Printing Help Center

Short answer: printshaQ gives you access to premium print options without forcing your project into a tiny list of preconfigured combinations. We help customers work through stocks, foil, embossing, spot UV, die cutting, edge treatments, and layered combinations that are difficult to order from a typical online printer.

The difference is in the options

• Multiple foil colors when the design and product allow them.
• Foil combined with embossing, debossing, spot UV, die cutting, or premium stocks.
• Standard and raised spot UV for different levels of gloss and texture.
• Custom shapes, rounded corners, painted edges, foil edging, and other finishing choices.
• Thick, textured, laminated, uncoated, and specialty paper stocks.
• Real guidance when a finish combination needs spacing, registration, special artwork, or a custom quote.

Some customers find printshaQ after discovering that a standard printer offers the basic product but not the particular finish, foil color, stock, size, or combination their design needs. That is exactly the kind of conversation we want to have.

Not every option can be combined with every other option. Send us the concept or artwork and we will tell you honestly what is practical, what may need adjustment, and where a simpler approach could produce a better result.

Related: Explore specialty print finishes · Order a free sample pack · Request a custom quote

Short answer: Print-ready artwork is a finished file that can move into prepress without design work or major corrections. It should be the correct size, use the right color mode, include bleed where needed, and clearly identify every specialty finish you ordered.

What a print-ready file should include

• The final size and orientation you are ordering.
• Approximately 0.125 inch of bleed on every edge where color or imagery reaches the trim.
• Important text, logos, borders, and contact information kept safely inside the trim line.
• CMYK color for printed artwork.
• Images at approximately 300 DPI at the size they will print.
• Fonts embedded in the PDF or converted to outlines when appropriate.
• A separate black-and-white mask for each foil, spot UV, embossing, debossing, or other specialty layer.
• Clear front and back identification when the product prints on both sides.

“Print-ready” does not mean that printshaQ has rewritten, redesigned, spell-checked, or verified the business information in your artwork. We inspect files for production feasibility. You are responsible for confirming the content and every ordered option on the proof.

Related: Complete print-ready file checklist · What is bleed? · How to prepare specialty finish masks

Short answer: Check the file itself, the written content, and the options you plan to order. A technically usable file can still print incorrectly if a phone number is wrong, a finish layer is missing, or the wrong side is identified.

Final file checklist

1. Size: Does the document match the finished size you are ordering?
2. Bleed: Does any background that touches an edge extend about 0.125 inch past the trim?
3. Safe area: Are important elements comfortably inside the cut line?
4. Color: Is the file built in CMYK rather than RGB?
5. Resolution: Are raster images approximately 300 DPI at final size?
6. Fonts: Are fonts embedded or converted to outlines where appropriate?
7. Sides: Are the front and back correctly named and oriented?
8. Content: Have you checked spelling, names, titles, phone numbers, email addresses, website URLs, dates, and prices?
9. Images and logos: Are the correct versions being used, and are they sharp enough to print?
10. Ordered options: Is every foil color, emboss, spot UV area, colored edge, die-cut shape, corner treatment, and other upgrade represented in the files?
11. Masks: Is there one correctly aligned black-and-white mask for each specialty finish?
12. Final export: Did you open the exported PDF and inspect the actual file you are sending—not only the design inside the original program?

If anything is uncertain, send the files to Sales@printshaQ.com before ordering. It is much easier to solve a file question before the job enters production.

Related: How to review a proof · Accepted file formats · Specialty finish mask checklist

Short answer: A properly prepared PDF is the best choice for most print orders. Vector PDF, AI, and EPS files are especially useful for logos, type, die lines, and specialty finish masks because they stay sharp at any size.

Preferred formats

• PDF: Best general delivery format when exported correctly.
• AI or EPS: Excellent for vector artwork and specialty production files.
• PSD or TIFF: Useful for high-resolution raster artwork when correctly sized and prepared.
• JPG or PNG: Sometimes usable for standard printing, but they must have enough resolution at final size and may not be suitable for detailed specialty masks.

