We accept native Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator PDFs, and Adobe InDesign files for production. All fonts must be converted to outlines (preferably) or be packaged with your files. Every process/color should be on its own layer. Non-vector artwork must be provided as a Bitmap TIFF at 100% size with a recommended dpi of 1200. Any Bitmap TIFF images should be embedded in your Illustrator/InDesign file.

Almost everything we do is over email. Files under 20 MB, you can email us directly. For larger files, you can use Wetransfer.com (free service, doesn't require an account). Please make sure to reference the job number (found on your estimate) when sending us files.

Unless you are providing us a production-ready file, you will require some amount of design services. Our project minimum for production design and prepress services is $300.

We need files that we can easily break apart to create tooling for each process. When designing projects with multiple processes, we want to make sure that our clients have considered areas where processes/colors come in contact with each other. It should be clear in your file if you intend to knockout hot stamping processes (foil, heated blind, emboss) or overprint ink colors. We recommend using the “Multiply” effect on your layers to get a rough indication of overprinting ink colors on screen.

Besides letterpress printed inks, every pass/process should be indicated on its own layer. This includes elements such as a hot foil stamp, heated blind impression, emboss, die lines for die cutting, score lines, perforations, custom edge color, etc.

With letterpress printing and speciality printing, each process/color must be printed one at a time, so all ink colors must be specified as Uncoated PMS (Pantone Matching System) Spot Colors; not CMYK or RGB values.

We print using Solid Uncoated Pantone inks, which can appear very different on screen; please be sure to view a physical Pantone swatch book when selecting your colors. If you are unable to access a swatch book you may mail us a physical sample of the color (fabric, paper, etc) to match to on-press. Our final print colors will otherwise match a PMS Uncoated chip and will not match an on-screen preview.

No. As we letterpress print exclusively on uncoated paper stock, any inks we print will have an uncoated appearance. We cannot match other PMS swatch types such as Coated, Process or RGB. You must specify Solid Uncoated Pantone swatches in your final artwork.

First and foremost, we advise designers to print a mock-up of their design at 100% size. Adjust it so it is comfortable to both you and your client. We may be able to foil stamp 4 point type, but can anyone really read that size? Are the counter spaces in your type still clearly visible? Our tolerances are really based on line weight– generally, we can letterpress print a dot or line as thin as 0.4 points, and foil stamp a line as thin as 0.2 points.

We can print a line screened/halftone screened photo – think about a grayscale image in a newspaper. We typically can print a photo provided as a Bitmap TIFF with a 50-130 LPI halftone screen. We push the values in the image to land mostly between 20 and 80 percent. More than 80% starts can start to fill with ink, and less than 20% may risk washing away in the plating process.

Yes, once we have both a project deposit AND final artwork files, we will email you a PDF proof (generally within 1-3 business days) that represents the actual production artwork. This is very important for you and your client to check carefully. It lists papers, PMS spot colors, processes, final trim size, and any special finishing details. After you have reviewed the file, a responding email from you approving the proof is required in order for us to begin production. Changes made after this point are very costly as we order materials (paper, plates, inks, foils, etc.) following proof approval. Clients will be subject to any resulting fees or charges and may be subject to the full cost of reprint.