process of High Quality Printing uses primarily CMYK. Our presses print "full color" using the primary colors of pigment: Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow and Black. This is the same 4-color (or full color) process that you see in the majority of quality magazines, post cards and national advertisements. RGB uses a combination of just 3 colors: Red, Green and Blue. If your file is in RGB it must be translated into a CMYK file in order for High Quality Printing to print it. It is important to use CMYK graphics when you begin designing your work, as the color translation between RGB and CMYK may not always be exact. You will notice this translation shift more so in solid color graphic blocks (like a solid blue background or color text) rather than in photographs. Converting these files is a simple process that will be outlined in your graphics software instructions or help files.

Image Resolution?

High Quality Printing requires all files to be at a final resolution size of 300dpi (dots per inch). If you have a lower resolution size, or you "stretch" a small file into a larger size - your image will print with jagged edges and appear fuzzy or "pixilated." Resolution and size are different, but proportional. For instance, a 3" x 3" size image at 300dpi resolution when stretched to a 6" x 6" image size, you will have a new resolution of 150 dpi. Even though the image size is larger, the image will have a lower resolution. Beware that once the resolution of a file is reduced; the "removed" resolution cannot be restored.

How do I start with the right size and resolution of an image?

The most important thing is: KNOW THE SIZE OF FINAL PRINTED IMAGE. If the final image will be 3" x 3", make sure your image file is at least 3" x 3" and at least 300 dpi. If you are not exactly sure the final size, scan it larger with more resolution. You can always reduce the size and resolution of the file, but it is impossible to make it larger with sufficient resolution.

Can I use my scanner to import images?

Scanning an image is the most common way of converting an original photo or image to digital format. Your scanner software will guide you through the process.

Here is a tip to calculate scanning a small photo into a larger one with adequate resolution.

Example 1:
Photo Size = 3" x 5"
Image Layout Size = 6" x 8"
CALCULATION OF SIZE: 6 divided by 3 = 2, you will need to enlarge the photo by 2 times or 200%
CALCULATION OF DPI: Multiply the calculation of size by the target DPI 2x300dpi = 600
SCAN THE PHOTO AT 600 dpi AT LEAST and 200% enlargement

Example 2:
Photo Size = 8" x 10"
Image Layout Size = 17" x 24"
CALCULATION OF SIZE: 17 divided by 8 = 2.125, you will need to enlarge the photo by 2.125 times or 212.5%
CALCULATION OF DPI: Multiply the calculation of size by the target DPI 2.125x300dpi = 638
SCAN THE PHOTO AT 638 dpi AT LEAST and 212.5% enlargement

Can I use images from the Internet?

Images from the Internet or web sites are 72 dpi GIF, JPEG or PNG files and usually do not provide a good quality image for printing. Color and resolution are removed from these images to allow for rapid transfer on the Internet. These images would appear fuzzy and dull if printed by High Quality Printing.

How can I best use images from a digital camera?

Images from a digital camera will usually be good for printing, provided the dpi and size is appropriate. If you are good at math, the following calculation will help determine if your camera has the right dpi.

PIXEL HEIGHT divided by 300 = THE SIZE OF THE FINAL IMAGE HEIGHT AT 300 dpi
PIXEL WIDTH divided by 300 = THE SIZE OF THE FIANL IMAGE WIDTH AT 300dpi

As an example:
If your camera has a pixel resolution of 1400 x 1800 (1400 is the height and 1800 is the width), do the math:
1400 divided by 300 = 4.67 inches high
1800 divided by 300 = 6.00 inches wide
Your camera will take a photo with the size of 4.67" x 6" at the resolution of 300 dpi. If you need a photo that size or smaller your camera will work. If you need a larger size your camera will not work.
If you are not good at math, use your graphic software to open the file and determine the size and dpi of the image.

What size of original photograph should I use for the best quality?

The original photograph should be as large or larger than the final size of the image in the printed document. If you are producing an 11" x 17" poster, you will probably not be able to get a photograph that large. In this instance, refer to scanning calculations listed above. Make sure the quality of the original photograph is as good as possible. Not all photographic developers are the same quality.