Vector artwork is preferred for fine text, line work, logos, die-cut paths, foil, spot UV, and embossing masks. Raster files are made from pixels, so enlarging a small JPG or PNG can make it soft or visibly pixelated.

Submitting an accepted file type does not automatically make the artwork print-ready. The size, bleed, color mode, resolution, content, and finish layers still need to be correct.

Related: Vector versus raster artwork · What does 300 DPI mean? · How to export a print-ready PDF

Short answer: No—native Canva, Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher files are not accepted as print-ready production artwork. If your design was created in one of these programs, send it to us before ordering so we can inspect what you have and explain the safest next step.

These programs can introduce problems with fonts, image resolution, page size, bleed, transparency, color conversion, and shifting layouts. A file that looks correct on your screen may not be ready for commercial printing or specialty finishing.

What to do

1. Do not place the order assuming the source file is ready to print.
2. Email the file—or a share link—to Sales@printshaQ.com.
3. Tell us the finished size, product, quantity, and any specialty finishes you want.
4. We will review the material and let you know whether it can be converted, needs adjustments, or should be rebuilt.

This review is especially important for foil, spot UV, embossing, debossing, die cutting, booklets, and any job where separate production layers are required.

Related: What is print-ready artwork? · Design assistance · Specialty finish masks

Short answer: The trim line is where the finished piece is intended to be cut. Bleed extends backgrounds beyond that line, while the safe margin keeps important content away from normal cutting variation.

The three areas

• Bleed: Extra artwork outside the final size. When a color, photo, or pattern should reach the edge, extend it approximately 0.125 inch beyond the trim on every affected side.
• Trim line: The intended finished edge of the product.
• Safe margin: The area inside the trim where important text, logos, borders, and contact information should remain.

Commercial printing is cut in stacks, so tiny movement can occur during trimming. Bleed prevents an unintended white sliver at the edge. A safe margin reduces the risk of important content appearing too close to the edge or being trimmed.

Thin borders close to the trim can make small cutting variation more noticeable. If a border is important to the design, give it generous space or contact us before ordering.

Related: Download product templates · Why borders can look uneven · Die-cut artwork setup

Short answer: Submit individual pages in normal reading order—not reader spreads or printer spreads. A single multipage PDF is preferred whenever possible because it keeps the complete document together and makes page order easier to verify.

Recommended setup

• Page 1 should be the front cover.
• Continue with each interior page in reading order.
• The final page should be the back cover.
• Every PDF page should be the same finished size and orientation unless we approve something different.
• Include bleed on every page where artwork reaches an edge.
• Do not manually rearrange pages for folding, binding, or imposition.
• Do not combine two facing pages into one wide PDF page unless printshaQ specifically asks you to do so.

Before ordering, verify the final page count and confirm that it works with the selected binding method. Complex multi-page design work is not included as standard design assistance; booklet and catalog customers should supply completed, print-ready files.

Related: Booklet page-count requirements · Saddle stitch versus perfect binding · Booklet bleed and safe margins

Short answer: RGB creates color with red, green, and blue light on screens. Commercial printing uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, so artwork should be prepared in CMYK to give you a more realistic preview of printable color.

Bright RGB colors—especially vivid blues, greens, oranges, and neon-like colors—may shift or become less intense when converted to CMYK. Converting the file at the last minute does not guarantee that the printed color will match what you saw on a glowing screen.

For more predictable color

• Build or convert the artwork to CMYK before final approval.
• Review the converted colors rather than relying on the original RGB appearance.
• Use physical print samples when a stock or finish decision is important.
• Remember that paper color, texture, coating, lamination, and specialty finishes can change how a color appears.
• Do not use an uncalibrated phone or monitor as an exact color standard.

If color is especially critical, contact printshaQ before ordering so we can discuss the artwork and the practical proofing options for that job.

Related: Why printed color differs from a screen · What is rich black? · Can printshaQ guarantee an exact color match?

