CMYKGraphix.com FAQ

Do You Print Jobs Other than Your Standard Formats?
What are my binding options?
Paper Options
When will I receive a proof for my job?
How long will it take to get my order?
How do I use Your File Upload and function?
Will my printed job match what I see on my computer monitor or a print from my desktop printer?
Can I make changes in my file before it’s printed?

We only accept print ready PDF files for printing and binding your book. You can securely upload them to us by using the following link www.hightail.com/u/CMYKGRAPHIX

Bleed is the color, type or image that extends beyond the trim marks on a page. To have your color, type or image go all the way to the edge after trimming, we recommend bleeding or extending your color, type or image beyond the final page size by I/8″. So if your final page size is 8.5″ x 11″ and your color, type or image is full bleed (extending beyond each of the 4 edges), the file submitted for printing needs to be 8.75″ x 11.25″.

CMYK Graphix prints on printing presses using the latest technologies. To achieve the sharp, bright color and image reproduction that our presses deliver, images of 300 dpi are required. Your images need to be saved at a resolution of 300 dpi in the final size that they will be used. Some people take images from the internet in preparing their print publication. These internet images are usually only 72 dpi in order for the web pages to load quickly. Use of them will result in very poor print quality.

To over simplify theses two different color spaces-

RGB is a color space based on light. Used in digital cameras, computer monitors, digital scanners and some desktop printers.

CMYK is a color spaced based on ink. Used for commercial offset printing press projects.

CMYK stands for the 4 color process inks used offset press printing – – Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow and black (K is used so as to not confuse it with blue or cyan). Combining these colors of ink allows for reproduction of thousands of colors, and is sometimes called “full color” printing. The issue in commercial printing projects arises from the fact that the RGB color space does not correspond exactly to the CMYK color space. It is therefore possible for you to see colors on your computer monitor that cannot be reproduced by an offset printing press.

RGB stands for Red, Green, & Blue. Color is a form of light energy that comes in waves. The visual spectrum is continuous. However, most dominant colors in the spectrum are red, green, and blue.

RGB color is in fact to color as we see it. Or to be more specific, light waves, such as the ones that come from your computer monitor. Colors displayed on computer monitors and captured by scanners and digital cameras are in RGB. When designing for the Internet, RGB is the color space that you use. Many desktop color printers are designed to interpret RGB color, and translate it into ink on a page.

We only accept print ready PDF files for printing and biding your book. The following check list will help ensure that your file is print ready.

• Be sure that all full color pages have been converted to CMYK color mode. We can do a conversion for you from RGB to CMYK for you. However, we do so using standard Photoshop conversion values which may or may not yield the result you are looking for.
• All images need to be 300 dpi.
• Text must be at least 1/8th inch inside of the cut line on all sides.
• If your page bleeds, please provide 1/8″ on each edge.
• If your project is a book or catalog, leave a gutter (a gutter is the space between the text and spine of the page) between folded pages To allow for a quarter-inch margin on each page, the gutter will need to be a half-inch. Margins should be at least 3/8″ on all edges of a page.
• Outline all fonts when working in Photoshop or Illustrator, imbed fonts in other programs and flatten all layers.
• Include all files needed to process the job: page layout files, imported images, fonts and other support files.
• If your files are large (above 10 mg), use WinZip on a PC or Stuffit on a Mac to compress all the files into a single file for uploading.

Yes we do. If our standard format options don’t match your needs, request a custom size.

Yes we do. If our standard format options don’t match your needs, request a custom size.

Saddle stitching is a popular, cost-effective binding method where folded sheets of paper are nested together and stapled along the center fold. It is the go-to choice for thinner publications like booklets, magazines, catalogs, event programs, and comic books.

• The “Rule of Four”: Because sheets are folded in half, your total page count must always be a multiple of four (e.g., 8, 12, 16, 20 pages).
• Capacity: It is best suited for thinner documents. While capacity depends on paper thickness, it typically accommodates from 4 to about 80 pages.

Perfect binding is a common, professional book-binding method where the interior pages of a book are bound together with a strong, flexible thermal glue at the spine. A wraparound paper cover is then glued onto this spine, creating a clean, square-edged finish.

• Professional Look: The “perfect” in its name refers to the square, smooth spine that results from the process. Unlike saddle-stitched books, perfect-bound books have a spine that can be printed on (perfect for displaying titles on a bookshelf).
• Page Capacity: It is ideal for thicker documents, generally ranging from roughly 40 pages up to a few hundred pages.
• Durability: Because it uses industrial-strength adhesive, it is more durable and permanent than stapled or stitched options.
• Cost: It is more expensive to produce than saddle stitching because it requires more complex machinery to mill, glue, and trim the spine.

Plastic coil binding (also known as spiral binding) is a popular, durable, and highly flexible document-binding method. It involves punching a series of holes along the edge of your paper and threading a continuous, flexible plastic coil through them. The ends of the coil are then crimped to prevent it from sliding out.

This method is commonly used for notebooks, workbooks, training manuals, cookbooks, and any documents that require frequent handling or need to lay completely flat.

