Information
This part of our website contains important information about our offers as well as the terms and conditions of execution of orders in our printing house.
It also contains a number of guidelines for proper preparation of graphic designs and files, their transfer and approval and other important information.
Offer terms and conditions
Our offer, unless it is otherwise noted, is valid for 7 days, which means that (taking into account the restriction below) we will accept your order at the offer price, and subject to terms of contract specified on this website, up to 7 days from the offer delivery.
However, on customer’s request we usually confirm the validity of our offer prices even a few months later.
Please note that due to technological limitations we reserve the right to reject the order after checking its specific graphic design. Since we are unable to print all the graphic designs well, we accept orders only if we can ensure the highest possible level of performance. Therefore we can reject the previously confirmed order upon the receipt of the graphic design.
However, such rejections concern less than 1% of all the orders.
The order release date is set through negotiations and does not include the shipment. As far as it is technically possible, we try to fulfill orders within the time limit expected by the customer. Therefore let us know about the expected order release date and the possible date of sending the graphic design as well as the date of the rasterized image preview (soft proof) approval. We will either confirm the expected dates or offer the closest possible ones.
The order release date set in this procedure is valid only in the case of the immediate placing of the order. Even a few hours’ delay may require setting the dates again because of the large number of orders incoming every day.
We also emphasize that the delay in file upload or soft proof approval may postpone the order release date (in the worst case scenario by a period longer than just the delay itself).
If the offer does not include any other information regarding the terms of payment, cash on delivery method of payment is assumed. However, the deferred payment can also be negotiated.
To place an order just call the Marketing Specialist who sent you the offer. After fixing the price, the deadlines and any other important order parameters, we will send you an order confirmation by email. To place an order just send this email back with your approval.
Terms of contract
The following important information, the rules of cooperation and specific requirements for technical parameters as well as the information how to prepare the files and the graphic designs for sheet-fed offset printing, and how to deliver them to the printing house constitute the order conditions. Strict application of these conditions makes it possible both to optimize the product quality and to reduce the risk of product divergence from the customer’s expectations.
Bleed – the part of the graphic design beyond the “trimbox”, the edge of trimming. The lack of bleed causes errors during the post-press operations.
Imposition – arrangement of the product’s pages on the printer’s sheet.
Rasterisation – conversion of the graphic design image uploaded by the customer into its raster image representation (i.e. a grid of dots) that will ultimately be offset from the plates onto the sheets of paper in the printing process.
Blueprint/imposition proof – low graphic quality, actual size test copy of the product printed on large-format inkjet printer after imposition and rasterization used for checking and correcting mistakes in contents, imposition layout and completeness of data after rasterisation.
Densitometer – an optical density measuring device.
Reference materials – materials serving the press operator as an instruction how to print. Certified contract proofs are the only reference materials at our printing house.
Contract proof – a test print that simulates the real effect of the printing process in given technology, in accordance with the conditions specified in ISO 12647-2. The basis for recognition of a colour proof as a contract proof is its certification.
Proof certification – proof correctness validation. Its aim is to compare the difference between the values measured in the fields of a control strip placed on the side of the proof, and the target values. The target values are determined in the ICC profile which is used to produce the proof.
Certified proof – a proof with a sticker attached certifying that the proof’s colour difference ΔE does not exceed the tolerance specified in ISO 12647-2.
ICC Profile – digital file containing the colour characteristics of a device. This profile is consistent with the requirements laid down by the ICC Specification.
Files with graphic designs should be uploaded to a unique ftp account created for every job. The username and the password are sent by the Marketing Specialist immediately after placing the order (or even before that).
A successfully completed upload of files containing the graphic design with no critical errors is considered the date of the graphic design files delivery.
We emphasize that the delay in the agreed date of files delivery or their rasterized image preview approval may postpone the deadline for the job (in the worst case scenario by a period longer than just the delay itself).
