Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Start by selecting one of the links below. If you don’t see what you need – call or contact us online.
- Are there price breaks for ordering larger quantities of documents?
- At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
- How do I get digital files to DPS?
- How do I go about getting an estimate from you?
- How do I make a PDF file?
- How long does it take for you to complete my order?
- How long until I receive a proof of my job?
- Is white considered a printing color?
- Should I compress my files using programs like WinZip and StuffIt?
- Tips on how to save your design files
- What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
- What format does DPS want my file to be in?
- What is Adobe PDF?
- What is a "proof"?
- What is a PDL (Page Description Language)?
- What is different when saving Color Files to PostScript?
- What is the Pantone Matching System?
- What other file formats can I send you?
- What type of products and services do you provide?
- What types of Shipping Services do you offer?
- What types of media do you accept?
- What types of paper are available for me to print on?
- Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?
- Will the colors on my computer monitor match what is printed?
- Will you match a sample I print out on my own printer, or a previously printed sample?
Are there price breaks for ordering larger quantities of documents? We do offer price breaks on higher volume jobs. Please call us at (913) 492-1500 for more information on this type of pricing. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics? Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.
Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.
Also note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode when possible. Images saved in RGB mode may not print properly. If you are unable to save your image in CYMK mode, please let us know. You can use our file upload form by following the link directly above this sentence. You can also give the digital file to us on CD-ROM, ZIP disc or Floppy disc. If you want to send the digital file to us electronically over then internet, then you can send via e-mail or via FTP. If sending via e-mail, it is suggested that you only send files that are 1MB or less in size. If the file is larger than 1MB, then you should send via FTP. Call DPS (913)492-1500, for a logon name and password to the DPS FTP site before sending the file to us. Give us a call at (913)492-1500, or follow the link directly above this sentence and fill out our online estimate request form. How do I make a PDF file? There are many variables involved in making a PDF file for the first time. Please call us to set up an appointment. We will come to your site and assist you in the set-up of a PostScript printer driver. After the correct destination icon is set-up, printing a PDF file is a simple process, easily performed. How long does it take for you to complete my order? There really isn't a short answer to this question. Some jobs can be produced in minutes and some jobs may take days. Let us know when you need your job completed and we'll let you know if it can be done. We go to great lengths to meet your most stringent demands. Most jobs can be completed and shipped within 3 business days after you approve your proof. How long until I receive a proof of my job? Once you have placed your order, you should get a proof within 24-48 hours after we receive your electronic files. Is white considered a printing color? Not typically. Because white is the default color of paper, it is simply recognized as the absence of any ink. However, when using colored paper, white ink may be used if any text or graphic requires it. Should I compress my files using programs like WinZip and StuffIt? If you use our online file upload form, your files will be compressed automatically. If you're sending your files via E-mail or FTP, then compressing them before sending is a great idea. This allows your document and all supporting files and fonts to be included into one easy to handle file. Tips on how to save your design files Make them print ready and acceptable for us to print.
COREL DRAW:
Saving your Corel Draw file as an Adobe Illustrator EPS
• Embed all Images
• Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
• Export as Illustrator EPS
FREEHAND:
• Embed all Images
• Convert all your text/copy to paths
• Export as Illustrator EPS or PDF
PAGEMAKER:
Saving your PageMaker file as an EPS
• Embed all Images
• Convert all your text/copy to outline fonts
• Export your file as an EPS using the below settings:
Postscript Level 2
CMYK Mode
TIFF format and
Binary
PUBLISHER:
You will need to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you don’t please download and use our Adobe Job Ready Program. If you do have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF please follow the steps below.
Under File, Print, select Adobe PDF writer
Under Properties select Press Quality and Save your PDF What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing? PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources. What format does DPS want my file to be in? DPS can work with files in several formats. The order of preference is PDF, then Native. What is Adobe PDF? It is the industry standard PDL (page description language) invented by Adobe. PDF can print any kind of document including text, graphics, images and color. It is compatible with all computers and software, and the format DPS prefers. What is a "proof"? A proof is a way of ensuring that all of your text is accurate and that everything is positioned according to your requirements. Typically, we will produce a proof which will be sent to you online or printed on paper which can be viewed in our store or delivered to you in person.
On multiple color jobs, we can produce a color proof on our color output device to show how the different colors will appear. What is a PDL (Page Description Language)? A Page Description Language renders the content of a document in a form akin to a mathematical representation of all the lines, circles and characters it contains. PDL's include Hewlett Packard's Printer Control Language (PCL), HP's Graphics Language (HP-GL), Adobe's PostScript (PS), and Portable Document Format (PDF). What is different when saving Color Files to PostScript? The only difference is the destination printer driver used to make the file. When Digital Printing Services comes to your site to set up the printer drivers, we will address the color file issues. What is the Pantone Matching System? The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color reproduction standard in which colors all across the spectrum are each identified by a unique, independent number. The use of PMS allows us to precisely match colors and maintain color consistency throughout the printing process. What other file formats can I send you? We can work with any Mac or PC version of Quark, PageMaker, Illustrator, Photoshop, Publisher, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Good question! We are a full service shop and offer a wide range of products and services. To see a full listing and description of what we can offer you, check out the Products & Services area in the Customer Service Section of our website. What types of Shipping Services do you offer? We use UPS as our standard shipping services for locations outside of the Kansas City Metro area. In the Kansas City Metro area, DPS will personally deliver completed documents. What types of media do you accept? We can take your files on a CD, Floppy Disk, Zip 100MB or Zip 250MB disk. What types of paper are available for me to print on? Our printers can run paper with weights varying from 18 pound to 110 pound. Call our offices for more information on the types, sizes and colors of paper available for your printing needs. Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen? In short, printers and monitors produce colors in different ways.
Monitors use the RGB (red, green, blue) color model, which usually supports a wider spectrum of colors. Printers use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, which can reproduce most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. Depending on the equipment used, CMYK generally matches 85–90% of the colors in the RGB model.
When a color is selected from the RGB model that is out of the range of the CMYK model, the application chooses what it thinks is the closest color that will match. Programs like Adobe Photoshop will allow you to choose which color will be replaced. Others may not. Will the colors on my computer monitor match what is printed? Due to our printers being toner based and not ink based, the ability to match and exact PMS color is limited. However, we are able to match most colors that are presented to us for print. Will you match a sample I print out on my own printer, or a previously printed sample? Due to varying technologies used in printing, there is no guarantee that your completed document will match your printed sample. This is due mainly to the varying results from different output devices such as inkjet, bubblejet and laser printers and offset press prints. Even from one commercial printing firm to another, there can be wide differences in results. In an effort to match the color you are looking for, we require that a proof be approved of color printed documents before printing the complete job.
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