Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q. What forms of payment do you accept?
A. We accept all major credit cards, checks and bank drafts. Payment is due at the time of pick-up unless you are on open account. To apply for an open account you can fill out a credit application found here.
Q. I want to have my invoices emailed to me, how do I set that up?
A. We would be happy to save on postage and email your invoices. Just let us know what email(s) should be receiving the invoices and we can make the change.
Q. How well will what I see on my monitor match the actual color of my coil or mylar?
A. As with all monitors and screens, your settings may be different than the specifications of our pictures. If you are uncertain about what color you want let us know and we can send you a physical sample to look at.
Q. What is a “bleed?”
A. When something is printed it is often printed on a sheet larger than the size you actually need and then cut to size. Depending on how your product will be finished, we may want you to provide us with those larger sheets (parent sheets) so that we can efficiently finish your product. Check out our glossary for a picture of what a “bleed” looks like.
Plastic Spiral Elements
Q. How do I know what size coils I should use for my books?
A. You can use the chart found here. If you’re still not sure, call us and we can help you determine the coil size that is right for your project.
Q. My book is an unusual size. Can I order lengths that aren’t 12” or 36”?
A. Custom lengths are available with advance notice and can be subject to a setup charge depending on the quantity you order.
Q. I want a color that I don’t see on your website. Custom colors are available, please call to discuss options.
A. The colors on our site are considered standard but additional colors, including PMS matching, is available. Please call us for these options.
Perfect Binding
Q. Should I score the spine or hinge of the covers for my books before they get to you?
A. Our binders score as the books are bound and can do up to 13 positive or negative scores. If your stock is heavier than a 12pt they may need to be pre-scored, call us and we’ll help you decide which option is best for your project.
Q. How do I know you can bind my book?
A. We encourage you to obtain a price quote so that we can help you get the most out of your product. One thing to note is that we can perfect bind as few as 4 sheets/ 8 pages.
Calendar Tinning
Q. What kind of paper should I use for calendars that will be tinned?
A. For single sheet tins, we recommend paper no thinner than the equivalent of a 100# text weight (.005) and no thicker than a 12pt coated stock (.012)
Q. Why do I need to plan so far in advance for my calendars?
A. Calendar tins are made-to-order and once ordered, take 2-3 weeks for us to receive from our supplier. If you involve us in your planning process we can make having calendars tinned a simple process.
Wire-O
Q. How much of a margin should I leave between the copy of my book and the edge of the book for the binding?
A. This depends on how thick your book will be. If your book will be less than .47” thick you should leave 3/8” (.375) for a 3:1 punch pattern. If your book will be between .47” and 1.18” you will need to leave ½” (.50) for a 2:1 punch pattern.
Q. Does wire-o have to be a square hole?
A. Yes, the purpose of the square hole is so that the double looped wire is able to smoothly transition from one page to the next.
Q. What is a “thumb cut?”
A. A thumb cut is a semi-circular section of the binding edge that is removed from split wire-o bound calendars to allow for a hanger that allows the calendar to hang on a wall.
Laminating
Q. How do I know what thickness of laminate I should use?
A. We are always happy to help you determine what would be best for your project. When it comes to 2 sided lamination, we offer 1.7mil, 3mil, 5mil and 10mil. What this means is that if we laminate 5mil, each side of the laminated sheet would receive laminate that is .005” thick resulting in a total added thickness of .01” after the sheet is laminated.
Q. Why do menus always have a sealed edge border?
A. It is not required that menus have a sealed edge but we encourage it because the sealed edge increases the longevity of your menu. A sealed edge protects your menus from food and liquid spills that may otherwise damage the menu.
Q. What is a menu border?
A. A menu border is a variation of a sealed edge that extends beyond the edge of the product being laminated. For menus that will be spiral bound there is a larger border on the binding edge to allow for hole punching without compromising the print on the menu.
Index Tabs
Q. What does the term “bottom tabs” mean?
A. In a standard index tab format, the tabs run along the long edge of a sheet but it is possible to do the tabs on the short edge. We call tabs run on the short edge “bottom tabs”
Q. Do my tabs have to be a certain size?
A. Our tabbing equipment is customizable so the width of your tabs can be as small as .75”
Fulfillment
Q. Is an eyelet the same as a grommet?
A. A grommet is a two-piece process to keep paper and other materials together. Print Finishing offers eyelet services but not grommet.