Short answer: Raster images should generally be approximately 300 DPI at their final printed size. A file can display a large pixel count and still print poorly if it is enlarged beyond the size for which those pixels were intended.

Resolution basics

• 300 DPI at final size: The normal target for photos and raster artwork in most small-format print products.
• Vector artwork: Logos, text, and shapes made as vectors can scale without becoming pixelated.
• Web images: Images copied from websites or social media are often too small or too compressed for quality printing.
• Artificially changing the DPI number: Typing “300 DPI” into a program does not create missing detail if the original image is too small.

Inspect the artwork at high zoom, but judge it at the actual size it will print. For large-format products viewed from farther away, the practical resolution requirement can differ. Send the file to us for review if you are unsure.

Related: Vector versus raster files · Large-format artwork resolution · Why images print blurry

Short answer: A proof is the final production preview you approve before printing begins. It is your opportunity to confirm the content, layout, sides, orientation, and every specialty option shown for the job.

The proof is the production record—not a casual preview. A phone conversation, email note, or selected product option does not replace what appears on the approved proof. If you ordered foil, embossing, spot UV, colored edges, die cutting, or another upgrade, confirm that the proof clearly represents it.

printshaQ reviews whether the files appear usable for production. We cannot know whether a name, date, phone number, logo, title, price, or design choice is what you intended. That final content check belongs to you.

If anything is wrong or missing, do not approve the proof. Reply with one clear list of corrections and wait for a revised proof.

Related: How to approve a proof · What happens after proof approval? · Digital proof versus physical sample

Short answer: Read the entire proof as though no one else has checked it. Confirm every word, image, side, and ordered option before approving, because production follows the approved proof.

Proof approval checklist

1. Read every word: Check spelling, grammar, names, titles, dates, prices, disclaimers, and calls to action.
2. Verify contact information: Call the phone number, inspect the email address, and type the website URL if necessary.
3. Confirm the correct logo and images: Look for old logos, temporary graphics, missing photos, and low-resolution warnings.
4. Check front and back: Make sure the correct artwork is on the correct side and the orientation makes sense when the piece is turned.
5. Inspect placement: Review margins, alignment, folds, holes, perforations, rounded corners, and die-cut boundaries.
6. Confirm every ordered upgrade: Foil, embossing, debossing, spot UV, raised spot UV, colored or foil edges, coating, lamination, die cutting, and any other selected option must be represented correctly.
7. Check each specialty mask: Confirm its position, size, side, and intended color or finish.
8. Review page order: For booklets and catalogs, inspect every page in sequence, including the front and back covers.
9. Compare the proof with the order: Do not assume a phone call or note overrides the proof. If an option is missing from the proof, stop and ask us to correct it.
10. Get internal approval: If a partner, client, manager, or legal reviewer must approve the piece, do that before clicking approve.

Once everything is correct, keep a copy of the approved proof for your records. If you find a problem, select the correction or rejection option instead of approving and send one consolidated list of requested changes.

Related: What is a printing proof? · Can I make changes after approval? · What happens if my printed order matches an approved proof?

Short answer: A mask file tells production exactly where a specialty finish should be applied. It uses solid black to represent the finished area and white to represent everything that should remain untouched.

A mask is not an alternate full-color design. It is a precise production map for one specific process, such as foil, spot UV, embossing, debossing, or a die-cut path.

A good mask file should

• Match the dimensions, orientation, and position of the printed artwork exactly.
• Show the finish area in solid 100% K black on a white background.
• Contain only the elements needed for that one finish.
• Use clean vector shapes whenever possible.
• Avoid shadows, gradients, transparency, screens, gray values, and unnecessary color.
• Be clearly named with the side and finish, such as front-gold-foil-mask.pdf.

When the mask and printed artwork are placed on top of one another, every element should align correctly.

Related: How to create a black-and-white mask · Do I need a separate mask for every finish? · Accepted artwork formats

Short answer: Copy the exact elements that will receive the finish, convert them to solid 100% K black, and place them on a clean white background. Keep the mask at the same size and position as the corresponding print file.