The only format we accept is a composite PDF file containing only the CMYK colour space, and in the case of spot colour printing the appropriate Pantone colour names are necessary. After receiving files with incorrect color space, we'll give you information about it in the file check report and we'll automatically convert it to CMYK space. However, any conversion which may cause significant color discrepancies, is performed at the customer's sole risk. This risk can only be avoided by sending files in the correct color space. Our printing house is not responsible for the discrepancy of colours due to the use in the graphic design of the Pantone colour names other than specified in the order. Please use the ZIP compression since the JPG compression causes damage (artefacts) of pictures.
All kinds of masks for UV varnish, die cutting or other forms of processing should be included in the file as a separate spot colour with an “overwrite” attribute.
The images included in the files should have a resolution of 300 dpi. In order to avoid the phenomenon of visible pixels, resolution should not be lower than 200 dpi. The absolute limit below which the phenomenon is extremely (clearly) visible and causes illegibility of these elements is 150 dpi.
Fonts in files should be in vector notation (they cannot be rasterized as it causes blurred edges and prevents overwriting if they are black). In the case of using applications such as Corel, it is recommended to convert all the text to curves.
Inner pages should be delivered in a page-after-page order in one file (it is unacceptable to provide each page as a separate file).
Inner pages and covers of bound publications should be sent in separate files (one file for inner and one for cover pages). The covers should include a proper back thickness (we provide this information). On the inside pages of the cover it is necessary to leave a white unprinted band extended slightly both to the second and third cover page (the technological requirement for gluing).
All the files need to have clearly defined names and page ranges they contain, as well as the content type if this is a mask for UV coating, die cutting etc.
The file name must not contain spaces and special characters (*>!, etc.). Only underscore is allowed.
The screen ruling, resolution and screen angles will be overwritten (see “CTP settings applied”).
Fonts and graphic elements should be placed at a distance of at least 5 mm from the publication net format, i.e. after trimming.
Each page should have a minimum bleed of 3 mm.
There should be a 10 mm distance from the trim line for the essential elements of the graphics on the page (especially the long ones, parallel to the edge of the page).
Minimum type size of one colour printing is:
- 6 pt. for monospaced typefaces,
- 7 pt. for proportional typefaces.
Minimum type size of printing in more than one colour or opaque printing is:
- 8 pt for monospaced typefaces,
- 10 pt for proportional typefaces.
The smallest permissible line thickness is 0.25 pt, and for the lines printed opaque or in more than one colour it is not less than 0.75 pt.
Black texts over 24 pt may be printed in four colours.
The effective size of centerfolds placed inside the cover is reduced by the width of the lateral binding, i.e. 7 mm (perfect binding).
The effective centerfolds size (in perfect binding) is smaller than the nominal because of the incomplete opening of the book. Correction (doubling the image at the inner edge of the page) should be included in the file. Our printing house does not make adjustments of the page size or layout.
For saddle stitching the physical phenomenon of the page size reduction (due to the thickness of the spine) should be taken into account and thus accordingly increased padding and bleeds should be applied. During the assembly stage we correct the position of pages to compensate the effect of the thickness of the spine. Adjustment is calculated based solely on the weight of the paper. In such cases, it is automatically assumed that such operation is allowed within the page layout or design. The customer must take into account that the correction is not possible for centerfolds with elements stretching across the pages and therefore the design should be adjusted accordingly.
All graphics must be in CMYK colour space. Please do not upload jobs in other colour spaces such as RGB or Lab.
The conversion into the CMYK colour space should be executed with the use of the free ICC profiles, as required by the ISO 12647-2, suitable for various types of papers:
-
ISOcoated_v2_ECI.icc
(for matte and glossy coated papers in accordance with ISO 12647-2) -
ISOcoated_v2_300%_ECI.icc
(for other matte and glossy coated papers) -
PSO Uncoated_ECI.icc
(for offset uncoated papers)
The ICC colour profiles mentioned above can be downloaded free of charge from www.eci.org
When printing on a special kind of substrate, not mentioned above, the type of ICC profile used for the separation should be previously agreed with the printing house.
