Useful Resources

DESCRIPTION: The name of the printing item you need the quote for (e.g., printing books, brochure printing, and catalog printing…).

QUANTITY: How many do you need? It is a good idea to list 3 quantities, as the unit pricing is better once the printing press and running.

NUMBER OF PAGES: This is different from how many sheets of paper. A single piece of paper has two sides and therefore is two pages.

TRIM SIZE FOLDED: The size of the printed item once folded.

TEXT INK: Ink that is used for the inner pages of your printed item. This is described by the number of inks you require and the two numbers used are separated by a slash sign /. If the front of your piece has 4 colors and the back has 1, then your piece would be described as 4/1 or "four over one". CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) is for process printing, such as color photos and Pantone inks also known as spot color, or PMS stands for Pantone Matching System.

COVER INK: Same as the above, but for the cover portion, if it differs from the text.

SCANS: Scanning is the process that records your images as a digital file from your photograph.

HALF TONES: A black and white photo shot with a camera.

DESIGN: Combining your type, images, colors logo and other items into a finished eye pleasing piece.

PERFECT BIND: A squared off edge and glued pages define this bindery type. An example is your typical "pocket" book printing.

PERFORATE: Creation of holes either by die or a bindery rolling process for tear outs in coupon book printing.

HOLES: Punching or die cutting holes to allow for binder or other use.

DIE SCORE OR CUT: A "steel rule" die is manufactured, which is composed of thin pieces of steel that will be used to stamp a line or rule on the printed materiel. To die cut is to cut the printed piece to get  a desired shape".