Mask preparation steps

1. Start with the final, correctly sized print artwork.
2. Duplicate the document or create a clearly labeled layer or artboard for the finish.
3. Remove everything that will not receive that finish.
4. Convert the remaining finish elements to solid black using 100% K.
5. Remove gradients, shadows, transparency, photographs, and tint values.
6. Confirm that the black elements align precisely with the intended printed elements.
7. Export the mask as a vector PDF whenever possible.
8. Open the exported file and inspect it before uploading.

Black means apply the finish here. White means do not apply the finish here. Do not reverse the colors unless printshaQ specifically instructs you to do so.

Very fine lines, tiny gaps, and extremely small type may not reproduce reliably in every finishing process. If the design depends on delicate detail, send the artwork for review before ordering.

Related: Minimum line and gap recommendations · Foil artwork setup · Spot UV artwork setup

Short answer: Yes. Each distinct finish should have its own clearly labeled mask so production can identify exactly what is being applied, where it belongs, and which side receives it.

For example, a card with gold foil, spot UV, and embossing normally needs:

• The full-color print artwork.
• A separate gold foil mask.
• A separate spot UV mask.
• A separate embossing mask.
• Corresponding back-side files if any finish also appears on the back.

Different foil colors should also be separated and labeled individually. Do not combine several unrelated processes into one black mask and expect production to determine which black area belongs to which finish.

Use plain, unmistakable filenames. “Front,” “back,” the finish name, and the foil color are much more useful than names such as final2-new-revised.pdf.

Related: How to name artwork files · Multiple foil colors · Proof approval checklist

Short answer: Foil stamping applies a thin metallic or pigmented foil to selected parts of a printed piece. It creates a reflective, opaque effect that cannot be reproduced by standard CMYK ink alone.

Foil is commonly used for logos, names, borders, patterns, and small design accents on business cards, invitations, hang tags, bookmarks, folders, and other premium pieces.

What foil changes

• It reflects light and changes appearance as the piece moves.
• It can remain visible over dark stocks or printed backgrounds because it is not simply transparent ink.
• It requires a dedicated mask showing exactly where the foil belongs.
• Fine details and tight registration require extra planning.
• The chosen paper, lamination, embossing, and other finishes affect the final look.

Screen previews cannot fully represent the shine or texture of real foil. Ordering a free print sample pack is the best way to see examples in person.

Related: Foil mask setup · How many foil colors can I use? · Foil stamping versus metallic ink

Short answer: You can generally use as many foil colors as the product and design can reasonably accommodate. Each foil color needs its own clearly labeled mask, and different foil colors need a small amount of separation rather than touching one another.

The practical limit depends on the card size, artwork, available foil colors, registration requirements, and the other finishes included in the job. More colors also mean more production steps and a more complex proof.

For multiple foils

• Supply a separate mask for every color.
• Label each file with the foil color and side.
• Leave slight spacing between different foil colors.
• Do not build adjoining foil colors that depend on a perfectly invisible seam.
• Confirm every color and its position on the final proof.

Send highly detailed multi-foil artwork to printshaQ before ordering so we can confirm that the construction is practical.

Related: Foil mask requirements · Can foil reach the edge? · How to review specialty finishes on a proof

Short answer: Foil stamped on the face of a piece can extend to a trimmed edge when the product and artwork are prepared for it. Foil edging is different: it applies foil to the thickness of the finished card rather than to its front or back surface.

The distinction

• Foil to the edge: A face-design element continues through the trim line and requires proper bleed and mask setup.
• Foil edging: The exposed edges of a thick card are finished with foil after the card is produced.

Foil edging cannot be combined with rounded corners. If you need rounded corners, choose another edge treatment or contact printshaQ before ordering to discuss the design.

Always confirm whether the order includes face foil, foil edging, or both. They are separate processes and must be represented correctly on the proof.

Related: Foil edging · Rounded corner options · Bleed for specialty finishes

Short answer: Spot UV is a clear gloss coating applied only to selected areas of a printed piece. It creates contrast by making chosen logos, patterns, text, or images shinier than the surrounding surface.

