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How is your printing and packaging service different
from other offshore printing companies?
Most printing brokers do not have local office or representatives. Majority
of the communications are done through phone or e-mail. Without local
representative act on behalf of the client, the brokers reply heavily
on what the Printer is informing them, communication errors can often
effect the final outcome of the project.
Shao Creative has a local presence in China and with multi-lingual staffs
in China and US, we are able to break the language and distance barrier.
You wouldn't have to worry about converting measurements, paper stocks,
or miscommunicating certain technical printing terms. Just let us know
what's on your mind and our experienced print project managers are able
to communicate your needs directly to our printers and monitor the progress
in person at the printing facility to ensure your project is done right
and on time. Once your order is processed, you'll receive
a press proof with the actual paper sample before it goes to print. Once
you authorize the press proof, our local staff will make sure the final
printed piece will match the press proof which you've approved earlier.
If it doesn't, our staffs will demand to make the change immediately at
the printing facility. You can rest assure our local print managers are
working hard for you.
Why should we buy through you and not directly from
the offshore printers?
With the convenience of Internet, offshore printers from all
over the world are suddenly so accessible. However, managing all the details
of a print project can be complex and it is important you know whom you
are dealing with. Many firms focus mainly on pricing, quality and details
are undermined. You might have seen many low quality, dull color printed
materials, that¡¯s because many of these printers are limited in resource
and still utilizing older technologies and lower quality ink.
Being a design studio ourselves, we recognize the importance of quality.
Because some of our staffs reside in the region, we are able to identify
and only work with reputable and high caliber Printers whom are using
color system such as Pantone, and reliable print equipment from companies
like Heidelberg, Roland, and Kobus. Because of the great relationship
we've built with these firms, we are able to acquire at wholesale rate
and pass the saving onto our clients.
Are all print jobs suitable to be done in China?
Not all print jobs are suitable to print over seas. Smaller and
lower quantity jobs are usually not economical due to fixed custom and
port fees. Our goal is help you save a minimum of 20% from printing locally.
Please let us know if you have a project on the horizon and we can help
you determine if it will be cost effective to print in China.
Are the quality up to my standards?
The quality is superb. In many instances, you'll see the quality is even
better than what you're getting now. Our printers are using the same high
quality printing equipment,
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What types of paper can I get for my print
job?
Our offshore printers stock a wide selection of "house papers"
ranging from gloss or dull finished text and cover weights to textured
papers, such linen and felt. These papers are manufactured locally in
China and are able to pass along cost savings to our customers. You may
also bring your paper sample and we¡¯ll show you the closest match to your
choice. If you need a specific paper that we don't stock, this is not
a problem, we can import the paper directly from the manufacture and still
do the job to fit your specifications. To understand paper weight conversion,
please go to http://www.shaocreative.com/printing/paper.htm.
Which desktop publishing programs do you
prefer?
We use QuarkXpress for layout, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
for graphics. Although that is what we prefer, we can accept any desktop
publishing file. PageMaker, InDesign, CorelDraw, Freehand and Publisher
to name a few. We have a fully equipped prepress department that can accept
both PC and Mac files. Our prepress technicians are knowledgeable, experienced
and ready to help. Feel free to give us a call.
Do you accept PDF files?
Yes, we can. However, please make sure that you submit us an
editable pdf file just in case of any last minute changes.
What should I send with my files?
It is helpful to have composite and color separated laser proofs
of your files. This is an effective way for us to be certain that our
final output matches what you are expecting to see.
Send all the fonts for your document. We have an extensive font library,
but minor differences in certain fonts can cause type to reflow.
Include all the support graphics used in your document (tif and eps files).
Even if the graphics are embedded in your document, we may need them.
How should I prepare my desktop publishing
files?
Make sure the document is the actual size it is being printed.
- When creating multiple page booklets, layout the pages as single pages.
Do not lay them out in spreads.
- Do not set your own trapping.
- All areas that bleed off the page must extend at least 1/8" (.125").
How should I prepare my image files?
Photographs should be cropped and scanned at 300 dpi (dots per
inch) and be the same size you intend to place in the printing. This will
assure that edges are crisp and color is sharp. Line work should be scanned
at 1200 dpi and be the same size you intend to place in the printing.
Save your images as Eps or Tif files in the CMYK color space. Avoid Jpeg
or Gif files. These images are saved using a compression process that removes
color and quality in order to decrease the file size. They are used widely
on the Internet because their smaller size allows them to load quickly on
your web browser. Web graphics are usually saved as RGB images at 72 dpi.
This type of file will not reproduce well when printed in the four-color
process.
How can I send my files?
If your files are too large for e-mail, you can send them on
removable media such as Zip or CD. If you have access to high speed Internet
connection, the fastest way to get files to us is by uploading to our
web server, instructions will be provided individually.
What kind of proofs will I receive?
For color jobs, you¡¯ll receive Press Proofs, which are unheard
of in the U.S. Normally, you¡¯ll need to be present at the print shop for
a press check in order to ensure the project is accurate. However, Press
Proofs offer you the opportunity to see exactly how your final printed
piece will look like at the proofing stage. Therefore, what you see is
what you get
How will last minute changes be handled?
If last minute changes are minor such as spelling, etc, we can
fix the change without additional fees and any delays to your print schedule.
Otherwise, the client or we can complete the change for a fee, which will
be pre-quoted. If the change occurs after the proof is made, then we'll
reprint a proof after the change is made to ensure everything is correct
and approved before it goes to press. Once the client signs off on the
final proof, no changes can be made from this point forward.
What if the printed piece does not match the
proof?
Upon approval of the proof, the press operator uses the proof
to match color during the print run to ensure its closest match. However,
rarely, there might be air bubble or dust that might get into the ink
and appear on printed sheets, in that case, we'll be gladly take back
any sheets that have the problems and reprint them at our cost.
What is the average delivery time for a project?
Since each project is different, production and printing time
can vary. You'll receive the proof average one week after the submission
of the final files. Upon proof approval, production will take around 2
weeks. If your project is urgent, we recommend a partial or whole shipment
via air, shipping time is as little as 2 - 3 days. However, if you decided
to ship via ocean freight, it will take 3 to 4 weeks, however, the saving
will be tremendous compare to shipping entirely via air.
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