In the case of paper that stands out in its class with atypical parameters (such as whiteness, finishing) convergence in certain colour areas can be limited.
After the upload of the graphic design files, our CtP Specialists verify them. If any errors or discrepancies between the files and the ordered job parameters or the preparation requirements are revealed, the report is sent to the customer.
If errors and/or discrepancies are not critical, i.e. the printing of the design is technically possible, although not optimal, the customer may decide to upload the corrected files or to continue, taking the risk of receiving sub-optimal product.
If errors are critical, it is necessary to upload the corrected files. In certain cases it is possible to order corrections for an additional fee.
Although our printing house always verifies the uploaded files, we do not guarantee that all errors and discrepancies will be detected.
After the successful upload of the files without critical errors the CtP Specialists convert the graphic design to its rasterised image preview and upload it back to the job’s ftp account approval folder or send it by e-mail to the customer.
The purpose of providing the customer with a preview image of the graphic design after rasterisation is to allow him to conduct sole and final verification of the substantial image’s content compliance with the desired outcome, before the irreversible actual edition printing takes place. After positive verification of the conformity between the rasterised image preview and the designer’s or customer’s expectations, the customer sends back an email with a written approval so that we can start the production run.
It is therefore extremely important that the customer verifies the compliance of the rasterized design images with his expectations with utmost care before actually approving them.
We emphasize that we do not control the content of what we print in any way. We limit our liability to ensure the conformity of the approved rasterised image with the edition print. This means that we are not responsible for incorrect interpretation of files by our software if the preview images containing errors have been approved by the customer.
In order to make the approving convenient, we reduce the size of the files by limiting the resolution to 250 dpi and compressing them with JPG lossy compression, as they serve only as a preview for substantive approval of the content conformity. Their defects such as artefacts or blurring the edges of the text will not appear in edition print (if the texts are prepared properly in vector format). These files do not serve as the colour reference either.
If the customer has not ordered the contract proof nor requested the machine print approval, the prints will be made on the basis of standard optical density values with limits of tolerance taken into account. This means that the intensity of colours is controlled by very advanced computer programmes.
We wish to clearly state that, contrary to the beliefs of many of our customers, we are not able to guarantee that Pantone colours, produced by us according to standard procedures, will conform exactly to those on the Pantone samplers available to the Customer, or even to previous products which we have produced on the same type of paper and with the same Pantone colour number. While printing with Pantone colours guarantees the maintenance of nearly uniform colour within one publication printed on uniform material, it unfortunately does not guarantee colour repetition over time, which is important when reprinting.
Larger or smaller discrepancies in printing editions compared to the Pantone sample are caused by a range of technological circumstances, among which the main are:
- discrepancies between Pantone samplers themselves, even between those of one edition,
- differences in sampler printing and offset printing technology,
- differences in paper between the Pantone sampler and the product,
- differences in paper between the cover and inside of a publication,
- narrowed possibilities of using particular pigments due to required physical-chemical properties – light-resistance, alkalis-resistance, temperature, ingredients of glue used for foiling, or UV varnishing, etc. – due to finishing after print,
- lack of fastness of certain pigments and their aging,
- aging and yellowing paper,
- finishing with foil of various types, UV varnish,
- mistakes in measurement and measuring devices.
To fulfil orders with Pantone colours we use ink provided by “Hubergroup Polska” Sp. z o.o., a daughter-company of the Bavarian firm Michael Huber, which has produced printing ink for 250 years. Most of these inks are mixed by “Hubergroup” at its Krakow branch according to their internal procedures. After preparing the ink, a worker conducts a dry trial with the mixed ink and compares it to that already given in the Pantone colour sampler, after which he may correct the mixture in order to attain the highest degree of conformity, which is however different depending on the type of ordered colour.
Ink prepared in such a manner is then used in the printing process by the offset machine operator at our printing establishment, and our responsibility is restricted to proper printing, using ink purchased in the above process.
