Frequently Asked Questions

General

How do I place an order?

The ordering and printing process starts with you submitting your document and printing details on our Get Quote Now page. Note: Sending info via this quote form is not a sales transaction and does not constitute placing an order. We will contact you within 24 business hours of submitting your information.

Is my information safe on your site?

No information we collect for order processing or from inquiries is shared with any other company or website. Your information is only used to contact you when necessary.

What do you print?

We are full color printing specialists. Some of the products we print are:

Booklets, Books, Brochures, Business Cards, Calendars, Catalogs, Flyers, Greeting Cards, Letterheads, Magazines, Newsletters, Postcards, Posters, Prayer Cards, Yearbooks, and More.

The bottom line is: if it is on paper and it has ink on it, we can print it at a lower price.

How can I reach you?

Telephone: 053.960.290 (International callers +66.53.960.290)

Fax: 053.960.288 (International callers +66.53.960.288)

Phone Toll Free: 1.866.638.1098 (USA / Canada to Thailand)

Address: 12/89-91 Mu 3, San Klang, San Khamphaeng, Chiang Mai, 50130 Thailand

Email: moreinfo@actsco.org

Our Office Hours are:

7am-5pm Monday – Friday

You may submit a quote request on our website 24 Hours a day.

Design

ActsCo Printing Graphic Design Department

Many of our clients start their design journey with us not entirely sure how the design process works. Our professional design staff will help guide you though all the correct steps in order for you to end up with a design you are not only happy with, but will help your project stand out from the crowd.

Designing with ActsCo is fun and stress free, and will not cost you an arm or a leg. Our friendly design team are waiting to turn you dreams into reality. Give us a call to talk about starting your new design project today.

How do I print with a border?

With all designed material, we recommend you leave 1/4″ (0.25) from all surrounding edges of your printed piece. If you leave less than 1/4″ (0.25), we cannot be held responsible for unequal borders from top to bottom and from side to side. This is due to the final cutting process in which some “draw” or “slippage” occurs in that cutting process. This is a print industry standard.

What is bleed and why is it important?

“Bleed” is an essential part of creating artwork for print. Professional designers will always extend (or “bleed”) background elements and images beyond the edges of the document by an additional 4mm or so. This prevents unwanted white borders around the edges of a printed document. This ensures that any inaccuracies which occur during the printing or finishing process shouldn’t cause any problems. Designers are also careful to avoid placing important elements such as text within around 5mm of the edge of the paper. It not only looks unprofessional and cramped, but there is a risk that it could be cut off! This area is sometimes referred to as the ‘quiet’ area of a design.

What should my file resolution be?

All file formats must have a resolution of 300dpi/ppi and have embedded or outlined fonts if applicable. We do not accept files from word processing programs such as Microsoft Word because these programs do not provide an output option for high resolution printing. If you are unsure about your file format, give us a call and we will find the best option for you.

What types of files do you accept?

We accept .JPG, .TIFF, .PDF and .EPS files generated from all major desktop publishing programs.

CMYK versus RGB

RGB color is generally a format used in digital imaging devices such as scanners, digital cameras and computers, and also in designing for web. Offset printing presses and digital printing machines, however, print full color images using a different set of colors to RGB. The color process that forms the basis of printing is CMYK. This acronym stands for the four colors of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. It can also be referred to as “process color” or “four color process”. Combinations of these four colors creates the full range of colors that you see in printed material, and results in a smooth, continuous tone. It is recommended that if you are producing material for print by a professional service such as ActsCo Printing, that you convert your images to CMYK before sending the print files. Doing this will allow you to tweak any images that do not convert well and have a different appearance to their RGB originals. Unfortunately, not all RGB colors will convert well to CMYK—these colors are said to be “out of the CMYK color gamut”. To accommodate for this, you should convert your RGB images in your favorite imaging program (e.g. Photoshop) and check them against the original RGB image. It is at this stage that you can tweak the colors if you find that their appearance is dull or not as you expected. If you do not convert your images to CMYK before sending them to ActsCo Printing, we will run a script in Adobe Acrobat that will convert them to CMYK, however we generally do not check the images after the conversion as this would be far too time consuming (especially to make any color tweaks that might be necessary), so we recommend you convert your images before sending your files to us.