Spot UV is especially effective over matte or soft-touch surfaces because the difference between the glossy coating and the subdued background is easier to see. It can be bold and obvious or used as a subtle pattern that appears when the light changes.

Artwork requirements

• Supply a separate black-and-white spot UV mask.
• Use solid 100% K black for every area receiving the coating.
• Keep the mask aligned with the full-color artwork.
• Avoid relying on extremely fine lines or tiny isolated details without having the artwork reviewed.
• Confirm the correct side and position on the proof.

Spot UV is clear; it does not add a new ink color. The printed color beneath it remains visible but appears glossier and may look slightly deeper.

Related: Spot UV mask setup · Raised spot UV · Matte and soft-touch surfaces

Short answer: Standard spot UV adds localized gloss with relatively little height. Raised spot UV uses a thicker clear application that creates both visible shine and a more noticeable tactile surface.

Choose regular spot UV when the goal is mainly contrast and reflectivity. Choose raised spot UV when you want the finished area to be felt as well as seen.

Both processes require a separate, precisely aligned mask. Very small elements, narrow gaps, and finishes positioned close to folds, cuts, or other specialty effects may require review before production.

Because screen previews cannot reproduce thickness, texture, or reflected light accurately, physical samples are especially useful when comparing these finishes.

Related: Order free specialty-print samples · Spot UV artwork setup · Raised foil versus raised spot UV

Short answer: Embossing raises selected artwork above the surface of the paper. Debossing presses the artwork into the paper, creating a recessed impression.

Both effects add physical depth and can be used with printed ink, foil, or as an unprinted texture. The paper stock, thickness, size of the artwork, and amount of fine detail all influence how strongly the impression can be seen and felt.

A simple way to choose

• Choose embossing when you want the element to project outward.
• Choose debossing when you want the element pressed inward.
• Choose a blind emboss or deboss when the impression should appear without ink or foil directly on that element.
• Consider pairing the impression with foil when you want both depth and reflective color.

Supply a separate mask and confirm the direction and position of the effect on the proof.

Related: Blind embossing and debossing · Embossing mask setup · Foil and embossing together

Short answer: “Blind” means the paper is embossed or debossed without ink or foil printed directly on the impressed element. The design is created by light, shadow, depth, and the natural appearance of the stock.

Blind impressions often work best with simpler artwork and paper that can hold visible depth. Fine details may soften, and the effect can appear more subtle on some colors, textures, or thinner stocks.

Good uses include

• Logos and monograms.
• Initials and small marks.
• Borders and repeating patterns.
• Minimal typography with enough weight to hold the impression.
• Subtle premium details on uncoated or specialty stocks.

The proof identifies location and shape, but a digital proof cannot accurately simulate the physical depth of the final impression. Review physical samples when the strength of the effect is central to the design.

Related: Embossing versus debossing · Choosing paper for embossing · Free sample packs

Short answer: Stock is the material the piece is printed on. A coating or lamination covers its surface, while a specialty finish adds a selected visual or tactile effect.

• Stock: The base sheet—coated, uncoated, textured, synthetic, thick, thin, white, colored, and more.
• Coating or lamination: A surface layer such as gloss, matte, or soft touch that changes feel, appearance, and protection.
• Specialty finish: A targeted process such as foil, spot UV, embossing, debossing, edge color, or die cutting.

These choices interact. A foil that looks dramatic on dark soft-touch stock may feel completely different on bright uncoated paper. Request a free sample pack when the physical result matters more than a screen preview can show.

Related: Order free samples · Spot UV and coatings · Specialty printing options

Short answer: Points generally describe caliper, or physical thickness. Pounds and GSM describe paper weight, but they do not translate directly into an exact thickness or stiffness across every stock.

• A higher point value normally means a physically thicker sheet.
• Two stocks with the same weight can feel different because of fiber, coating, compression, and construction.
• Laminated or multi-layer cards can feel much thicker than a single sheet.
• Texture and stiffness affect perceived quality as much as the number on the specification.

