FAQs
Preliminaries
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.
Although PDF files are recommonded, we do accept .TIFF, high resolution .JPG, .AI, .PSD, .PNG, & .EPS files too.
In printing terms, a proof is a one-off copy of your document after all modifications and printing setup processes have been completed. It is your last and best opportunity to make sure that the print job comes out the way you want. By carefully inspecting the proof, you can help us assure an accurate, flawless delivery of your print job on the first run.
Please note, that approving the proof is also you agreeing to the terms and conditions of the final product. Any mistakes or changes that you do not point out in the proof, will not be In The Mix's responsibility.
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.
Make sure it's set at 300 dpi (do this prior to creating the art), set the file to CMYK mode, use bleeds and margins, outline/embed any and all fonts you use!
In printing, the term "bleed" refers to the area of a printed piece that extends beyond the edge of the finished page. This is done to ensure that any images or colors that run off the edge of the page will still be visible after the piece is cut down to its final size. For example, if a design contains a full-page background image that goes all the way to the edge of the page, it would be set up with a bleed to ensure that no white borders appear after the final trimming. This is a common practice in printing industry to avoid any misalignment or white borders around the image in the final product.
CMYK and RGB are two different color models used in printing and digital media.CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black) and is a subtractive color model used in printing. The colors are mixed together to create various shades, and the colors are absorbed by the paper, resulting in the final printed image.RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue and is an additive color model used in digital media such as computer monitors and televisions. The colors are combined to create various shades and the colors are emitted by the screen, resulting in the final image.In general, CMYK is used for printing and RGB for digital display. This is because the color gamut (the range of colors) of CMYK is smaller than RGB, and some colors that can be displayed on a screen can't be reproduced in print, because the inks that are used in printing are limited. So, when you design something that will be printed it's good practice to convert it to CMYK, and if it's going to be displayed on a screen, it's good to keep it in RGB.
n printing, the term "vector" refers to a type of digital image that is created using mathematical equations rather than pixels. Vector images are made up of paths, each with a start and end point, that are connected by straight or curved lines. These paths can be easily edited and resized without losing quality, unlike raster images (also known as bitmap images), which are made up of pixels and lose quality when resized.
Vector images are commonly used in printing and design for creating logos, illustrations, and typeface. Because vector images are resolution independent, they can be enlarged or reduced without losing quality, making them ideal for printing at various sizes. They are also preferred by printers as they can be easily separated into their individual colors for printing using the CMYK process.
Vector file formats include .ai, .eps, .svg and .pdf which are supported by most graphic design and illustration software.
Online Printing System is a prepress process that bridges the gap between online digital content and commercial print production. The process allows a print house, a client or a graphic designer to create, edit, and approve computer-based online templates during the prepress phase. This process increasingly calls for a Portable Document Format (PDF) workflow environment with output provided by digital printing.
Products
The site currently supports eight major and popular print products as listed. We are shortly going to introduce more products like logos/mailing labels, vinyl stickers, catalogs, banners, calendars, door hangers and raised ink cards.
There are three options for designing and customizing a product. Click a product on the left-hand panel and choose one of the options.
1. Custom Design: lets you customize the products. Click it to open the design studio and use multiple tools to create your own design.
2. Upload Design: using this option, you can upload your own JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, EPS, AI, PDF and PSD images.
3. Browse Design: use this to select hundreds of pre-loaded templates. Work on them or customize them through our design studio.
The type of paper used for difference purposes is expressed in weight. In the countries following the European system, it is grammes per square metre (gsm or g/m2 or simply g) and in the US system it is Pound (lb).
The paper used for writing/printing (letterheads and such stationery) is generally between 60 to 120 gsm (20 to 70 lb) and is called the paper or text stock. Anything heavier than this is considered the card stock, i.e. the paper used for business cards, postcards, greeting cards, etc.
Coated papers are available in two finishes – glossy (shiny and smooth) and matt (flat and lusterless). Coated glossy papers reflect the light evenly so they are suitable for almost all types of printing jobs. Glossy papers have a good ink holdout, which is important for creating sharp, bright images.
Printing
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.
Our system supports RGB (red, green, blue) for producing digital prints. We have accurately mapped color pallet to match RGB to CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key) to ensure proper 4-color printing.
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.
We use offset printing, which provides the highest quality of print material for both text and images.
Pricing
No, the price list indicates basic prices of products against the speculative quantities. The prices are calculated with regard to the most basic paper/card types, sizes and single side printing. As you know, the final printing cost depends on many parameters: paper/card weights or thickness (GSM/Pt), glossy or matt finish, 2 or 4 colors, square or rounded corners, single or double side printing, quantity, destination shipping charges and the mode of transport. Please use the indicative prices for calculating the basic cost. Once you place the order using the above parameters, we will quickly mail you the final, exact cost.