Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Start by selecting one of the links below. If you don’t see what you need – call or contact us online.
- At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
- How do I go about getting an estimate from you?
- How long does it take for you to complete my order?
- Is white considered a printing color?
- Tips on how to save your design files
- What do I do if my file is too large to email?
- What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
- What is a "proof"?
- What is the Pantone Matching System?
- What kind of work does your company do?
- Why are the colors on the printed product different from the way they look on my computer screen?
- Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?
- At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.
Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.
Also note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode when possible. Images saved in RGB mode may not print properly. If you are unable to save your image in CYMK mode, please let us know.
- How do I go about getting an estimate from you?
Well, since you are here, we would suggest you use our online estimate request form. Otherwise, the best way to ensure that we get all the information necessary to do an accurate quote, give us a call and talk with one of our account managers.
- How long does it take for you to complete my order?
Each and every print job is different, which makes it difficult to pin-point a "standard" turnaround time. When facing a tight deadline it is best to call us ahead of time to ensure that we can meet your deadline.
- Is white considered a printing color?
Not typically. Because white is the default color of paper, it is simply recognized as the absence of any ink. However, when using colored paper, white ink may be used if any text or graphic requires it.
- Tips on how to save your design files
Make them print ready and acceptable for us to print.
COREL DRAW:
Saving your Corel Draw file as an Adobe Illustrator EPS
• Embed all Images
• Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
• Export as Illustrator EPSFREEHAND:
• Embed all Images
• Convert all your text/copy to paths
• Export as Illustrator EPS or PDFPAGEMAKER:
Saving your PageMaker file as an EPS
• Embed all Images
• Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
• Export your file as an EPS using the below settings:
Postscript Level 2
CMYK Mode
TIFF format and
BinaryPUBLISHER:
You will need to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you don’t please download and use our Adobe Job Ready Program. If you do have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF please follow the steps below.
Under File, Print, select Adobe PDF writer
Under Properties select Press Quality and Save your PDF - What do I do if my file is too large to email?
The best way to send us any computer file is through our website. If you go to the "Customer Service Center" section of this website, you will see a selection on the left hand side called "Send a File." This page will allow you to send files as large as 400 Megabytes directly to us.
- What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.
- What is a "proof"?
A proof is a way of ensuring that your file will print exactly as you expected. You will want to make sure that all spelling is correct, your fonts appear accurately and all graphics are printing to your satisfaction. Typically, we will produce a proof which will be sent to you online or printed on paper which can be viewed in our store or delivered to you in person.
- What is the Pantone Matching System?
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color reproduction standard in which colors all across the spectrum are each identified by a unique, independent number. The use of PMS allows us to precisely match colors and maintain color consistency throughout the printing process.
- What kind of work does your company do?
The CRN Group has a very wide range of services and products available to you. Some of the most common include:
Copy Services - Our high-speed copiers and printers can produce copies efficiently and economically whether you provide hard copy or bring in digital files on disk. Our state of the art production duplicating equipment allow us to deliver work quickly and efficiently.
Printing Services - From one-color to full-color printing, our three locations have the capability to meet your needs. From short run to long run, we can offer a solution that will be just right for you.
Finishing Services - We can cut, perforate, score, number, fold, collate, saddle stitch, bind, and just about any other bindery process you could ever need.
Design Services - We utilize the latest design technology available in order to offer a full range of design services. If you need a brochure produced, we can work from your camera ready copy, use the files you provide on disk, or design your brochure from scratch.
For more products and services, feel free to browse around our website or contact one of our professional Accounts Managers.
- Why are the colors on the printed product different from the way they look on my computer screen?
There are several reasons for this. One of the most common reasons is that computer monitors display colors as a mix of Red, Green and Blue, while color printers and presses create colors from a mix of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. This will cause some colors to print differently on our machines as compared to what you see on your computer screen.
Another possible cause could have to do with the type of colors you have chosen. If you are printing a job in full process color (CMYK) and your computer file uses Pantone colors, our printers will have to reinterpret the pantone colors into a CMYK equivalent. Often, the CMYK reinterpretation is not an exact representation of the intended pantone color.
The best way to avoid this is to contact a The CRN Group Accounts Manager and request a sample print of some of the colors you would like to use in your print project.
- Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?
In short, printers and monitors produce colors in different ways.
Monitors use the RGB (red, green, blue) color model, which usually supports a wider spectrum of colors. Printers use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, which can reproduce most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. Depending on the equipment used, CMYK generally matches 85–90% of the colors in the RGB model.
When a color is selected from the RGB model that is out of the range of the CMYK model, the application chooses what it thinks is the closest color that will match. Programs like Adobe Photoshop will allow you to choose which color will be replaced. Others may not.