For best results we recommend working in CMYK from the outset if you know your design is destined for print. Programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop allow you to choose between CMYK and RGB fairly easily. If you are designing for web then ensure you work in RGB.

What is proofing and why is it so important?

One of the most important steps in the pre press design stage is proofing. Many print projects fail miserably because the client or printer did not proof their files before printing. This usually results in either the client being stuck with a product not meeting their expectations or having to waste time and money reprinting their publication.

DIGITAL PROOF (SOFT PROOF)

A digital proof, also known as soft proofing, is where the designer opens up a print ready file on their computer screen and checks the layout and textual content. Although this is a simple form of proofing, it is not recommended due to the following reasons.

* Color will not match print color. This is because every monitor, depending on make and model, will show colors differently. This means that the color you see on your screen will most likely not match the color that will be printed by an offset printer.
* When the file is outputted to film information, layout integrity may be lost and will not be picked up until the job has already been printed.

PRINTED PROOF

This is hands down the most effective way to proof your publication.

Your printer should supply you with a proof that has been printed on an inject printer using the preflight files that will be used to output film. This will provide you with an actual printed copy that is color accurate (to 98 percent) of how your printed publication will look after completion.

Once you have received your proof you will be able to go over everything and double and triple check layout, textual content (including spelling and grammar), as well as image and color quality. After you are happy that everything is the way it should be, the printer will ask your to sign off and date the proof. This will become very much like a contract which will protect both you and the printer if something goes wrong during the printing process. At ActsCo Printing we use the latest proofing technology to ensure that your product gets printed correctly the first time, every time.

Printing

Do you require a minimum number of prints?

For many years, ActsCo Printing has only been able to provide offset printing to our clients, which requires minimum runs of 500 copies or more. This type of printing is cost effective because of larger quantities printed. However, we are now able to print on demand, providing a quick and efficient way to get your printed product, with no minimum needed.

I have a big print job. Can you help?

We can print anywhere from 500 copies to over 100,000 copies with an average turn around time of 5 days after the job has been finalized and approved by the client. ActsCo Printing uses top quality German made offset presses. These presses combined with the latest pre press technology help us to produce extremely high quality and consistent printing publications.

For printing information, please see our printing guidelines which will help you understand the printing process and the steps you can take to help your job on the way to printing success.

What is offset printing?

Offset printing requires minimum runs of 500 copies or more. This type of printing is cost effective because of larger quantities printed. However, if you have a smaller print job, you may want to consider print on demand for small print quantities.

What is print on demand?

Print on demand provides a quick and efficient way to get your printed product, with NO MINIMUM needed. Your book, newsletter, flyer, brochure or any other product you may have, can now be printed in low quantities for a great price.

How long does it take to print?

For quantities less than 500 copies (print on demand), we can provide your finished printed product within 24 business hours from submission of artwork / text to delivery. For quantities more than 500 copies (offset printing), we can provide your finished printed product within one week of artwork / text to delivery.

Printing Guidelines

Quantity

The quantity you wish to have printed.

Paper Stock

The type of paper you want to have your design printed on. There are many kinds and qualities of paper including glossy, matte, or vellum finish. There are also a variety of paper thicknesses designated by gram weight. ActsCo Printing will be able to provide you with samples. We will also be able to make any recommendations for the best paper for your type of product.

Colors

How many colors your printed job will be. 1 color, 2 color or full color (4 color CMYK) If it is a multi page job, will it be the same color combo throughout?

Binding

Any type of binding which would include stapling, plastic comb binding, wire spiral binding, perfect binding (paperback book style), etc. You can ask Actsco Printing for more info on binding.

