The graphics in your artwork need to be high-resolution. If they are at least 300 dots per inch (dpi), then they will look clear and sharp when printed.  If the resolution is lower than 300 dpi, the images will start to look blurry, stretched and pixelated. Your computer monitor typically displays images at about 72dpi, but if we were to print images at that same resolution you’d be disgusted with the low quality. The problem is that even if you start with high-resolution graphics, your software might compress them down to 72dpi when you save the file. Be sure that you save and send us 300 dpi graphics by adjusting the settings in your software.

Software Settings:

• Adobe Photoshop – Click “File” and then “New.” Select “300” for the Resolution. Choose “Pixels/Inch” for the Units. Click “OK.”
• Microsoft Publisher – Click “File” and choose “Save As.” Select either “PDF” or “TIF” from the file-type menu. For PDF, click “Options” and select “Commercial Press” from the options; click “OK.” For TIF, click “Change” and click “High Quality Printing or Commercial Press,” then click “OK.”
• Quark Xpress – Click “File” and then choose “Export.” Under “Save as Type” select “PDF,” then under “PDF Style” choose “PDF(X-1a:2001).” Click “Save.” This will set the graphics to 300dpi and the color to CMYK.
• Corel Draw – Click “File” and then “Export.” Select “PDF” as the file-type and then select “PDF for Prepress” as the PDF Style. You can also click “Settings” to specifically change the export settings. Remember that we need 300dpi artwork and we prefer CMYK color.

If your editing software isn’t listed here, consult your manufacturer for instructions on saving the file at 300dpi. We can accept a PDF, JPG, TIFF or EPS file for printing. If you have questions or need help, call us at 877-405-3949 or contact us online.

Having accurate colors on your computer’s monitor will help you to get the colors you want on your printed piece. Both Windows and Macintosh computers come with built-in color calibration tools that you can use to do a fair job of getting the right colors, but nothing will substitute for calibrating against a real-world reference. You can get a color reference book and calibrate your monitor so that it matches the reference color swatch you see. Or you can purchase a color calibration tool that will look at your monitor and make the adjustments automatically. Or, you can get started with the tools included with your computer’s operating system.

Windows – The built in Windows display calibration and color profiles let you determine how colors appear on your screen.

• Right-click anywhere on your desktop and then select “Screen Resolution.”
• Click “Advanced Settings” and then click on the “Color Management” tab. Click “Color Management.”
• Click on the “Advanced” tab and then click “Calibrate Display.”
• Follow the on-screen instructions to finish calibrating your monitor.

Macintosh OS X – The Apple operating system also has color calibration built in.

• Click “Apple Menu,” “System Preferences,” “Display” and then “Color.”
• Click “Calibrate.”
• Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate your monitor.

If you have the option in your calibration tools create an International Color Consortium (ICC) profile. We can use that profile when we convert your artwork to get the best color matching possible on our equipment. If you have questions, feel free to contact us by phone at 877-405-3949 or online.

If you take the time to spread the word about the high-quality products at PrintPlace, we’ll reward you for your work. It’s called affiliate marketing- you become affiliated with us and if anyone purchases from us because you told them about us, we’ll pay you a commission. Note that this program is intended for online marketers with busy websites that can drive traffic to PrintPlace. Through link-tracking we’ll even pay you a commission on orders placed up to 60 days after the first purchase.

How to Become an Affiliate:

• Create an account at Commission Junction.
• Sign up as PrintPlace affiliate at Commission Junction.
• Place the link(s) on your website and any other media that you want to use in affiliate marketing.
• Order a free affiliate marketing kit and 250 business cards from us. Just email affiliates@printplace.com and we’ll give you all the details.

It’s really simple to start working as an affiliate with PrintPlace, because we take your success seriously. We have an expanding list of tools you can use to tailor your content to be the most successful. Look at our affiliate marketing newsletter for the latest tips on advertising and creative links. Keep aware of the best keywords to use so that your ads pop up in search results.

In addition to all of our resources, when you sign up for a Commission Junction account, you get access to training seminars like ad placement tips and in-depth help on how to be successful as an affiliate publisher (Note: you need a Commission Junction account to view their training).

At PrintPlace we’re interested in your business being successful. That means we’re happy to let you resell our product to your clients. As a reseller, you can place orders from us, but then sell them to your own clients at the price you determine. This is an ideal situation for designers who want to offer a one-stop-shop solution. You get to walk with your customer from the inception of the process to the receipt of the printed material. If you’re a marketer, graphic designer or advertising consultant, then you can be the single contact point for your customers throughout the process.

Become a reseller:

• Fill out a reseller application on our website. We’ll let you know about any special deals we have available so that you can better serve your customers. To start you’ll get a 6% discount on printing, and, depending on the volume of your orders, you could get up to 10% off.
• Fax us tax exemption documents. If you operate in Texas, we’re legally obligated to charge you sales tax on your order, unless you are tax exempt. Download the legal documents from our website, fill them out and fax them back to us at 817-701-3702 so we can have your information on file.
• Ship your orders with blind shipping. We allow you to ship directly to your client and place your address in the return address field. All they see is your name on the shipping label. Any extra copies or proof copies will be shipped to you at the return address you provide.

It’s our goal to empower you to offer the best service to your customers, so we work hard to offer the best service to you. For example, we can provide you with privately branded proofs at no additional cost, so you can show your clients a proof copy before the full order is printed (call 877-405-3949 for more information). You can choose next-day shipping and same-day turnaround times on rush orders, or you can select a longer turn around and ground shipping to save money. We guarantee that you’ll be 100% satisfied with our work, or we’ll make it right.

Yes, sales tax is required on orders where applicable. As of 2012, Texas charges sales tax on orders shipped to (or picked up in) that state . This is based on the laws of the state, not the policies of PrintPlace.

If you are legally tax exempt, please fill out the correct form and fax it to us at 817-701-3702.

Forms:

• Texas Sales and Use Tax Resale Certificate
• Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certification

Do not place your order until your tax exempt information is on file. We tie the tax exempt status to your PrintPlace account so it must be correct in our system before the order is placed and paid for to prevent you being charged sales tax. Contact your local tax authority to get a seller’s permit and/or tax exemption number. We must have a valid permit number on file to waive the tax requirements when you check out and pay for your print order.

You are responsible for calculating and paying any sales tax due as a reseller.

We don’t allow automated orders where a print job happens according to a specific schedule. However, we do keep your artwork on file for 12 months, so you can re-order your print job as much as you need. We make it simple for you to log in to your account. Just click on “My Account” from the PrintPlace home page, find the job you want and click the green “Re-Order” button. Your artwork is already in our system and we can get things to press as soon as you want.

Due to the large number of print orders we deal with, if you go longer than 12 months between orders, we can’t guarantee that the files will still be in our system. You can contact us by phone at 877.405.3949 or email art@printplace.com to find out if your files are still saved on our servers. We encourage you to keep copies of your press-ready files just in case.

Remember when you’re placing your order that you can get the product as quickly as you need it. If get the order in and the proof approved by 12pm Central time we can print it that same day and get it to UPS for shipping. Then you can choose next day shipping and you’ll have your job the next day after you place the order. Or, you can anticipate when you’ll need your replacements and save money on the turnaround and shipping costs.

Whatever your needs, we’re committed to getting you the best quality prints at the best price in the time you want. We promise it and we guarantee it!