Which image type should I use? EPS, TIFF, JPG, GIF?

In order to achieve the best color quality and sharpness of image, High Quality Printing requires the use of TIFF or EPS images. Other file formats are used for other applications (Like the internet, for example) and tend to remove some of the quality of the original images. Generally, digital cameras use a higher quality JPG format. This type of file would be adequate in quality, but it would need to be converted into a TIFF or EPS format. If your image is a photograph, High Quality Printing recommend EPS. Other types of graphics can be either TIFF or EPS.

What about using colored text?

Sometimes the printing process is not as perfect as the world around it. Minute misalignment can cause the 4 separate CMYK inks to not line up perfectly in small text (10pt or smaller), as well as in white text on a colored or black background (drop-out text). This misalignment can make small text look blurry. If you need to do this anyway, it is best to keep the colored text one of the true CMYK colors; black is always an excellent choice. Of course, any text larger than 10 pt. will print sharp and vivid with any color you choose.

What is a bleed, and why does it sound painful?

A bleed is a printing term that means the ink will be printed all the way to the edge of the paper. Full bleeds are no problem with High Quality Printing, and in most cases, don't cost an addition fee. For instance, if you are designing a business card with a full bleed (a bleed on all 4 sides) that will be 2" x 3.5", you will need to make the design slightly larger to allow for 1/8th of an inch (or more precisely .125") on all sides to be trimmed away. The document should actually be designed at 2.25" x 3.75", allowing for the edges to be trimmed, click here

What is the difference between Matte and Gloss Paper Stock?
Matte stock is a coated paper that has a dull finish. It is often used to make pages easier to read that are text intensive or that contain numerical charts. Gloss stock is a coated paper with a shiny or highly reflective finish. It is most often used in 4-color printing to help full color photographs, images and graphics appear more vivid, real and appealing..

What is the difference between Offset and Coated (Matte or Gloss) Paper Stock?
Offset stock is uncoated paper which is most commonly used for 1-color pages in books, reports, letters and business forms. Offset stock is usually less expensive than coated stocks which are described in 1. above.

What is the difference between Cover Stock and Body Stock?
Cover stock is the outside page and is thicker than body stock. Body stock is the inside pages and is less thick than cover stock.

What is the difference between Body Stock and Text Stock?
Nothing, body and text stock both mean the inside pages of a book or catalog.

What does PDF stand for?
PDF stands for Portable Document Format, a universal file format developed by Adobe that preserves all the fonts, formatting, graphics and color of of any source document. It allows a file to read through the use of Acrobat Reader ( a free program available from Adobe) regardless of the hardware or software platform on which the file was created.

What does the # in 70# or 80# paper mean?
It is the basic weight in pounds of a text stock type or the weight of a ream (500 sheets) of 25" x 38" sheets. For a cover stock type, it's a ream of 20" x 26" sheets. With that in mind you now know the reason that 100# cover is heavier and thicker than 100# text stock.

What is the difference between 70# and 80# of the same type text paper?
The difference between 70# and 80# is the weight and thickness of each sheet of paper. The 80# would be slightly thicker and heavier than 70#.

Does weight of the paper stock effect durability and quality?
Yes, but only within the same type. For instance, let's assume you chose 70 # vs. 50# offset text stock for a newsletter. The 70# stock would be more durable over time and result in less show through of the printed image from on side of a sheet to the other. However, let's assume you choose 70# gloss text vs. 70# offset for your newsletter. The gloss stock would be more durable and result in greater ink holdout and glossier images than the uncoated offset stock.

What are my options with 1-color printing to create a higher impact publication?
Most 1-color printing is black ink on a white stock. However, you can vary the ink cover to perhaps a blue, red or brown to create a different look. You can also print different color inks on different color papers to create an even more dramatic look.

What are my options with 2-color printing?
2-color print publications frequently use black and one other color to create a higher impact than can be achieved with 1-color. However, any two colors can often be used to create just the look you need without the time and expense of going to 4-color process printing.