Post Press

Any special instructions as to folding, collating, drilling, scoring, perforating, glue-padding, shrink-wrapping, trimming, packaging, or other operations needed for your printing project.

Coatings

Any type of coating on your printed product. This would include U.V. coating, varnish (matte and glossy), or plastic laminate. (These coatings help to preserve the quality, longevity, and overall effect of your printing.)

Due Date

The due date or the time you wish to have your project completed. This will largely be determined by the production schedule of ActsCo Printing. Please allow adequate time for the printing process. Try to avoid last minute rushes as this can affect the overall quality of your printed product.

Design Guidelines

PDF Files are Our Dream Files

Please submit all of your printing jobs to ActsCo Printing in PDF format where possible. This makes the process quicker for us and also best preserves your artwork.

300DPI Image Resolution at 100%

Resolution is the number of pixels within an image. The more pixels in an image the higher the resolution of that image. The higher the resolution, the better the picture. Higher resolution images produce greater detail and subtler color transitions than lower resolution images. We want to make sure that your images don’t have jagged edges or pixilation, so we suggest making your artwork at 300dpi when it’s at full size.

Resolution has an inverse relationship with size. If you enlarge an image you lower its resolution, and if you reduce an image you increase its resolution. How an image is originally attained will determine its resolution and the size it can be printed clear and crisp.

Always remember that images gathered from websites are usually 72dpi are NOT of print quality.

Always CMYK Format, Not RGB

Your computer screen displays your images in RGB color mode. We print your job in CMYK. Before your job can go to press, these RGB files must be translated to CMYK. It’s best that you do the RGB-to-CMYK conversion of your own files. In most cases the color change is very slight—too small to even notice. However, once in a while the conversion will produce a noticeable color change. You’ll have more control over the final appearance of your job if you convert all of your images from RGB to CMYK before you send them to us.

Spot Color Jobs

On jobs that will be printing on the press with several specific ‘spot’ colors, we ask that you specify these colors using a PANTONE model. All linked images / text / colors in your document MUST be assigned one of the Pantone colors (or black) chosen for your job for it to separate correctly. Anything in your files / images left as CMYK or RGB will not print the way we need for it to run on the press. Sorry, MS Word files will not separate.

Always Supply Your Font or Convert to Outlines

Embedding the fonts that you use in your files allows us to print them even if we don’t have those particular fonts installed on our computers. Your fonts will look exactly the way you want them to. Fonts can be embedded into formats such as PDF files. It is always best to supply your fonts to Actsco Printing in case previously embedded fonts don’t show correctly.

Printed Proof

We ask that you always include a printed copy of your job with your files (laser printing is preferred), so that we have a way to make sure that everything looks as you intended it. If you can not provide a proof, Actsco Printing has a color laser printing service available.

Scanning

When scanning images for design work, always scan at a minimum of 600Dpi and in CMYK format (NOT RGB).

Always Include Crop Marks

Trim area is the final size of your job. We need all of your jobs to contain trim marks—this is how we know where to cut / trim your job. Make sure you also check out our information on internal and external bleed below.

Include 3mm of Internal Bleed

Internal bleed is the area just inside your trim marks (the final size of your job). We require 3mm of internal bleed on all files. This means you need to keep all of your important information away from this 3mm area. Background images and graphics are fine, just no critical information that can’t be trimmed away. Including a small area of internal bleed on your print files allows for slight deviations when your job is being cut down to size.

3mm of External Bleed for Great Results

Your job is printed on a larger sheet than its finished size and then trimmed down to size. External bleed is the area extending just past your trim area (the final size of your job). This is the area that will be trimmed off with any other excess paper. We require 3mm of external bleed. This means your artwork must extend 3mm past your trim marks. Supplying your files with external bleed allows for a small amount of movement that may occur when your job is being cut down to size.

Always Flatten Transparency

To print your job we require all transparent objects in your files, as well as any linked files that contain live transparency, to be flattened. This converts your transparency information into a format that our printing process can understand. To do this we prefer you supply print ready PDF files that have been exported with the flattened options selected. If transparent objects are not flattened this can cause issues with layouts and graphics and will end up with a misprinted job.

