Townsend Commercial Printing

What should I look for in a printer?

Our recommendation is two-fold. The first is printing quality, and the other first is customer service.

You always want to make sure that there is open dialogue between your printer and you. It is important that both parties understand what is required and what ultimately is the desired final product. Also, you should consider making an onsite visit to meet with the team you’ll be working with.

Here are a few things to consider about your printer:

• What type and how many presses do they operate?
• What file types do they accept?
• What type of projects do they specialize in?
• Always request printing samples.
• Are there customer references available?

What is the difference between the RGB and CMYK color space and why does it matter?

RGB refers to the primary colors of light, Red, Green and Blue, that are used in monitors, television screens, digital cameras and scanners. CMYK refers to the primary colors of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. These are the inks used on the press in "4-color process printing", commonly referred to as "full color printing".

The combination of RGB light creates white, while the combination of CMYK inks creates black. Therefore, it is physically impossible for the printing press to exactly reproduce colors as we see them on our monitors.

Many programs have the capability to convert the layout/images from the RGB color space to the CMYK color space. We request that you convert your colors from RGB to CMYK if your tools allow you to. By doing it yourself, you have maximum control over the results. You may notice a shift in color when converting from RGB to CMYK. If you do not like the appearance in CMYK, we recommend that you make adjustments while working in CMYK (usually lightening).

How well will my job match what I see on my monitor?

Most people are surprised at how well their job matches what they see. But because of wide differences in monitor calibration and the different technologies used, some printed colors may not exactly match the colors on your specific monitor.

Will you match a sample I print out on my own printer, or a previously printed sample?

There is no guarantee that your finished piece will match your inkjet printed or laser printed sample. This is due in part to the widely varying results from different output devices. Even from one commercial printing firm to another, there can be significant differences in results. But in particular, inkjet and laser prints are known to look substantially different than true offset lithography.

If you require precise color match, please ask us for a digital color proof.

How long does it take for me to get my proofs?

Proofs are normally overnighted within 24 hours of our final review of your electronic files.

Will I always receive exactly the quantity I order?

Most of the time, we print you slightly more than you ordered, free of charge. On occasion, we print slightly fewer pieces than you ordered. Printing industry trade standards allow for underages of up to 5%. If you plan to send your print order to a mailing list or need a guaranteed quantity, we recommend that you order 5% over the minimum quantity you need.

What if I want to change something on my order after I've approved the proof?

We can normally accommodate a requested change to your shipping method or mail requirements after you approve your proofs. Changes to the quantity after you approve the proofs are dependant on the paper you requested and the paper we have in stock. But please note, some changes cannot be made after certain stages in the production process -- for instance, the quantity cannot be changed once your job has been printed with out additional setup charges.

Can you use my mailing permit and mail my material from your location?

Mailing permits are tied to local USPS offices and may only be used in the locality where they are issued. If your permit is tied to the USPS locality of our plant locations we would be glad to use your permit. If it is not you can use our permit or you can apply for a permit within our locale.

Can I have you mail some now and some later?

Yes. Under our roof we have storage space available. We can print your entire project all at once. Then we can bind and inline inkjet your material as you want the items released. This gives you the lowest cost for print and the lowest cost for mail services.

How should I lay out a piece to comply with USPS mailing regulations?

The USPS determines the requirements for mailing. We recommend that you give us a call and we can walk you through. Or you can always review the USPS Domestic Mail Manual at http://pe.usps.gov/DMMdownload.asp.

What other file formats can work with?

We prefer PDF’s but we can take any Mac or PC version of Quark, Pagemaker, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop or even Word. If you are using software not listed please give us a call. We will want to discuss compatibility before any files are sent.

What types of storage media do you accept?

We can take your files on a CD, DVD or Zip disk.

How can I know what a particular CMYK color combination will look like?

To purchase a color guide with over 3,000 process colors with their CMYK screen percentages, please visit CreativePro at: http://www.pantone.com/products/products.asp?idSubArea=0&idArea=70

How long will it take to upload my files?

It will vary depending upon your file size, the speed of your Internet connection and the volume of Internet traffic at the time you send it.