Pages vs. Sheets

A single sheet of paper has 2 sides, a front and a back side (see Single Sheet picture). A sheet folded in half gives you 4 numbered pages, as shown here:

How Do you Count Pages?
To determine the number of body pages - count all interior pages in your finished product.  Each sheet counts as 2 body pages.  Do not count any of your cover pages in this total.

Coated stocks have a coating applied during the paper making process – either Gloss (shiny) or Matte (dull).  Uncoated stocks do not have a coating applied and have a rougher surface.

Uncoated Paper:

50# Uncoated Text (3.5pt) have a high brightness and a high level of opacity. 60# uncoated features a super smooth finish that is great for ink holdout and offers a professional look.

60# Uncoated Text (4pt) is a thicker stock than its 50# counterpart, yet still offers the same premium look. Products printed on this paper will often have a high brightness and a high level of opacity.

80# Text - Uncoated (5.5pt)offers a more upscale, sharp and appealing look with a thicker, higher end feel than 60# text. This premium paper features high opacity with minimal show-through for two-sided printing that won’t show through the opposite side.

Coated Paper matte:

50# Text Matte - Coated (3pt) has a smoother surface that allows ink to stay higher up on the
paper for superior hold-out and print gloss - delivering rich, arresting imagery and a completely immersive experience.

60# Text Matte - Coated (3.5pt) is a thicker stock than its 50# counterpart, yet still offers the same premium look.

80# Text Matte - Coated (4pt) delivers a far more substantial feel when compared to similar basis weight papers.This is critical for publishers and direct mailers because it allows for a lighter weight while maintaining a powerful, tactile experience that your customers will want to keep in their hands longer.

Full color means that your product will be printed using the standard 4-color process (CMYK).  This does not include any special PMS colors. These colors has to be converted in CMYK.

CMYK Print:



The CMYK color model (/smaɪk/; process color, four color) is a subtractive color model, based on the CMY color model, used in color printing, and is also used to describe the printing process itself. CMYK refers to the four ink plates used in some color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).

Black & White - Greyscale Print:

Plus-Cover (Standard) means the cover is in addition to the body pages and prints on a different stock from the body pages. Front Cover and Inside Pages are on different Paper,

No Cover (also known as self-cover) means the cover is included in the body pages and prints on the same paper as the body pages.
Front Cover and Inside Pages are on the same Paper.

No Cover - More Economical.
One of the primary benefits of the No Cover (also known as self-cover) option is that foregoing the heavier paper for the cover saves money.
In fact, a saddle-stitch-product with No Cover is less expensive than one with a heavier cover for two reasons:

1. The lighter weight of paper used for the cover costs less than the heavier paper used to make a traditional cover.
2. The entire booklet, pages and cover, can be produced in a single production run instead of two separate press runs for the pages and cover.

No Cover is most commonly used in conjunction with the Saddle-Stitch binding method. Any saddle-stitched booklet product that does not require the durability and longevity of a heavier cover is frequently produced as a No Cover (aka self-cover) product. For example, a price booklet or catalog that changes frequently is often made as a No Cover document.

Other common examples are newsletters and other periodic bulletins. They have a relatively short life and thus do not require a durable cover. Also, the lighter cover allows for easier folding to make them into a self-mailer or insert them into an envelope. In some cases, a lighter weight cover can even prevent a newsletter or bulletin from climbing into a higher postage bracket.

Coated stocks have a coating applied during the paper making process – either Gloss (shiny) or Matte (dull).  Uncoated stocks do not have a coating applied and have a rougher surface.

Uncoated Paper:


Coated Paper Matte:

Coated Paper Gloss:

65# Cover - Uncoated (5pt)
this paper is commonly used to to give the entire project an un-coated look and feel.

100# Cover - Gloss or Matte Coated (9pt)
is the preferred substrate for booklet covers.
It gives a sharp and appealing look with a more substantial and sturdy higher end feel and offers the most affordable pricing.

10 PT-C1S - Coated One Side (10pt)
C1S is printing industry shorthand for "coated one side." It brings all the best benefits, including an advantaged surface, a subtantial feel - to meet your professionals needs.

