1.faq's - general 2.faq's - placing orders 3.general guideline...

Designer's Complete Artwork Guideline(click on the links below to jump to the page)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. FAQ's - General

2.FAQ's - Placing Orders

3. General Guideline

4. Standard Card Guideline

5. UV Spot Card Guideline

6. Foilding Card Guideline

7. Emboss Card Guideline

8. Swing Tag Guideline

9. Finish Options

10. VIP Card Guideline

FAQ - GENERAL

FAQs: GENERAL

Q1: What kind of service does Media-Works provide?

We print Business Cards, Plastic VIP Cards, Flyers, Posters and Presentation Folders. We are also eager to serve more well made products in the future.

Q2: How can you contact Media-Works?

If you wish to contact us for any reason, our contact detail shows below:

Telephone number: +27 31 569 - 6612

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.media-works.co.za

Q3: What are our business hours?

Our Business hour are:

Monday - Thursday: 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM

Friday: 08:00 AM - 03:30 PM

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Q4: What is our Privacy and Security Policy?

Your private information is fully protected by our company, and of course not any of them is shared with other companies. We only use your information to contact you when the requested service is provided.

Our security system is equipped and supported by an expert security company. So you can trust our secure connection, and can order in the relief. All information is always protected and secured by us.

For detail policy explanatoin, please go to " Privacy Policy" tag

Q5: What browsers are recommended for browsing our website?

We support the following browsers:

Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome.

Q6: I've sent an E-mail to [email protected] but nobody is reponding to me.

When sending correspondence to Media-Works, please do so from the E-mail address that you are registered with (your login E-mail) or provide the information in your E-mail that will enable us to verify your account and process your request in a timely manner.

Information that will assist us with verifying your account may include the E-mail address and/or the telephone number that you are registered with. Due to the large amount of inquiries that we receive we may not be able to reply to E-mails that we receive from accounts that we are unable to verify.


FAQ's: Placing Orders

Q1: When do I make payment for my order?

You can make payment after you have received our quotation confirming the price for your order. Amount due and account details will be stipulated on the quotation. Please do not make payment before you receive the confirmation quotation as pricing may vary depending on finishing options and delivery fee.

Q2: When will production of my order commence?

Once your order is confirmed and payment has reflected in our account, your order will be confirmed to proceed to print.

Q3: What are the turnaround times?

You can find turnaround time information for each product under our ‘Products’ page. Most items are 7-10 working days (not counting the day your order is confirmed for print) to our offices. If delivery is required then allow another 1-3 working days depending on location.


Q4: How do I make sure my artwork is print ready?

It is very important to make sure you refer to our artwork guidelines before sending your artwork to print. A quick checklist to follow would be:

* Is all artwork supplied in CMYK?

* Are all fonts rasterized, embedded or converted to outlines?

* All fonts should not be lower than size 9px or too thin that they become difficult to read.

* All black and grey colours should only be using the K value. If you would like a rich black the use C:40M:30 Y:20 K:100.

* Grey scale images should only be using variations of K value (monochromatic).

* Have you taken colour shifting into account when it comes to your breakdowns?

* Is your artwork set up to the correct size to cater for your intended cutsize?

* If you have any gradients, watermarks or overprints present, your artwork should be flattened.

* All artwork should be supplied as Hi-res.

Q5: How does Media-Works run its printing?

Most of our printing is done through Litho machines; however we are not a traditional printer in the sense where traditional printers run one order at a time. We run a gang print process whereby multiple artworks share the available print space and thus share the Litho print cost. Due to this process we cannot guarantee exact colours. Please refer to our artwork guidelines for tips on avoiding un-wanted colour shifts.

Q6: Does Media-Works check or alter my artwork?

Media-Works does not alter any artwork. Your artwork is received and checked through our automated software to make sure basic artwork set up requirements is followed.


ARTWORK GUIDELINE - GENERAL

8 QUICK TIPS

1. No RGB

Please make sure all elements in your artwork are CMYK. Any RGB elements present will result in artwork being sent back for ammendments and could delay the "Ready to Print" process.

2. Watch Your CMYK Values

Please make sure all elements in your artwork are CMYK. Any RGB elements present will result in artwork being sent back for amendments and could delay the "Ready to Print" process. When choosing your CMYK values, remember that the printed outcome could be very different to what you see on your screen. To avoid unwanted colour shifts, try keeping your breakdowns as simple as possible. Keep in mind the litho print process where each colour is laid down separately and mix together to create the final colour.

