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.

1. My sales team has a contact database, and I’ve got a Rolodex full of names and numbers. Can we do direct mail?
2. At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
3. Can you finish my job by tomorrow morning?
4. How does PDI's online print ordering system work?
5. Is white considered a printing color?
6. Tips on how to save your design files
7. What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
8. What happens next?
9. What is the Pantone Matching System?
10. What’s the difference between Digital printing and traditional presswork?
11. Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?

1. My sales team has a contact database, and I’ve got a Rolodex full of names and numbers. Can we do direct mail?

   Sure. The most cost-effective route is usually for your company to gather the contact names, titles, company name, addresses, city, state and ZIP into an Excel spreadsheet. If you don't have Excel, don't worry as most software allows information to be exported to a “Tab-Delimited” text file or similar format. An ordinary text file (MS Word, Quark, etc.) can be used if the information is consistent (that is, the names, addresses, etc., are always in the same order, and are separated by a comma, a tab or a return in a consistent pattern).

2. 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.

3. Can you finish my job by tomorrow morning?

   Probably, if it’s not a tremendously large quantity.

   Our standard turn-around time is two to three working days, so if you need it faster, your job will cost more.

   Please talk with your sales representative for charges on expediting your job.

4. How does PDI's online print ordering system work?

   It’s simple. Just enter the specifications of the work you need: Size, color, quantity, deadlines, etc. We’ll review the information, give you a firm cost estimate and establish a time frame for proofs, printing, bindery, delivery and mailing. We’ll create a permanent, password-protected home for you on the site, archive materials that may need to be reprinted, and give you editable templates for commonly used materials such as business cards and brochures.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. What happens next?

   We’ll use our software to print address information at the same time we're printing your text and images, saving the time and expense of a separate labeling process.

   We can even take information from your database to insert custom text and unique images onto each individual piece. For example, you might print “Hi John. How’s the bakery business in Dallas?” with a photo of the Dallas skyline in the background of one piece; and “Hi Marybeth. How’s the computer business in Los Angeles?” with a surfer picture as the backdrop.

   You can even substitute words, phrases or entire paragraphs seamlessly, reaching thousands of prospects with one mailing – each receiving a message tailored to their location, industry or purchase history with you. A computer company, for example, could promote special pricing on printers to previous buyers, while promoting software specials to frequent buyers in that product line.

   And keep in mind: If your company doesn’t have the staff or expertise to create, format, maintain and update databases, PDI can do as much – or as little – of this work as you choose, at a price you can afford.

9. 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.

10. What’s the difference between Digital printing and traditional presswork?

    The distinction is narrowing. Color reproduction and image clarity on modern digital presses are comparable to offset printing – and may even appear brighter and clearer in many instances. The principal advantage to digital printing is speed – PDI uses Xerox color and B&W presses that print directly from digital files. Proofing is quicker and more accurate because your proof is produced exactly as the finished product will be. Cost is another big plus with digital printing – particularly in small to moderate quantities – largely because prep costs are minimal.

11. 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.