Do not choose stock from a number alone. Compare samples when thickness, rigidity, texture, or color is important to the project.

Related: Free sample packs · Choosing a business card stock · Coated versus uncoated paper

Short answer: Coated paper usually produces a smoother surface and sharper, more saturated imagery. Uncoated paper has a more natural feel and is often easier to write on, but it absorbs ink differently.

Choose based on the job. Photography and vivid marketing graphics often benefit from a coated sheet. Invitations, stationery, appointment cards, and tactile premium pieces may benefit from uncoated or textured stock. If customers must write on the piece, test the exact stock and pen combination rather than assuming every finish is writable.

Related: Paper samples · Matte, gloss and soft touch · Choosing stock for specialty finishes

Short answer: Die cutting trims a printed piece into a shape or adds shaped cutouts that a standard straight trim cannot create. It can produce custom silhouettes, windows, tabs, tags, and other structural details.

Supply a clean vector cut path that is separate from the printed artwork. Keep important text and logos safely away from the cut, and extend backgrounds beyond the cut path where bleed is required. Intricate shapes, tight interior corners, and tiny bridges may need to be simplified for reliable production.

Related: Die-cut file setup · Bleed and safe area · Request a custom quote

Short answer: Rounded corners replace sharp square corners with a selected radius. They soften the appearance of a design and can help cards resist visibly bent corner tips.

Keep borders and important artwork comfortably inside the rounded cut. Confirm the radius and every affected corner on the proof. Rounded corners cannot be combined with foil edging, so choose the edge treatment that matters most to the design.

Related: Foil edging · Safe margins · Specialty business cards

Short answer: Painted edges add a solid color to the exposed thickness of a card. Foil edging applies a reflective metallic finish to that same edge.

Both effects are most visible on thicker cards and are separate from foil placed on the front or back. Edge treatments can show small variations around corners and may interact with dark stocks, laminations, and finishing choices. Foil edging cannot be combined with rounded corners.

Related: Foil to the edge versus foil edging · Thick business cards · Free specialty samples

Short answer: Start with the impression the card should create, how it will be handled, and which design elements deserve emphasis. Then choose a stock and finish combination that supports that goal rather than stacking upgrades without a reason.

• Use smooth coated or laminated stocks for crisp imagery and rich color.
• Use uncoated or textured stocks for a natural, tactile character.
• Use thick or layered cards when edge color, foil edging, or extra rigidity matters.
• Use foil for reflective opaque detail, spot UV for clear gloss contrast, and embossing or debossing for depth.
• Request samples before making a high-stakes material decision.

Send us the design concept if you want several specialty effects. We can help identify conflicts and suggest a practical construction.

Related: Free business card samples · Specialty finish comparison · Request a quote

Short answer: Many specialty finishes can be combined, but not every combination works on every stock or product. Registration, spacing, material, finishing order, and physical construction determine what is practical.

Each finish needs its own clearly labeled production file. Different foil colors require separation. Finishes near cuts, folds, holes, or one another may need additional space. Rounded corners cannot be combined with foil edging.

Before ordering a complex combination, send the artwork and desired specifications to printshaQ. We will help determine whether it can be produced as planned or whether a small adjustment will give a cleaner result.

Related: Specialty mask files · Multiple foil colors · Request a custom quote

Short answer: Yes. printshaQ offers free sample packs with examples of previous client work, and we strongly encourage you to order one when stock, texture, foil, gloss, thickness, or edge treatment matters.

Samples help you compare physical qualities that monitors cannot reproduce. For certain high-end projects, a one-off custom sample may also be possible, but it can be expensive and is often unnecessary. Contact us with the job details and we will explain the most sensible proofing option.

Order a free print sample pack

Short answer: A booklet page is one printed side, not one sheet of paper. The front cover, inside front cover, every interior side, inside back cover, and back cover all count as pages.