3. Light Coloured Backgrounds

When trying to achieve a light colour, we suggest including a small amount of K value. This is to help ensure that the colour comes out consistent across the whole background.

4. Black and Grey colours

When making up a black or grey, please do so only using the K value. This helps in avoiding unwanted colour shifts. For a true black, please use the breakdown "C40 M30 Y20 K100".


5. Fonts

When sending print ready artwork, please make sure all fonts are converted to outlines or rasterized. Artwork with text present cannot be sent to print. Also try avoiding font sizes and line weights that are too small and thin. This could result in the text being un-readable.

6. Photos

Please make sure all photos are High-Res. Photo's should be lightened by 10-15% (You may need to lighten further if the image is too dark) to account for colour shifting. Business cards which use individual photos such as property agents, these are best taken on a white background with flash on. If you want to print a black and white image, please make sure that the image is monochromatic so that the image is made up only using the K value.

7. Flatten Artwork

If you have any gradients, watermarks or overlaying elements, please flatten the artwork.

8. Proof your orders correctly

When confirming for print, please check all details in the artwork are correct (names, numbers, address etc). Also make sure to check your artwork against all of our artwork guidelines below and make sure you are happy with all your colour breakdowns

FAQs: ARTWORK FOR BUSINESS CARD

Q1: What type of files can I send to Media-Works?

We recommend use of Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw to design. Please noted you may only send the artwork file in "PDF" format. Please also note that we do not accept MS Word.

Q2: What color mode should my files be?


If you send us an RGB file, there is a chance that a color shift may occur and you may not be satisfied with your job.You should always start and finish your designs in "CMYK" color mode.

These colors are in RGB

These colors are in CMYK

Q3: What resolution should my file be?

Low resolution files may be printed as is or will be placed on hold until we receive new files, slowing your turnaround. We only accept 300 dpi files and no less.

These are 72 dpi low res images


These are the same images, but at 300 dpi

Q4: How should I set up my bleed and dimensions?

Our bleed is included in the artboard size. For example, if your actual size for your business card is 90mm x 54mm. The artboard should be increase to 92mm x 56mm (1mm all round) and the background must be extended edge to edge. All graphics, text or borders should be place inside the safe area.The safe area is exactly 4mm inside from the edge of your artboard. .

This is important to preserve the finished look and the quality of the final product.


Q5: How should I set up my file for proper rotation?

Media-Works requires Print Ready files with proper rotation. Artwork must be set up all in the same orientation.


Q6: How can I avoid transparency issues?

To prevent this issue, when you use shadows, gradients, glows or any other transparency's in your artwork. Always flatten the artwork before your sending.

Q7:What is overprint, and how can it ruin my file?

Primarily used to intentionally overlap inks for a number of reasons, overprint can cause unexpected results. We suggest that you turn all overprint objects off before submitting your files.


In this case the logo was set to overprint. The colors from logo are mixing with the colors from the background. Unexpected results may occur if you have accidentally set certain objects to overprint. Always check logos and other artwork before submitting.

Q8: How do I get a grayscale image in a CMYK document?

Grayscale images that are converted to CMYK will have a color shift in the final print. That shift may be green or yellow.Always check the CMYK values of your grayscale in the final CMYK document. If there are other values other than K in your grayscale image, there is a chance that the color will vary.

To eliminate all values other than K, use your Channel Mixer (adjustment layer) in Photoshop, then click "Monochrome" and adjust accordingly.

Q9: What is rich black and how can I get it?

Rich black is an ink mixture of solid black, 100% K, with additional CMY ink values. This results in a darker tone than black ink alone. If you print black alone as 100% K, the resulting black may not be as dark as you might like.


We recommend using C-40, M-30, Y-20, K-100. This will give you a deep, dark, rich black.


Standard Business Card Guidelines

Standard set up refers to the following business cards:

* Gross White* Matte Laminated* Gloss Laminated* Plastic Card White* Matte White* Embossed Linen* Smooth White* Matte-Transparent* Sand Embossed* Beige Metallic* Cross-hatch* White Metallic

Number of pages required in pdf file: 2

PAGE 1: Front artwork

PAGE 2: Back artwork


UV Spotting Guideline


PAGE 1: Front


PAGE 3: Front UV spotting

PAGE 4: Back UV Spotting

UV spotting must be shown on 3rd and 4th page. If UV spotting is not required on one of

these pages then page must be left blank

UV spotting must be shown using breakdown C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100


Foiling Business Cards Guidelines

Number of pages in pdf required: 4


PAGE 2: Back artwork (blank if single sided)

PAGE 3: Image to be foiled on front page

PAGE 4: Image to be foiled on back page

(Please note you can only foil on one side so either page 3 or 4 must be blank)

Foiling is available in Gold and Silver.

