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Magazines and books
We print our magazines on a wide variety of paper from a thin 80lb. text weight to 100lb. text weight stock..
We print our magazines on state-of-the-art Indigo presses, our prices are close to what you would pay for color copy magazines but instead You get a great price and a great product for what our competitors charge for so so quality.
If your magazine project is on a budget check out our copy book prices for even a better price.
We take files from most programs including Microsoft Word and Publisher, as well as traditional graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. We prefer working with Press Quality PDF files - that way the file has your graphics and fonts embedded in the final file.
We can work with most programs but prefer press quality PDF. Please do not paginate cards or submit multiple up files (we do the pagination ourselves).
Most brochures are printed 1-2 days once we get approval .
A few things to remember before submitting your files:
-If you submit Press Quality PDF’s to our specs you can view a proof online within minutes using our automated system. Our prepress staff will still look over your job before going to press and if your files do need some changes we will send you another proof .
- Make sure you include a bleed area of .125" if you do have image going off the card.
- Cutting may vary so keep all valuable text and logos within the safe area.
- Resolution of logos should be at least 600 dpi
- You can download our templates on our site
If you need help designing your new, professional-looking business cards, you can email us at workflow@hhimaging.com or call us at (415) 431-4731. And yes, we are local.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
Why am I getting another proof after I approved my file online?
If you submit your press quality PDF online your file goes through our automated process but it does not end there. Our prepress staff looks over your file for other issues such as missing bleeds, Rich black text and other issues you might not see in your proof. Please relook over the proof and approve again (this service is free).
How much does it cost to have one of your designers design my magazine?
Magazines can take less a several hours to design. We typically farm that work out. (We have a designer that does this work for us and I can give you his info). Just remember the more organized your text and graphic are the shorter time it will take for someone to lay your job out.
Can I see a hard copy proof?
Yes and we encourage it. We want you to be a 100% satisfied.
More General Info On Offset Magazines and Booklet Printing
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a water-based film (called "fountain solution"), keeping the non-printing areas ink-free.
Offset printing is the most common form of high-volume commercial printing, due to advantages in quality and efficiency in high-volume jobs. The more you print, the less you pay per page, because most of the price goes into the preparation undergone before the first sheet of paper is printed and ready for distribution. Any additional paper print will only cost the client paper price (and ink), which is very minimal. While modern digital presses (Xerox iGen3 Digital Production Press or the family of HP Indigo solutions or Kodak Nexpress solutions, or Canon imagePRESS for example) are getting closer to the cost/benefit of offset for high-quality work, they have not yet been able to compete with the sheer volume of product that an offset press can produce. Furthermore, many modern offset presses are using computer to plate systems as opposed to the older computer to film workflows, which further increases their quality.
In the last two decades, flexography has become the dominant form of printing in packaging due to lower quality expectations and the significantly lower costs in comparison to other forms of printing.
Advantages of offset printing compared to other printing methods include:
* Consistent high image quality. Offset printing produces sharp and clean images and type more easily than letterpress printing because the rubber blanket conforms to the texture of the printing surface.
* Quick and easy production of printing plates.
* Longer printing plate life than on direct litho presses because there is no direct contact between the plate and the printing surface. Properly developed plates running in conjunction with optimized inks and fountain solution may exceed run lengths of a million impressions.
* Cost. Offset printing is the cheapest method to produce high quality printing in commercial printing quantities.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Offset printing, also referred to as offset lithography, is a type of printing process used by virtually all large commercial printers. It is called offset, because the ink is not directly pressed onto the paper, but is distributed from a metal plate to a rubber mat where it is then set onto the paper.
Offset printing can be done on a web printing press, one that use huge rolls of continuously fed paper, or a sheet fed press that, as you would expect, uses sheets of paper. Both types of presses produce printed materials that can be cut to size after printing. Offset printing uses all of the latest technology in printing, including computers that aid in design. Computers are also used to generate instructions for the mixture of ink colors as well as their distribution to the paper.
Offset printing works because water and the inks used in the printing process do not mix. The images to be printed are created on the computer and then "burned" onto metal plates using a chemical developing process similar to photography. The metal plates are dampened with water which adheres to the areas without images. The ink is added next, one color at a time, where it sticks to the areas with images. The most modern systems use a direct-to-plate system in which the images are burned directly to the metal plates; the omission of a secondary step saves time and money.
The colors used in offset printing are usually Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black, represented with the letter K (CMYK). Note that K is used to represent black to ensure that there isn't any confusion with blue. Different percentages of each of these four colors create virtually every color used in offset printing. There are color matching systems, such as the PANTONE® system, that allows print buyers to see the color. The code for that color can be entered into the offset printer's computer and it will calculate the percentages of each color to be used.
