Proofs for design work are usually completed within 1 working day on some occasions in2-3 hours providing we have received clear instructions and all relevant files (see Logos, Pictures & Text below) we will usually require a deposit before commencement of the work.
 

Logos, Pictures & Text
We would expect you to have a logo in a suitable picture format (see File Formats below), we may also be able to scan or re-create an existing logo if you have a good clean copy of it (possible charge if complex). If you do not have a logo we are able to create one for you for £75.00 + VAT, this is supplied then in various printing formats on CD-ROM posted to one UK mainland address.

We expect you to supply pictures digitally (see File Formats below), or we can scan normal photos although there may be a charge for this if you have a lot. We can also supply 'stock' photography for most subjects from a wide range of libraries, stock images usually cost anywhere from £0 - £50+vat each.

The text for your job should be supplied electronically (see File Formats below), handwritten copy can be sent in but could result in additional charges if we have to key in large amounts. We can also provide you with an editorial service i.e. we will re-write your text to create more impact to your marketing message or if you are totally lost-for-words we are often able to draft text from scratch depending of course on the complexity of your product or service. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will be happy to quote you for this service.

File Formats
Files to supply if we are creating the artwork for you:-
Pictures (.jpg / .jpeg / .tif / .gif / .psd / .ai / .eps / .pdf) - if PDF 3mm bleed and CMYK please
Text (Email / .doc / .txt / .rtf / .pdf)
Data (.mdb / .txt / .csv / .xml)

Files to supply if supplying you own artwork
Quark Express v5.00 / Photoshop v6.00

We are also able to use (but do not recommend)
Publisher 2003 / Hi-Res Tif's/JPEGs

Supplying Ready-To-Print Artwork

Unfortunately designs made in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint are very difficult to print from and usually the artwork has to be re-created, the reason for this is that neither Word or PowerPoint are Desktop Publishing Programs. They output in RGB - Red, Green, Blue contra to CYMK so normally have to be redesigned using the correct colour blend.. Microsoft Publisher is a bit better, but for professional results really all design should be done on an Apple Macintosh in an industry recognised program such as Quark or Photoshop.

If you are designing your own artwork you should consider the following:-

Bleed:- The term bleed is used to describe printing a colour right to the edge of the paper. It is impossible to print right to the edge of the paper so to achieve bleed we have to print the image bigger than required onto paper bigger than required and then trim the edges until the paper is the desired size, which then gives you the bleed effect.

Bleed is usually set at 3mm, so if you wanted to print A4 with bleed then you need to design your image with an extra 3mm on each side, so for an A4 job instead of designing to 297mm x 210mm (A4) you would design at 303mm x 216mm. On a bleed job you would add the 3mm to each edge even if colour to the edge is only on one side of the job. On some of the services we offer such as letterheads Bleed is not available as we sometimes print directly onto A4. Usually anything printed full colour, Bleed is available.

DPI:- (Dots per inch) All full colour printing is made up of millions of little dots, the more dots per inch the better the quality. Usually print is run at 300dpi or 600dpi. Website images are usually 72dpi so you can't really copy images from a website and expect to print it in good quality. The DPI of an image can be changed, for example if I had an A4 Image at 150dpi and I reduced it to A5 (half the size) then you could increase the dpi to 300. Vice versa is true if you had an A6 image at 300dpi and wanted it printed at A4 (4 times the size) the dpi would reduce to 75dpi and the image would appear blurred or 'blocky'


Print Turnaround Times
We have stated our usual minimum print turnaround times, please note seasonal fluctuations in print volumes can sometimes double these turnaround times. If you have a particular deadline please discuss this with us as in some instances we are able to offer an express service. Please do not book distribution of your printed products until they arrive with you. Although we offer a typical delivery time of 4 working days, delays may arise through a third party which is out of the control of EMP.
 

Delivery & Collection
Our prices include delivery to one UK address (excluding highlands & Islands) which is usually a next-business-day courier service such as ANC.