Foiling must be 10mm away from bottom edge and at least 5mm away from remaining

edges. (Yellow area marks safe area for foiling)

If detail for foiling is very small, detail may get lost and area may show as solid foil

Foiling on textured board: Texture will show in foiling


Emboss Guidelines




PAGE 3: Image to be embossed

Please specify whether you want to ‘Emboss’ or ‘Debossed’ by stating which one in the

notes area in the quick order form.

If not specification is stated then Embossing will be applied to artwork.

Embossing area always refers to front page artwork.


Swing Tag Guidelines

Hole Punch set up:

Only one hole punch placement can be allocated

Hole punch diameter options: 3mm and 6mm

If doing 3mm, please make sure leading edge is at least 3mm from edge of card

If doing 6mm, please make sure leading edge is at least 6mm from edge of card

Please indicate hole size in ‘remarks’ when placing order

An extra page is to be added to the pdf document to show placement of hole punch. This

must be the final page in the document.

OPTION 1: 220gsm standard board


PAGE 1: Front Artwork


Page 3: Hole punch placement


OPETION 2: 300gsm Matt Lam + UV Spot


PAGE 1: Front


PAGE 3: Front UV spotting

PAGE 4: Back UV Spotting

PAGE 5: Hole punch placement


GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESS CARD FINISHING OPTIONS:

You can select a maximum of 5 finishes per order and one finish per category.

Control Number on business cards:

R285 per 500

Must add extra page to pdf file and show control number on final page

Control Number can be gold or silver foiling

Control number will always appear on front page

Control Number is flat

Control Number cannot go on top of UV spot

Control number is 7 digits long (20mm x 5mm) and without letters

If you need a large size of 2 sets of control numbers, please request special quote

Control number needs to be at least 10mm away from edges

For control numbers set up, always add an extra page to your artwork and show control

number on final page.

Example for set up UV spotting card + Control number:


Rounded Corners:

R74.10 per 500

R210.90 per 500 on transparent board

Rounded corners only available on standard sizes

Diameter is standard 5mm

Corners are represented by A B C or D (as shown below). When selecting ‘Rounded Corners’

under finishing options, please indicate in the remarks section which corners you want

rounded. For example for top left and bottom right you will state: A D

Scoring/tear line:

R148.20 per 500

Cannot do scoring/tear line on standard business card sizes. Minimum cut size for scoring:

90mm x 100mm.

Min size is 2 x standard business card size so price will be equivalent to 2 x business card

price + scoring.

Scoring/tear line needs to be at least 10mm away from card edge

When selecting score/tear line in finishes, please state in the remarks area how many

score/tear lines are required and at what measurement the line is required

ie ‘1 SCORE – 50mm’

If no indcation is shown then all four corners will be rounded.


GUIDELINES FOR PLASTIC VIP CARD FINISHING OPTIONS:

500 gsm VIP:

You can have both a control number and signature strip but must be on different sides

Control Number is embossed with silver or gold foil

Control Number can have one prefix at beginning of number. Prefix must be in Arial font,

size 17pt.

Numbers must go in chronological order and without jumping. For example you can’t do

A000300 then A000400 then A000500.

Prefix + 6 numbers. Numbers area must be 27mm x 5mm. Prefix can be any English letter.

Control number must be 10mm away from edges

Artboard size: 92mm x 56mm

Cutsize: 85mm x 54mm

Blue frame area (80mm x 36.5mm shows area where control number can be placed

All VIP cards will have rounded corners

When choosing signature strip, please display position of signature strip in 100k in card set

up. Signature strip can only be on one side and must be at least 2mm away frame area edge.

Min quantity is 500.

VIP cards with control number can only be done horizontal.

Must use template: link for template download


700 gsm VIP:

You can do both control number and signature strip but must be on different sides

Control Number is embossed with silver or gold foil

When doing the control number design, please indicate the starting number of the control

number. (Ex: 000001)Control number can print up to 6 digits (which may contain an English

letter)

Control number should be at least 5mm away from cutsize edges

Artboard size: 91mm x 57mm

Cutsize: 85.5mm x 54mm

Colour shifting can be exaggerated when printing on PVC and colours may vary in same

order. This will not be accepted as reason to return or claim.

Media-Works will print artwork supplied by customer and will not make any changes,

amendments or modifications to said artwork prior to print.

Positioning of control number is approximate. Media-Works will not be responsible for slight

shifts in control number position.


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