Here are some of the common questions asked by Mennonite
Press customers. Please feel free to contact us
if you would like more information on these questions or have a new
question of your own.
1. What
is the difference between Offset and Coated Paper?
2. What is the difference between Matte and Gloss
Paper Stock?
3. What is the difference between Cover Stock and
Text Stock?
4. What
does the # in 70# or 80# paper mean?
5.
What is the difference between 50# and 60# of the same type
text paper?
6. What
are my options with 1 color printing to create a higher impact
publication?
7. What
are my options with 2 color printing?
8.
What are the advantages of full color printing?
9. How
should I prepare copy or artwork for printing?
10.
Why do you ask for hard copy in this electronic age?
11. Can I make changes to my document prior to it being
printed?
12. When
can I call Mennonite Press for help?
13.
Will I receive the exact quantity I order?
14. What
bindery solutions do you offer?
15. Does the Turnaround Time include Shipping Time?
16. How do I save photos and
graphics so that they will print clearly?
1.
What is the difference between Offset and Coated Paper?
Offset stock is uncoated paper which is often
used for 1 or 2-color pages in books, booklets, reports, newsletters and
business forms. When printed, the ink soaks into the paper somewhat losing
some of its intensity. Coated paper has a finish applied that makes it
smoother and holds the ink on the surface. It is most often chosen for
4-color printing. Offset stock will commonly be less expensive than coated
stocks.
2.
What is the difference between Matte and Gloss Paper Stock?
Matte stock is a coated paper that has a dull
or flat finish. It is often preferred for readability on projects that are
text intensive or that contain charts or graphs. Gloss stock is a coated
paper with a shiny or reflective finish. It is generally less expensive
than matte and serves to help full color photographs, images and graphics
appear more vivid, real and appealing.
3.
What is the difference between Cover Stock and Text Stock?
Cover stock is the outside page and is
thicker and more rigid than text stock. Cover stock is also used for
cards, folders and other display materials. It requires a scoring
procedure before folding and assembly. Text stock (sometimes called body
stock) is used for inside pages as well as brochures and self-cover
booklets. Do not be confused by the weight (#), as text and cover are each
graded on a different scale (see question 4)
4.
What does the # in 70# or 80# paper mean?
It is the weight in pounds of 500 sheets of
text stock that measures 25" x 38". For cover stock, it is the
weight in pounds of 500 sheets that measure 20" x 26". This
explains why 100# cover is heavier and thicker than 100# text stock. Bond
stock is weighed in a ream that measures 17" x 22". Therefore, the 20# bond
which we are familiar with as copy or typing paper is similar in thickness
and weight to 50# text.
5.
What is the difference between 50# and 60# of the same type text paper?
The difference between 50# and 60# is the
weight and thickness of each sheet of paper. The 60# would be slightly
thicker and heavier than 50#. Heavier
paper is often chosen to add volume, durability or opacity to a project.
Various grades of paper are available that provide additional durability
or opacity, at additional cost. However, a higher grade stock in a lighter
weight may provide the best presentation at a similar cost.
6.
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 design with a huge selection of inks to achieve
the look you want. You can
also print different color inks on different color papers to create an
even more dramatic look. Another design strategy is to assign one or more
screen tints of a single color; combined with the solid color and/or on
colored papers. Metallic inks add an exciting dimension to your design
options.
7.
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 expense of going to 4 color process
printing. Remember that the paper is also a color, be it white or
otherwise, that can add dimension to two ink colors and screens of those
colors.
8.
What are the advantages of full color printing?
The highest quality and most appealing print
publications are printed in full color. Studies have shown that full color
increases readership and that there is over a 60% increase in retention
with full color versus black and white. In the
full color or 4-color (CMYK or Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black) offset printing
process, screens of these inks are used in combination to “mix” any
color quite accurately and vividly reproduce color photographs and
graphics. See also Color 101
for more information about color.
9.
How should I prepare my files or artwork for printing?
Mennonite
Press can take your high resolution "PDF" file and directly output it to
plates for printing. This is usually the most cost efficient way to submit
files to us. However if you are not able to output a
high resolution "PDF",
we can also take many other types of files from popular layout programs.
For those who would like help in design, layout, and picture retouching,
we have a
design team who will
work with you to create a solution for your project.
We can also provide typesetting, editing services, as well as artwork and
picture scanning when needed.
It is a good idea to call one of our printing consultants in advance to
plan the most economical solution for each job.
10.
Why do you ask for hard copy in this electronic age?
Experience has shown that text can reflow
from computer to computer. A customer provided hard copy gives us a clear
picture of what the printed piece should look like, thus eliminating
guesswork. We cannot be held responsible for text reflow if hard copy was
not provided. Fixing reflow problems after the job has been proofed will
result in additional alteration charges.
11.
Can I make changes to my document prior to it being printed?
Yes, you will receive a hard copy proof that
you must approve before we begin printing. If changes are needed that you
request us to do, you will approve the related charges before we proceed.
On jobs that are designed by Mennonite Press, you will receive a page
proof or working draft before we proceed with final proofing.
12.
When can I call Mennonite Press for help?
Mennonite Press customer service
representatives are available from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM (Central
Time) M-F. You may e-mail us at any time or leave a voice message
with your question or instructions.
Click here to get a toll free phone number or
email address.
To submit a quote click here.
13.
Will I receive the exact quantity I order?
Printing industry standards allow for a certain amount of overs and unders.
The setup and running of machines takes a certain amount of over’s to meet
the quantity you request. In most cases we may have some overs left to
sell. On rare occasions, we may ship slightly fewer pieces than the
quantity ordered. If underages are a concern and you need an exact
quantity, we recommend adding 5% to your original quantity to ensure
delivery of the number of pieces you need.
14.
What finishing or bindery solutions do you offer?
As a
full-service printer, Mennonite Press can complete your piece with a range
of folding/scoring/perforating/die-cutting combinations. Popular book and
booklet binding processes that we handle include:
Plastic Spiral binding: Plastic in a spiral form threaded through
punched holes along the binding edge of the papers. Allows the document to
lay open flat. Plastic spiral binding is the most popular choice out of
Plastic spiral, Double Wir-O, and Plastic comb binding.
Double Wir-O: Wire looped through square punched holes.
Plastic comb binding: Similar to spiral binding but using a tubular
plastic piece with teeth that fit through rectangular holes punched into
the binding edge.
Three-ring binding: Holes are punched into the pages and fitted
into a binder.
Saddle-stitch binding: Using staples along the folds of the pages
to bind them together.
Perfect binding: Gluing the outside edges of the pages together to
create a flat spine and then attaching a soft cover.
Hard binding:
Also know as Case binding consist of sewing the pages
together and then attaching them to a hard cover.
15.
Does the Turnaround Time include Shipping Time?
No, the Turnaround Time is how long it will
take Mennonite Press to complete your project. This is the time from final
proof approval to job shipment. MPI truck will deliver
jobs in our geographic area. On jobs that require shipping, we will
advise you of the best way to meet your deadline requirements.
16. How do I save photos and graphics so that they will print clearly?
Mennonite
Press requests that all placed images be a minimum 300 dots per inch and
that all black-and-white images be set to grayscale and all color images be
CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). After saving to PDF and before
uploading, preview or print your document and check that you have achieved
the correct results.
