Product Questions
What types of products do you sell?
We offer a wide selection of business products, including printed products, personalized products, and non-printed supplies. Because different products are produced and customized in different ways, we offer several printing solutions.
You can learn more about the available options in our guide to product categories.
How do I know which printing solution to choose?
The best printing option will depend on your design needs, budget, deadline, and the amount of customization required. The information below explains the main differences between our printing solutions.
You may also read our guide to determine whether you should use your own design.
- Pre-set products
Products customized online generally use a pre-designed or pre-printed format that is personalized with your company information. The printable areas, ink colors, fonts, and layout choices may be limited.
This category may also include stock products, such as business organizers or pricing guns, that do not require printing.
Some multipart products are crash-printed, meaning pressure transfers the information from the top sheet to the copies below. For example, a three-part form printed in blue may display blue ink on the top copy and black transferred information on the second and third copies.
By comparison, a multipart product printed using your own design may be printed in blue ink on every copy.
Logo choices
Many products customized online allow you to use a custom logo or select from one of our available business designs. Products that support logos will either display a logo in the product sample or provide a logo option during checkout.
Please review the applicable logo requirements and artwork guidelines before submitting your file.
Font choices
Many products customized online include a selection of available fonts. Font choices vary by product. To see the options available for a specific item, add it to your cart and begin the checkout process.
Using your own fonts
Products customized online are limited to the fonts made available for that product. When a specific font, point size, spacing, or formatting style is required, a custom imprint or a product printed using your own design may be more appropriate.
Custom imprints
A custom imprint is the area of a product that is personalized with your information. Plain text can often be entered directly into the order. However, when a custom logo or specially arranged imprint is required, the complete imprint area may need to be prepared as an image by our graphics department.
For example, the available imprint area on item 207, our 1/8-inch engineering graph pad, is approximately 2 29/32 inches wide by 29/32 inch high. Your logo and text must be sized and arranged to fit within that area.
We can also accept an imprint file you created yourself when you require a specific font, spacing, or layout. Design assistance may also be available.
How do I find the imprint area?
To confirm the imprint area for a product, email [email protected] or select Request More Info from the product detail page.
When contacting us separately, please include the product item number.
Extra lines of print
Some pre-designed products allow additional information to be added. However, existing pre-printed information generally cannot be removed or altered.
The placement of extra text depends on the space and production limitations of the specific product. Placement requests may be submitted, but a specific location cannot always be guaranteed.
Extra text is commonly used for terms, instructions, or a list of products and services. When an extra-text charge applies, it generally covers the complete block of additional text rather than each individual line.
Changes and alterations
Existing information on pre-printed products generally cannot be removed or altered. Products such as envelopes may not be pre-printed, but they can still be limited to specific imprint areas or layouts.
Many products can also be produced through our custom printing department. You may request a custom quote for assistance.
Layouts
Some products allow you to choose from several available layouts. These layouts determine where information will be printed.
When none of the available layouts meets your needs, consider a product printed using your own design or request a custom quote.
Ink colors
Products customized online are generally printed in one or two ink colors. Common options include black, blue, red, and green, although available colors vary by product.
When two ink colors are available, one color may be used for the company name or logo and the other for the remaining text. Specific instructions can be submitted during checkout, subject to the product's printing limitations.
Proofs
A proof may be requested during checkout or after the order is placed.
- Custom products
Products printed using your own design are produced on demand from camera-ready artwork. These products provide greater control over the content, layout, and appearance of the finished piece.
Design options may still be limited by the physical or production requirements of the product. For example, some carbonless forms may not be available with full-color printing.
These products may also be ordered without printing, although the price may remain the same.
Each sheet is printed individually and then padded, bound, or finished as required. On a three-part form printed in blue ink, for example, all three copies may be printed in blue rather than using a black pressure transfer on the lower copies.
Camera-ready artwork
Products printed using your own design require camera-ready artwork. You may upload or email a file showing exactly what should be printed.
Our graphics department will review the file for compatibility before production. The artwork will not normally be redesigned or altered unless a production issue must be corrected.
Ink colors
Products using your own design may be available in one, two, or three spot ink colors. Pricing depends on the product and the number of ink colors used.
Additional colors increase production costs because each color must be mixed, applied separately, and cleaned from the press. Black and Reflex Blue are generally among the most economical spot-color choices.
Design
Spot-color artwork should identify the required PMS color numbers in the file or in the order instructions.
For design assistance, you may submit a clear sketch created in Word or Excel. Please clearly identify the file as a sketch so it is not mistaken for final camera-ready artwork.
Does landscape orientation cost more than portrait?
Pricing may differ based on orientation because landscape forms can require additional gluing, padding, or binding.
For accurate pricing, please request a custom quote.
Proofs
Proofs are generally provided for new orders and reorders that include changes. A new proof may not be sent when an order is being reprinted exactly as it was produced previously.
- Full color products
Full-color products are printed on demand from camera-ready artwork using your own design. They offer extensive flexibility in the use of colors, photographs, graphics, and layouts.
Available options may still be limited by the production requirements of the product. For example, certain carbonless forms may not be available with full-color printing.
Each sheet is printed individually and then padded, bound, or finished as required.
Camera-ready artwork
Full-color products require camera-ready artwork. You may upload or email a file showing exactly what should be printed.
Our graphics department will review the file for production compatibility. The artwork will not normally be altered unless a production issue must be corrected.
Ink colors
Full-color products are printed using CMYK process color and are not limited to one, two, or three spot ink colors.
Design
Files for full-color printing should be created in CMYK color mode.
You may also submit a clearly identified sketch created in Word or Excel when requesting design assistance. A sketch that is not identified as such may be treated as final artwork.
Graphic design charges vary according to the complexity of the project. Typical design costs may begin at approximately $75 for a one-sided project and $150 for a two-sided project.
Proofs
Proofs are generally provided for new orders and reorders that include changes. A new proof may not be sent when an order is being reprinted exactly as it was produced previously.