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 70# and 80# 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. What
does PDF stand for?
11. Can I make changes to my document prior to it being
printed?
12. When
can I call Mennonite Press for help?
13. How
long will it take for an e-mail reply to an inquiry?
14. What
bindery solutions do you offer?
15. Does the Turnaround Time include Shipping Time?
16.
What is "FTP" stand for?
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 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#. 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 time and 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 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. Computer monitors use a different color model called RGB
(Red-Blue-Green). The result is often a difference between what we see on
the screen and what we see in a printed piece.
9.
How should I prepare copy or artwork for printing?
Mennonite
Press can image your electronic file direct to film, or start with your
word processing file and allow our design staff to create a solution for
your project. Photographs and graphics may be received digitally or as
originals for us to scan or separate. We can provide typesetting and
editing services when needed. Camera ready and film-provided are good
solutions for many jobs. It is a good idea to call one of our printing
consultants in advance to plan the most economical solution for each job.
10.
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 any source document. It allows a file to
be read through the use of Acrobat Reader regardless of the hardware or
software platform on which the file was created.
Click here to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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 at the office from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM (Central
Standard 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.
13.
How long will it take for an e-mail reply to an inquiry?
We consider customer questions a top priority
so we try to answer questions in less than two hours during the business
day.
14.
What 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 complete in-house include
saddle stitch, perfect binding, plastic coil and double wir-o. We do offer
a variety of specialty source binding including hard-binding.
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. What is "FTP" stand for?
FTP, or File
Transfer Protocol is an effective way of sending larger files via the
internet. It's also a much quicker and more convenient way than sending as an email
attachment. FTP capability can also handle large amounts of information
without crashing. When a file is prepared for printing it usually ends up
large merely because it may contain graphics or design elements. If your
files are extremely large, it is a good idea to compress them before
uploading.
Click here for easy Microsoft Windows instructions
without a FTP program.
If you would like an FTP program, click on some of these popular web sites:
CuteFTP,
Fetch,
WS-FTP,
FTP Explorer,
Absolute FTP
