FAQs & Definitions

1. What kind of files can I send to HPM?

We recommend saving as a .PDF

You may also send the file in the following types: pdf, jpg, jpeg, tif, tiff, eps, ai, and png for things such as business cards, flyers, brochures.... We also accept files for Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Microsoft Office including Publisher, however, we may need to make adjustments to your file if you send us something via Microsoft Office.

2. What color mode should my files be?

1. What kind of files can I send to HPM?

You should always start and finish your designs in CMYK color mode. If you send us an RGB file, there is a chance that a color shift may occur and you may not be satisfied with your job. If you do not know how to change from RGB to CMYK, please advise us and we can help you.

3. What resolution should my file be?

1. What kind of files can I send to HPM?

4. How should I set up my bleed and crop marks?

Your files should always be at least 300DPI. Lower resolution will result in poor images and unsatisfying end product.

4. How should I set up my bleed and crop marks?

Bleed must extend further than the cut line by approximately .25", but more wiggle room is always better. Please keep all text and anything you do not want cut at least .25" away from the cut line. Please include crop marks.

5. How do I export a .pdf correctly?

4. How should I set up my bleed and crop marks?

5. How do I export a .pdf correctly?

When exporting from any program such as InDesign or Illustrator, use these settings to make sure your .PDF files export correctly.

Export settings for .PDF files
Adobe PDF Preset is set to: Press Quality
Compatibility is set to: Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3)
Compress Text and Line Art is set to: Off

Glossary of Printing Lingo

Our communication between you is crucial, so here are some key terms that will help you understand some of our “lingo”.

Accordion Fold: Bindery term, two or more parallel folds, which opens like an accordion. Note: does not come with music or lederhosen!
Against the grain: At right angles to direction of paper grain.

Bind: To fasten sheets plastic comb, thread, glue, or by other means.

Bleed: No need for a bandage, it's printing that goes to the edge of the sheet after trimming.

Carbonless: Pressure sensitive writing paper that does not use carbon.

CMYK: Stands for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black and is a color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of these four process colors. CMYK is the standard color model used in offset printing for full-color documents. Because such printing uses inks of these four basic colors, it is often called four-color printing.

Comb Bind: To plastic comb bind by inserting the comb into punched holes.

Cover Paper: A heavy printing paper used to cover books, make presentation folders, etc.

Crop: To cut off parts of a picture or image.

Emboss: Pressing an image into paper so that it will create a raised relief.

Foil: A metallic or pigmented coating on plastic sheets or rolls used in foil stamping and foil embossing.

Foil Emboss: Foil stamping and embossing an image on paper with a die.

Foil Stamping: Using a die to place a metallic or pigmented image on paper.

Gloss: A shiny look reflecting light.

Hard copy: The output of a computer printer, or typed text sent for typesetting.

JPEG: (“jay-peg”) Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group - a compression technique for color images. Although it can reduce files sizes to about 5% of their normal size, some detail is lost in the compression.

Laminate: To cover with film, to bond or glue one surface to another.

Matte Finish: Dull paper or ink finish.

Opacity: The amount of show-through on a printed sheet. The more opacity, or thicker the paper, the less show-through. (Note - the thicker/heavier the paper, the higher the cost.)

PDF: Stands for Portable Document Feeder. A file (text, graphic or combination) saved in a 'read-only' format, so that it cannot be altered. This is an ideal way to send files to printers to ensure margins, graphics, and fonts hold true to the original design.

PMS: The abbreviated name of the Pantone Color Matching System.

Saddle Stitch: Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.

Scanner: Machine used to scan art, pictures or drawings to electronic format or to make copies.

Score: A crease put on paper to help it fold better.

Side Stitch: Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.

TIFF: Most commonly known as an acronym for Tagged Image File Format, one of the most widely supported file formats for storing bit-mapped images on personal computers.

Got Questions? We Have Answers!