Ideally, please send your files as a ready-to-print PDF, including bleeds, crop marks, CMYK color, and all images at 300dpi or vector graphics. We also accept .ai (Adobe Illustrator), .indd (InDesign), and .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) files. Unfortunately, we no longer accept .pub (Microsoft Publisher) files. For variable data lists, please send as either an .xlxs or .csv file.

Your image may be too low resolution. Typically, 72dpi/ppi (dots per inch, or pixels per inch) is considered standard resolution for anything that appears on a screen. However, printing usually requires images to be at least 300dpi to ensure they print clearly. If you have a simple graphic, such as a logo, you may be able to convert it to a vector. See below for more information about vector versus raster artwork.

Raster artwork refers to any shape that is made out of pixels. When raster artwork is scaled up or down dramatically, the pixels can become blurred and lose image quality, resulting in grainy, pixelated images. Vector images, on the other hand, use shapes created by a mathematical formula, and can be scaled up or down indefinitely with no change in image quality. Raster image files use extensions like JPG and PNG, whereas vector files use extensions such as SVG and EPS. Some formats, like PDF and AI, can host both vector and raster images. Our graphic designer can help you convert a high-quality raster file into a vector file for easy scaling.

You may be working in the wrong color mode. Most digital images and documents meant to be viewed electronically are set up in RGB color– using red, green, and blue pixels in different combinations on your screen. Physically printed objects, on the other hand, use a different combination of colors known as CMYK– cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. Because of the differences in these two color mixing processes, there are some colors that can be achieved in RGB color but not CMYK, and vice versa. If you create a document using RGB color, the computer will do its best to automatically convert it to CMYK, which sometimes results in discoloration. The best way to avoid this is to make sure your document is set up to only display CMYK colors from the start. In most Adobe software, this can be accomplished by changing the color mode in the document settings.

When printing a document with artwork that extends all the way to the edge of the page, it’s important to leave some extra room for bleed– an extra border space around the document that the artwork extends into, allowing the trimmer to cut right at the edge of the page with no white space. Standard bleed usually making your artwork about ⅛” larger than your final print size on all sides– so for example, an 8 ½” x 11” document with bleed would appear as 8 ¾” x 11 ¼”. When designing with bleeds in mind, you should also consider your “safety zone”– putting anything too close to the edge of the document, or within the bleed itself, may be partially or entirely cropped off in the final result. Similar to a bleed margin, the margin between your safety zone and edge of your paper will usually be at least ⅛”.

Before your mailing is sent off to USPS, all mailing charges must be paid up front. This is because USPS requires payment up front– when we hand over your mail to USPS for distribution, they require all postal charges be paid in full before processing begins.

When setting up a data file, please make sure each individual category of information is given its own column. For example, if this is the first address in your data set:
John Smith
123 Anywhere Street
Cityville, MI 12345

Your data column should be set up like this: (I’m not sure if it’s possible to create a table within the text on WordPress, but you could also use a screenshot of this portion of the document).

Please send us your data files as either an Excel file (.xlsx) or as a CSV (.csv). In Google Sheets, you can download your spreadsheet as either of these file types by going to File > Download.

Please send us your data files as either an Excel file (.xlsx) or as a CSV (.csv). In Google Sheets, you can download your spreadsheet as either of these file types by going to File > Download.