The technology behind offset printing allows large volumes of printing to be completed quickly and without any variations in ink distribution. The final printed materials produced through offset lithography also dry quickly, keeping the production process moving smoothly from the printing to the finish work of cutting and binding materials.
A Glossary of Offset Printing Terms
Bleed - an image or printed color that runs off the trimmed edge of a page. Bleeding one or more edges of a printed page generally increases both the amount of paper needed and the overall production cost of a printed job. Bleeds are created by trimming the page after printing.
Cover Paper - heavier, generally stiffer paper commonly used for book covers, folders, greeting cards, business cards, and brochures. Uncoat- ed cover papers generally match the color and finish of corre- sponding text papers. The basic size of cover stock is 20"x26". see also basic size, text paper.
Grade - a type or class of paper identified as having the same composi- tion and characteristics. Grade is a generic paper category, such as writing, offset, cover, tag, and index paper. It can also refer to the quality level of the paper; or to a mill's specific brank of paper, such as Champion Carnival, Benefit, or Kromekote.
Lithography - a printing process using flat surface planographic plates nally stone) that is based on the principle that oil and water don't mix. The image to be lithographed is created on the plate with greasy material that repels water. Water is run over the plate, and the non-image areas absorb it. When the oily ink hits the plate, it's attracted to the similarly greasy image, and repelled by the rest of the wet plate. When paper is pressed onto the plate, it picks up the ink (and a bit of the water). This process is now used primarily for limited-edition prints. see also offset, planographic, plate, printing process.
Offset Printing (Offset lithography) - currently the most common commercial printing method, in which ink is offset from the printing plate to to a second roller then to paper.
Photo-offset - a method of offset printing using photomechanical plates.
Uncoated Paper - paper that doesn't have coating. Uncoated papers are manufactured in a great variety of finishes, colors, and weights, and offer the versatility needed to meet the creative and practical demands of most print jobs. see also book paper, cotton paper, cover paper, furnish, offset papers, text papers, vellum.
UV Coating - a very slick, glossy coating applied to the printed paper sur- face and dried on press with ultraviolet (UV) light. The slick surface of UV coating makes it eye catching, and therefore very popular for printing the covers of paperback novels. Because UV coating can cause slight variations in match colors, con- sulting with an ink manufacturer or printer will yield best results.
Get Started....Calculate Your Price! Download a template -----> Save as PDF |
Templates
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Click "Upload Your Art" tab for instructions on sending your files and seeing your proofs.
Click "Name your project" then click on the [ Prepare artwork ] tab.
| Click the ( Upload Applet ) button on this tab. This will bring up the Java file upload applet - a Digitally Signed and SAFE tool for file transfer on either Mac or PC. Simply drag your PDF, PS, or EPS design files onto the bullseye drop zone - either from the left navigation panel - or straight from your desktop folders - and press the Start Upload button. Once the upload is finished you will see a list of your files at the bottom of the Prepare Artwork tab. If there is any mistake you will see a X on the right side that you can delete the files with. |
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When you are happy with the file list simply press the Submit Project for Proofing link under the file list. Click the Production Workflow tab above to see how we handle your files! |
Before sending your postcard, flayer, or brochure to print, make sure to prepare the format correctly. Otherwise, your product may come back looking very different from what you sent, and at no fault of the commercial printing company. Below are some printing tips to help you fully prepare your print advertising job before placing an order.
1. The fonts that your design program offers may differ slightly from the fonts of the printing company. Often, printers will choose a font that is close to the design you chose but this can sometimes result in subtle differences that change the style of your design. The best way to avoid this is to find out what font program your printing company uses and also send the font names and program files, if possible.
2. Even more important than font styles are the graphics in your design. First of all, convert RGB colors to CMYK, which is the color format all commercial printers use. Your design program should have the option to choose from a list of CMYK colors. Next, make sure to link rather than embed the images to your layout. Then send copies of your graphics. Usually printing companies require .tif files but check with yours for confirmation.
3. Finally, knowing the format required by the printing company will insure a quick turnaround. Many printers cannot complete your order from the publishing file in which you created your design. Most require Adobe format or other professional programs such as Corel and QuarkXPress. Also be sure that you send your project in the same version. If you have a more updated version than the printer, you may need to convert to an earlier version.
4. Send the files through the medium required by your printer. You may need to send them in a zip file through email. Some online printing businesses will require you to upload the files directly to their website.
Following the printing tips above can provide you with a speedier process by avoiding last minute setbacks in your order or incorrect layout. The most important tip to remember, though, is to communicate clearly with your printing company. Not only will your printer appreciate your thoroughness but also you will receive the order you desire without frustrating delays.