Paper Thickness:

Outside Front & Back Only = the outside of the front & back cover print, the insides are blank

Outside Front & Back + Inside Front & Back = both the outside + the inside of the front & back cover print

Full color means that your product will be printed using the standard 4-color process (CMYK).  This does not include any special PMS colors. These colors has to be converted in CMYK.

CMYK Print:



The CMYK color model (/smaɪk/; process color, four color) is a subtractive color model, based on the CMY color model, used in color printing, and is also used to describe the printing process itself. CMYK refers to the four ink plates used in some color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).

Black & White - Greyscale Print:

We highly recommend some sort of coating for all covers. It helps protect against scratching and scuffing caused by transport as well as frequent handling. It is water resistant and provides a high gloss finish and appearance to the outside cover.

Lamination - Gloss:

Lamination - Matte:

Cover Coating - Lamination
Lamination is a thin layer of plastic which is applied to the whole of the outer cover of your print product. These can be matte or gloss in finish. Cover finishes such as laminates can add an element of quality, durability and creative individuality to your print product. A great look for artwork with a high concentration of ink coverage.

In saddle stitching, folded sheets of paper are nested one within another and attached by staples through the fold. These stacks are placed over a holding apparatus, with each side hanging over like legs on a saddle.

3-hole drilling is when 3 holes are bored into your product. Drill holes will be placed on the left-side or binding edge of each book. Many people use this option to secure books into a 3-ring binder

For example a 8.5x11 Format:

Shrink wrapping is the process of enclosing your product in a clinging transparent film that when heated, shrinks tightly onto the pieces inside.

Shrink Wrapping Individually will give one item it's own shrink wrap. 

Shrinkwrapping Conveniently is done in packs, but cannot pre-determined in their quantities, as it is based on spine size, product size, and weight. 

Advantages:

• Allows for easy distrubition of specific count items.
• Serves as a protective barrier during shipping or storage.
• Prevent something from being read or used prior to purchasing.
• Helps with inventory (count packages instead of pieces)

Don´t worry, every print file you submit goes through both our automated and human review process to ensure technical quality.

Professional Preview:
A “Professional Preview” proof is a visual proof done by you at the time of upload. Upon successful upload a preview of your entire file (if uploading a PDF) will be shown in the upload area for you to page through and review. Your print file will go through both our automated and human review process and then directly to print.
No additional approval is required from you.

PDF Soft Proof:
This option, upon successful upload of your file(s), will take 1 to 2 business days. You will receive an email from us with a digital PDF proof. Don´t worry, we won´t print your file until you check the PDF and reply to the email that you approve the proof. Printing and turnaround time will start once we receive proof approval which will impact your estimated delivery date.  An approval is required from you.

Hardcopy Proof sent via FedEx Ground
Upon successful upload of your file(s), we will produce one printed copy within 3 to 4 business days from receipt of your order and ship it to your address via FedEx Ground (allow 2-5 days). We won´t start production until you check the Hardcopy and approve it via email. Printing and turnaround time will start once we receive proof approval which will impact your estimated delivery date.  An approval is required from you.

Hardcopy Proof sent via FedEx Overnight
Upon successful upload of your file(s), we will produce one printed copy within 3 to 4 business days from receipt of your order and ship it via FedEx Overnight (next business day) to your address. We won´t start production until you check the Hardcopy and approve it via email. Printing and turnaround time will start once we receive proof approval which will impact your estimated delivery date.  A approval is required from you.

Are you looking for more file help?
Please check out our "File Preparation Guidelines"!

 

What are Production Days?
Your production time does not start until your order is approved, paid, and processed. Production usually starts the first business day after you place your order.  Production Days includes time for printing, cutting and finishing. It does not include shipping transit time.

Our production week is from Monday through Friday, excluding federal US holidays observed. Our current standard production turnaround is approximately 15 business days.

In our "Shipping Cost Estimation" Segment, under your total price,  a "Estimated delivery date" including production + shipping will appear, after you choose your shipping type.

We are calculating estimated delivery date like this:

total required production days
+ total required shipping days
= estimated delivery date.

Note : We are excluding weekends and common holiday.