Saddle-stitched booklets are assembled from folded sheets, so their total page count normally needs to be divisible by four. Do not add blank pages or rearrange pages for production unless printshaQ asks you to. Submit individual PDF pages in reading order and verify the final count before ordering.

Related: Pages versus spreads · Saddle stitch versus perfect binding · Booklet proof checklist

Short answer: Saddle stitching folds sheets and fastens them through the fold with staples. Perfect binding uses adhesive to attach pages to a squared spine, creating a book-like appearance.

Saddle stitch is common for shorter booklets and brochures. Perfect binding suits thicker publications that need a printable spine, but page count, paper, and thickness affect whether it is available. Contact printshaQ if you are unsure which binding fits your document.

Related: Booklet page counts · Booklet file setup · Request a booklet quote

Short answer: Customers should provide completed, print-ready files for multi-page booklets and catalogs. Standard design assistance is intended for simpler one-page pieces and limited projects—not complex 12-page or longer publications.

Before ordering, send the file if you need us to confirm size, bleed, page sequence, or general production suitability. That review does not include rewriting, laying out, or proofreading the publication. You remain responsible for all content and for approving every page of the final proof.

Related: Pages versus spreads · Print-ready artwork · Proof approval checklist

Short answer: Request a quote when the product, size, quantity, stock, finish combination, packaging, or delivery requirement is not clearly available on the product page. Complex specialty projects should be reviewed before payment.

Include the finished size, quantity, number of printed sides, stock, colors, every specialty finish, delivery ZIP code, desired date, and artwork or concept. Clear specifications reduce back-and-forth and help us identify incompatible options early.

Related: Specialty finish combinations · Send artwork for review · Contact printshaQ

Short answer: Contact printshaQ with the previous order number, product, quantity, and any known job details. Do not assume a reorder will automatically use an old file, price, stock, or production method.

Tell us whether the artwork is unchanged or supply the new file. Review and approve the new proof just as carefully as the first one—especially contact information, dates, quantities, finishes, and sides. Materials and production availability can change, so we will confirm the current specifications before production.

Related: Proof approval checklist · Contact printshaQ · Artwork file checklist

Short answer: Contact printshaQ immediately. Whether a change or cancellation is possible depends on how far the job has progressed, and custom printing may move into production quickly after proof approval.

Do not rely on an email or voicemail alone if the matter is urgent. Call (888) 881-5652 or (954) 678-7286 and also send the details to Sales@printshaQ.com. We cannot promise that an approved job can be stopped or changed once production has begun.

Related: What proof approval means · Production turnaround · Contact printshaQ

Short answer: No. Production turnaround and shipping transit are separate parts of the schedule. A job must finish production before it can be packed, shipped, and delivered.

Turnaround normally begins only after the order, usable artwork, and required proof approval are complete. Weekends, holidays, artwork corrections, custom finishes, and production questions can affect the schedule. If you have an event date, tell us before ordering and allow contingency time.

Related: When production begins · Shipping estimates · Rush orders

Short answer: Production does not begin merely because a file was uploaded or an order was started. The job must have complete specifications, usable artwork, and any required proof approval before it can be released.

If a file needs correction, a finish mask is missing, or an option is unclear, the production clock has not meaningfully started. Respond promptly to proof or artwork questions and verify every selected option before approval.

Related: What is a proof? · Print-ready artwork · Turnaround versus shipping

Short answer: Contact us before ordering if the date is firm. Rush production or faster shipping may be available for some products, but availability depends on the exact job and should never be assumed.

Tell us the product, quantity, finished size, finishes, delivery ZIP code, artwork status, and the date the order must be in hand. Production estimates and carrier estimates are not the same as a guaranteed event plan. Build in time for proofing, corrections, production, transit, and unexpected delays.

Related: Turnaround versus shipping · Artwork review · Contact printshaQ

Short answer: Treat delivery estimates as part of a larger schedule that includes artwork review, proof approval, production, packing, and carrier transit. Leave extra time for date-sensitive work.