In the case of continued demands in this area, we request that they be submitted to the Marketing Specialist, who in a particular case, after consulting persons responsible for “colour management” in our company, may make non-standard arrangements, which may however involve a longer execution period and higher cost. However, non-standard arrangements in this area are binding only on condition of their clear confirmation in written form, referring to a particular order.
In the case of coated papers a contract proof can be made for the entire design or for some of its parts (multiple page jobs).
Each contract proof delivered to the printing house must be labelled with the name of the job and the name of an ICC profile.
Contract proofs must be certified.
All proofs delivered to the printing house should have a control strip that allows the control and certification. We recommend the use of Ugra/FOGRA MediaWedge V 3.3a.
Acceptable deviations from the standard values are:
- delta E paper < 3.0
- delta E average all patches < 3.0
- delta E maximum CMYK primaries < 5.0
- delta E maximum all patches < 6.0
- delta H maximum CMYK primaries < 2.5
- delta H average composed greys < 1.5
Conditions of measurement:
- white base, illuminant D50, 2° observer,
- no UV filter, no polarization filter,
- measured by the absolute value without taking into account the colour of the paper.
Contract proofs should be made of the same files that were uploaded to the printing house and positively verified, i.e. after the last correction of the files uploaded for printing.
Contract prints should be made using the ICC profile ISOcoated_v2_ECI.icc (to simulate printing on coated matt and glossy papers compliant with ISO 12647-2).
The proof must include the simulation of the substrate.
Our printing house does not and will not accept proofs that simulate colour patterns printed on uncoated paper (offset paper). Although there are profiles and simulations of uncoated substrates, our experience shows that differences in print are too big.
Due to the “metamerism” phenomenon both the visual evaluation of the proofs and the verification of the conformity between the production printing with the proofs should be carried out under standard lighting conditions, according to ISO 3664:2000, in particular:
- lighting with spectral distribution close to the D50 illuminant (corresponding to the colour temperature of 5000 K)
- CRI should not be less than 95. (Colour Rendering Index – rating scale for light sources). The CRI runs from 0 (for monochromatic light) to 100 (white light). It specifies how accurately we perceive the colour of lighted objects. The higher the index, the more accurately colours appear. Low pressure sodium lamps have low CRI, while sunlight has high value.)
- Illuminance on the viewing surface should be approximately 2000 lux, and the environment and the background on which prints are evaluated should be neutral gray and matt.
Due to the nature of the offset printing process and the fact that contract proof is made in a different print technology, which only simulates the proper one, it is hard to obtain a 100% colour conformity between the proof and the offset print. The degree of conformity is determined mainly by the colour type and the arrangement of individual colours and elements on the printing sheet.
In the case of approval of the production print by the customer, the printing sheet approved and signed by the customer, subject to the tolerances specified in ISO 12647-2, becomes the reference material.
The printing house should be informed if spot colours are expected. Pantone colour reproduction verification is done by comparing the print with the Pantone reference colour chart.
Previous editions, due to the differences in the preparation of designs and the printing process, the different arrangement of elements on the sheet and the differences resulting from changes in the colour of paper and ink may not be a colour reference.
Prints refined with UV varnish or foil can change their colour compared with contract print.
Our printing house uses the following settings by default:
- Exposure resolution: 2400 dpi
- Screen ruling:
- 150 lpi for uncoated papers,
- 175 lpi for coated papers.
- Screen angles: C-15° M-45° Y-0° K-75°
- Classic AM Raster.
We use forced black colour overprint in the case of 100% coverage and the knockout of white elements that could contain attribute overprint. By default, we use automatic trapping thickness of 0.06 mm.
The edition shipment is carried out via Dachser and other couriers under their “Conditions of the foreign service” (Dachser’s available at http://www.dachser.com/pl/pl/General-Terms-Conditions_315.htm In the case of extraordinary needs or expectations in this area (eg. insurance, delivery date guarantee, delay compensation, etc.) the availability must be checked with our Marketing Specialist, or the shipment can be arranged with the courier by the customer himself. We specifically emphasize that we are not able to take any responsibility for the courier.