General Questions
Any vector file is good (Corel Draw, Illustrator, Indesign). Also PDF file is a good choice. All type must be converted to outlines. Non vector images must be provided as a BITMAP TIF at 100% size with a minimum of 800 dpi. (1200 dpi is recommended) Any bitmap TIF images should be embedded.
Almost all our communication shall be done via email, so please email us at hello@boutique-mariage.com and we will get back to you with an answer asap.
We can print any colour specified as Pantone Matching System (PMS), not CMYK or RGB values.
We print using Solid UNCOATED Pantone inks, which can appear dramatically different on screen, please be sure to view a physical Pantone swatch book when selecting your colours. Because we print on uncoated stocks a Uncoated Pantone colour book must be used. If you are unable to access a Solid Uncoated Pantone swatch book you can mail us a physical sample of the colour (fabric, paper, etc) to match to. Our final print colours will not match your on-screen preview, but the Pantone colour you have selected.
First of all and one of the most important step is that we use to advise our clients to print a mock up of their design at 100% size; if the printed size does not match with your wishes, you can adjust the file but take into account 4 pt character type and 0.25 pt lines as a reasonable limit to print.
We have split the quantities based on our experience: minimum order would be 50 pcs. Considering the number of production steps usually involved in our card production, we highly recommend you order some extra cards at first in order to get the best price for the quantity. With setup costs for each production step, it will cost less to order more at first, rather than pay for all the production steps all over again.
If there is no possibility to see your job locally in our shop, we do offer the option to take photos and show you the job as we run it. If you want to approve each and every step of printing, you have to be available by e-mail during press time so that we can get approval to proceed right away. There is no additional cost for that, the only request is to be online at the established production date.
We work with well known international paper suppliers, therefore we have a large variety of papers. Not all of them are in local warehouse but can be ordered and it may take 2-3 weeks to have it. In our Studio you’ll find many samples. For international clients and non locally we sent detailed photos of the paper we decide to use. Sending paper samples abroad is also possible but will involve an extra charge.
Large areas of solid color are difficult to control and there will be some color variation throughout the run. Some pieces may have darker ink density, some may have lighter density. We are letterpress professionals so we keep a sharp eye on consistency while printing, but color on letterpress is added and controlled manually, so there might be variations. Solid areas might appear “salty” on paper - In order to maintain the fine details in your artwork crisp, it may be necessary to print with less ink density in solid areas which can cause more or less saltiness in the final printed pieces; printing process is also related to the type of paper you have selected and large print solid areas might look different on different types of paper. Darker colours on a toothy cotton stock demonstrate the most salty appearance and light colours on a smooth stock demonstrate a less salty appearance.Large solid areas do not offer impression - Solid areas of colour or colour floods do not generally offer the exquisite 3D impression possible with letterpress printing. Text, line work and pattern represent ideal artwork for letterpress while graphic elements or text reversing out of solid areas do not. If you have a crowded design, with many graphic elements, letterpress printing will not create a noticeable impression into the paper.Large areas of impression cause sheet distortion - Letterpress with heavy impression is physically altering the thickness of paper which can bubble or curl under the heavy impression; this process is known internationally as „potato chips” effect which is a very good example of what happens to the paper when heavy impressions are pressed.
Getting the impression is not the key advantage of hot foil printing although a small amount of impression is possible. Through hot foil printing you can not achieve the same deep impression that you achieve with a letterpress ink.