FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

How long is your turnaround?

Unless otherwise arranged, our standard turnaround is 10-12 business days. Turnaround begins when your estimate is approved and we have final, print ready files.

We can and do accommodate rush orders for a fee which is determined on a case by case basis. To find out what a rush for your project will cost, email us at info@czarpress.com with the specs of your job, where your order will be shipping to, and when you want it in hand by.

How do I need to supply my files?

All files should be submitted as PDFs.

  • You artwork should be final size; if you want a 5” x 7”, your artboard should be set at 5” x 7”.

  • If your artwork requires a bleed (i.e. if your art has parts that go all the way to the edge of the paper), in your document settings, set the bleed to .125” on each side and extend your artwork to the edge of the bleed line.

  • Your document color mode should be set to CMYK.

  • All fonts in your files should be converted to outlines.

  • All photos in your files must be embedded.

  • The minimum line-width for letterpress and foil is 0.3. If your lines are thinner than this, they will not properly expose onto the plate. You can measure this in Adobe Illustrator using the pen tool.

  • If your order includes a piece(s) that has more than one print process or ink color, please provide separations for each color / ink process as well as a full color mockup. For example, for a 1-color letterpress + 1-color foil piece, you would provide us with:

    • One file that has only the letterpress artwork

    • One file that has only the foil artwork

    • One file that is a full-color mockup with both the letterpress and foil artwork. This should look like what you want the final piece to look like.

  • When your project includes having a return address printed on an envelope, you need to provide us with a mockup that shows us where on the envelope you would like your address artwork to be placed.

  • For more info on file requirements for envelope addressing, see the answer below for “Can you print on envelopes?”

Can you print on envelopes?

Yes. We can flat print, foil stamp, or letterpress on envelopes.

Guest addressing or variable data can only be done with digital as it’s not cost effective to make physical plates for the large number of names that most events require. Please find our variable data sheet attached here. We will require that you supply us with a mockup of how you’d like the envelope printed as well as all the fonts you’ve used in an .otf format.

Are envelopes included as a part of my order?

No. Envelopes are a separate item and if you want them with your order you will have to let us know. We can order envelopes in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and flap shapes, so just let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to find you some that work for your project :)

Do you print proofs?

We print physical proofs as requested. For physical proofs of digital pieces, charges will vary based off the number of pieces you need proofs for, the paper being used, and how quickly you need the proofs. For letterpress, foil, embossing, and screen-printing, proofs are much more expensive to produce as we have to go through all the same steps that we would if we were running a full job, including making plates or screens that make up a large portion of the cost of an order. For this reason we need to charge you enough to cover the costs of the plates / screens used, as well as a charge for labor / setup. If you proceed with the existing artwork, the costs of your plate or screen is rolled into the cost of the full run so you are not charged twice. Any changes that are made to the artwork after receiving a physical proof (Letterpress, Foil, and Embossing only) will require a new plate(s) to be made which you will need to pay for.

We do not provide digital proofs as we make our prints directly from the art files that you provide us with.

What is a Pantone book and do I need one?

TLDR: You need one.

Pantone is a standardized color matching that printers, manufacturers, and designers across the world use to specify and replicate specific colors without having to be physically in the same place. What this means is that if you have a Pantone book, you can choose a swatch color, and any printer worth their salt in the entire world should be able to match to it. This is how our greeting card clients are able to pick a color for the card and we are able to reproduce that same color for years after the original run without needing a sample to refer to.

There are a wide variety of Pantone color systems each with their own applications and books. The book that we use here at Czar Press is the Formula Guide Solid Uncoated. Anyone who is serious about their career as a designer or stationer should own one. It is the best way to get consistent and accurate colors for your projects. Plus they’re just so fun to look at :)

Why does my ink color look different on the actual card from how it looks on my screen?

Physical colors that exist in the real world are not the same as colors we see on our screens and devices. To make matters even more complicated, the colors you see on your computer screen are different than the colors I see on my computer screen, and those are different from the colors we both see on our phones. This is why designers around the world turn to the Pantone Matching System (See Above) when they want their printer to be able to match a specific color with perfect precision.

TLDR: DON’T TRUST YOUR SCREENS!

Do I need to pay a deposit before my order will be processed?

Nope! We don’t require deposits, but we do ask that first time customers pay for their orders before we ship them out.