Check the delivery address before approving the order and use a location that can receive the package. Large-format, heavy, multi-box, and specialty jobs may ship differently from small paper products. Tracking confirms carrier movement, but it does not replace advance planning for an event or opening date.

Related: Turnaround versus shipping · Rush deadlines · Damaged packages

Short answer: A print order may be divided into multiple boxes because of weight, product size, packaging limits, or production location. Packages from the same order do not always arrive at the same time.

Review every tracking number before reporting a missing quantity. Count the contents after all listed packages arrive, keep the cartons and labels until the order is verified, and contact us promptly if something is still missing.

Related: Missing items · Shipping damage · Contact printshaQ

Short answer: Photograph the unopened package, shipping label, damaged areas, interior packaging, and affected products as soon as possible. Keep everything and contact printshaQ promptly.

Do not discard boxes, labels, or damaged pieces while the issue is being reviewed. Tell us the order number, quantity affected, and whether the entire shipment or only certain boxes were damaged. Clear evidence helps us work with the production and delivery partners on the appropriate resolution.

Related: Reporting a print problem · Missing items · Reprints and refunds

Short answer: Contact printshaQ promptly with the order number, a clear description, the quantity affected, and photographs that show the issue. Keep the full order and packaging while it is reviewed.

Photograph representative pieces in normal lighting, plus close-ups where useful. For color or finishing concerns, include the approved proof and identify the exact location. Do not discard, distribute, alter, or return the order unless instructed; production partners may require evidence or samples.

Related: Shipping damage · Approved proof responsibility · Reprints and refunds

Short answer: Custom printing is produced specifically for your order, so it is not normally returnable simply because it is unused or no longer needed. printshaQ stands behind production quality and will investigate legitimate manufacturing problems.

When a production mistake is confirmed, the usual resolution is a reprint through the appropriate production partner. Refunds are a rare last resort rather than the standard remedy. A result that correctly matches an approved proof—including an error or missing option visible in that proof—is different from a production defect.

Related: Proof approval responsibility · Report a print problem · Shipping damage

Short answer: Approval tells production that the proof is correct. If the printed result matches that approved proof, customer-side spelling, contact-information, image, layout, or missing-option errors are not production mistakes.

Read every word and confirm every ordered upgrade before approving. That includes foil, embossing, spot UV, edge color, die cutting, corners, page order, and print sides. A phone conversation or note does not override an approved proof that shows something different.

Related: Proof approval checklist · What a proof shows · Report a production problem

Short answer: Supply the final CMYK print PDF plus a separate, clearly named vector mask for every specialty process. Include a simple written specification that matches the files and order.

• Final size, orientation, bleed, and safe margins.
• Front and back print files in unmistakable order.
• One 100% K black-on-white mask per foil color, spot UV, emboss, deboss, or other process.
• Separate vector cut paths, fold marks, perforations, or drill locations where required.
• Fonts embedded or outlined and linked images included at sufficient resolution.
• A written list of stock, coating, lamination, edge treatment, corner choice, and every finish.

The designer and client should both review the final proof. A technically correct mask does not confirm that names, numbers, logos, or selected upgrades are correct.

Related: Specialty mask checklist · Print-ready artwork · Proof approval checklist

Short answer: The person or company placing the order is responsible for final approval, but resellers should obtain documented client approval before releasing the job. Never rely on an informal message when the proof contains critical content or specialty finishes.

Ask the client to review spelling, contact information, logos, images, page order, sides, and every finish. Consolidate corrections into one clear response. Keep the approved proof and client authorization with the project records.

Related: Proof approval checklist · Specialty finish files · Reordering a job

Short answer: Yes. Designers and resellers can contact printshaQ for production guidance, material comparisons, artwork review, and quotes for specialty projects that do not fit a standard online configuration.

Tell us that you are working for a client and explain any confidentiality, sample, packaging, or delivery considerations before ordering. Do not promise an unusual finish combination or deadline to the client until the specifications have been reviewed.

Related: Request a custom quote · Designer file handoff · Free sample packs