Give Your Files an Easy to Understand Name

Make sure we know what files belong to you and your order by following our simple guide to fuss-free file naming.

1. Make it descriptive. We see many different files everyday. We’ll find yours easily and quickly if you make it descriptive.
2. Get to the point. Short, sweet and to the point is how we like file names.
3. Keep it alphanumeric. No need for fancy characters. Plain text and/or numbers will do.
4. Use file names relating to the part of the job. For example: buscardfront.pdf and buscardback.pdf, or bookfrontcover.pdf and insidechapters13.pdf.

Check Your Text

Always check and double check your text for spelling and grammar errors. Actsco Printing will not take responsibility for these errors.

Policies

Right to Refuse

ActsCo Printing reserves the right to use its sole discretion in refusing to print anything it deems improper or known to be illegal. We are not liable for any damages resulting from unwitting violation of copyright laws or illegal use of trade names or slogans. The client guarantees the legal title of all matter submitted to ActsCo Printing for printing and/or publication.

Accuracy of Quotes

Quotations are based on the accuracy of the specifications provided. ActsCo Printing can requote a job at the time of submission if the art does not conform to the information on which the original estimate was based. Orders placed with ActsCo Printing are to the client knowledge correct, and there are no conditions or agreements relating to the order which are not written or accompanying said order.

Liability

ActsCo Printing’s liability shall be limited to the stated selling price to the customer of any defective goods, and shall in no event include special, consequential, incidental, indirect or similar damages, including without limitation, lost profits. ActsCo Printing warrants that every product manufactured by it meets industry standard for such product and is free of any material defect in workmanship. IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR USE AND MERCHANTABILITY. ActsCo Printing makes no other warranty and no actions or words of ActsCo Printing or its officers, employees or agents shall constitute a warranty.

Electronic Manuscripts/Images

 It is the client responsibility to maintain a copy of the original computer files, artwork and transparencies. ActsCo Printing is not responsible for accidental loss or damage to media supplied by the client or for errors on supplied artwork furnished by the client. Until ActsCo Printing can evaluate digital input, no claims or promises are made about our ability to work with jobs submitted in digital format, and no liability is assumed for problems that may arise. Any additional translating, editing, or programming needed to utilize client-supplied files will be charged at our current rates. ActsCo Printing does not archive your work for longer than it takes to produce the final product. Please save your work.

Overruns/Underruns

ActsCo Printing will normally deliver the exact quantity of goods ordered plus a small additional amount. There is no extra charge for the additional amount. This extra amount is normally to compensate for the industry standard variable consistency in cuts or colors. The generally accepted trade practice is plus or minus 10%. In the event of an underrun exceeding 10%, ActsCo Printing will bill for the actual quantity delivered.

Workmanship Guarantee

We guarantee all orders to be free of defects in workmanship. If any order does not match the generally accepted trade standards, we will reprint the order or issue the customer a refund at our discretion.

Inkjet Proofs

Inkjet and laser prints are known to look substantially different than offset printing. We offer quick turnaround and low prices by printing to a “pleasing color” standard, using standard ink densities. There is no guarantee that your finished piece will match your printer output. This is due to the varying results from different output devices including inkjet printers, continuous tone proofing devices, and film-based proofs. No refunds or credits will be given for a printed order which does not match your inkjet proof.

Claims

Claims for defects, damages, or shortages must be made by the client in writing no later than 5 calendar days after delivery. If no such claim is made, ActsCo Printing and the client will understand that the job has been accepted. By accepting the job, the client acknowledges that ActsCo Printing performance has fully satisfied all terms, conditions and specifications.

Changes to Our Policy

ActsCo Printing may change, modify, add or remove portions of this policy at any time, and any changes will become effective immediately upon being posted unless we tell you otherwise. This policy was last changed on August 15th, 2013.