• 360-Degree Rotation: This is the primary advantage of coil binding. Because of the flexibility of the plastic, you can flip the front cover all the way around to the back, allowing the book to lay completely flat or fold over on itself.
• Durability: The plastic coils are crush-resistant; if they get bent or squashed, they typically bounce back to their original shape, making them ideal for materials that travel often.
• Page Capacity: Plastic coils come in various diameters to accommodate different book thicknesses, generally handling anywhere from just a few pages up to about an inch or more in thickness.

Hardcover case binding (often just called “case binding” or “hardcover binding”) is the most durable, traditional, and prestigious method for binding books. It involves attaching a hard, protective cover – – made of rigid binder board (cardboard) wrapped in paper and printed in full color with gloss lamination

The interior pages are grouped into sections called “signatures,” then glued into the rigid cover, creating a permanent, sturdy structure designed to last for years or even generations.

• Longevity: It is the highest-quality binding method. Because the cover is rigid and often archival, these books are meant to stand the test of time.
• Aesthetics: Case-bound books have a distinct “shelf presence.” They allow for a thick, printable spine that displays the title and author, making them the standard for retail novels, textbooks, and special editions.
• The “Hinge”: A defining feature of case binding is the “joint” or “hinge”—the area where the hard cover meets the spine, which allows the heavy cover to open and close smoothly without damaging the book.
• Page Capacity: This method can handle large, thick books (like encyclopedias or massive novels)

Your paper choice can make a significant difference in the look and feel of your print communication piece. Commercial printing paper is divided into two broad categories – – Coated and Uncoated (sometimes broadly referred to as offset stock). Within each of those categories are sub-categories by weight – – Text and Cover stock. Text stock is the lighter weight paper used most frequently for the inside or body of a book or catalog. It is less expensive than cover weight paper. Cover stock is a heavier and more durable paper used for the outside cover of a book or catalog. The heavier the paper’s weight with a resulting greater thickness, the more upscale is the look and feel that will be achieved.

Gloss, Matte, Dull and Silk stocks are all coated papers. Gloss stock is a coated paper with a shinny or highly reflective finish. It is most often used in four color printing to have full color photographs, images and graphics appear more vivid, real and appealing. Most brochures are printed on 80 # gloss text stock but 70# and 100# gloss text can be equally good choices depending on your needs. For an even greater upscale look and feel, you might choose 80# gloss cover stock.

Matte, dull and silk coated stocks have a flat, unreflective or dull finish. These types of paper are frequently used to make pages easier to read that are text or type intensive. Accordingly, 80# matte text might be appropriate for a statistical or technical intensive catalog or brochure with lots of text and charts. The choice is dependent on your objectives and how the piece will be used.

Offset is today’s most commonly used stock as it is the paper used in our desk top printers, copiers and books. The body or text pages for books are usually printed in black ink on white offset stock. The most commonly used weights are 50#, 60# and 70# white offset text. They are named based on the weight of 500 sheets (a ream) of the 25″x38″ size of the respective stock.

Bond paper was originally given to paper that was used to print bond and stock certificates. Today it is most frequently used for letterheads and envelopes and is sometimes referred to as fine paper. The most common weights are the 20#, 24# and 28#. They are named based on the weight of 500 sheets (a ream) of the 17″x 22″ size of the respective stock. Both bond and offset weights are often used interchangeably for uncoated papers. For example, 20# and 50# offset are identical except for the sheet size on which the weight is determined.

When choosing paper for the body of your book, you may want to consider 60# if you have heavy ink coverage for copy other than typed text such as many black and white photographs or graphic images. Another important consideration is the number of pages in your book. Several different choices are available for the cover of a book. For self-cover books (where the cover paper is the same as that used for the body) 50#, 60#, and 70# offset text is frequently used. For perfect bound books where a heavier stock is required (usually above 50 to 80 pages) or for saddle stitched books where a more durable stock is needed, 10 pt. uncoated cover stock is a good choice. For that upscale 1look or when using full color, you might use 80# or 100# gloss cover.

• Orders with accompanying PDF print ready electronic files received before 12:00 AM CST will be posted by 1:00 PM. CST the next business day. 

• Orders with accompanying PDF print ready electronic files received after 12:00 AM CST will be posted by 5:00 PM CST the next business day. 

• On line PDF proofs for multi page publications such as books, manuals and diretories will normally be with in 2 to 3 business days of receipt of customer print ready electronic files (depending on no. of pages, file format, etc.). 

Multi page publications such as books manuals and directories are shipped within 10-15 business days from receipt of your proof approval depending on page count and quantity ordered.

UPS ground shipping is from 1 to 5 business days depending on your location.

Hardcover case bound books will take longer due to the additional material and processes required to produce this binding style.

We accept print ready PDF files for printing and binding your book. You can securely upload them to us by using the following link www.hightail.com/u/CMYKGRAPHIX

Very often there is a close match between your final printed piece and that which you see on your computer monitor or print on your desktop printer. There are differing technologies and wide variations in calibration used by each of these devices. As a result, there may well be some differences in color as seen on your computer monitor, your desktop color printer and the final printed piece produced on a four color offset press. Also see RGB vs. CMYK Color Space for additional information on this subject.

Absolutely, we perform a series of pre-flight steps with all customer electronic files received to determine if it is in a print ready format. If print ready, we then provide an online PDF proof for your approval before printing your job. If you want to submit a new file with changes, there is a $75 new file processing charge. If you want us to make changes, we will provide you with a cost estimate for approval before making any change.