Vanard Lithographers Union Printer San Diego California

Common Printing Questions

Which computer files are print compatible?
What is trapping?
What is the difference between spot color and four-color process?
What do you need to know to estimate my printing project?
What do I need to know about mailing my printed items?
How long does it take?

Which computer files are print compatible?
	Not all computer programs are print compatible. The ones that are not can cause a variety of printing problems. We recommend these print compatible programs: QuarkXpress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe PhotoShop. We also recomend Adobe's PDF format. Please use a PDF-X format when creating your file back to top
What is trapping?
	Adjoining colors by halftone dots to minimize press misregistration. This assures that the two colors touch, preventing a white edge at the junction of both colors. Not sure how to do it? At Vanard we will trap your files for you. back to top
What is the difference between spot color and four-color process?
	Spot Color - printing specific ink colors to targeted areas 4 color process - Printing black, magenta, yellow and cyan to create color reproductions in almost any hue. back to top
What do you need to know to estimate my printing project?
	There are a lot of variables that can affect the cost of a printed piece. These are some of the specifications that will help us to give you the most accurate price: How many do you want to print? What will your finished size be? What is the project description? What type of paper do you want to print on? How will you supply your artwork? How many pages does your project have? Does it need finishing work (cutting, binding, scoring, etc)? You can request a quote now. back to top
What do I need to know about mailing my printed items?
	There are a variety of things you need to know before you print items for the mail. The size and weight of your piece can dramatically affect your postage price. You can contact your post office for more information on business mailings or you can contact Vanard for solutions to your mailing and printing questions. back to top
How long does it take?
	Again there are many variables that affect how long your project will take to completion. At Vanard simple projects can take as little as three days, and we are able to complete even complex printing within 10-14 days. back to top