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Product Categories
Stock Products
Stock products are products that are
- NEVER customized (taken off the shelf, packed and shipped)
- ship within 48 hours
Some examples of plain products are stamps with a pre-defined message, plain envelopes, check binders, or real estate folders. Even when an item is pre-printed like a real estate folder, the fact that it does not get customized makes it a stock product.
Examples of stock products
Custom products are usually pre-printed and customized with your information. They are limited to certain areas of print, specific colors and typestyle choices. Some products offer layout choices which are also restricted.
These products can also be stock items, such as business organizers or pricing guns which do not require any printing.
These products are crash-printed, meaning the print is done by applying pressure. For this reason, a triplicate item printed in blue ink will be blue on on the top copy but black on the second and third copy. Products with your own design, on the contrary, will be blue on all 3 copies.
Logo Choices
Most custom products come with your choice of a custom logo or one of our business designs. Products that do offer a logo option will either have an image that shows a logo or will give you the option to choose a logo during the checkout. For more information on submitting a custom logo or creating a custom imprint, check our logo requirements and artwork guidelines.
Typestyle Choices
Most custom products will offer you a typestyle (font) choice. Not all typestyles (fonts) are available on all products so the best way to proceed is to to add the product to your cart and to start a checkout. This will show you the options available on that product.
Using your own fonts
Our custom products have been restricted to a certain number of fonts, which we have labeled "typestyles". Different products offer different typestyle choices but if you are very specific about the font, spacing or point size used to customize your products, we suggest that you go with what we call a custom imprint.
What is a custom imprint?
A custom imprint is the portion of the product that will be customized with your information. Usually, plain text can be entered in the database by our customer service representatives. When a custom logo is used, however, your file is sent to our graphic department so they can set up an image for the entire area that can be used on the final product.
For example, the area that we have to work with on item D863, the spiral-bound gift certificates, is 4" long x 7/8" high. This means that our graphic artists will resize your logo and text so that everything fits within this area.
However, if you would like to use a specific font which we do not offer, have specific spacing or formatting, we can accept files that you have designed on your own.
How can I know the area of imprint for the product I choose?
You will need to either send an email to info@smartresolution.com or ask for the information directly from our website, from the product's detail page, by clicking on "Request more info". If you elect to send a separate email, please do mention the item number of the product you are interested in.
Extra Lines of Print
Some custom products will allow you to ADD information. No information can be REMOVED or ALTERED since these products are pre-printed.
For those products that allow you to add extra lines, it can almost be placed anywhere you like (margins are commonly left blank). Commonly, extra lines of text are used for terms or itemization of the products or services you offer.
The cost is for the entire text, not by line of text.
Changes & Alterations
No information can be REMOVED or ALTERED from custom products as they are pre-printed. Envelopes, which are not pre-printed, are still limited to certain areas of print or layouts which cannot be changed. Most products, however, are available through our custom department. You may request a custom quote for more information.
Layouts
Some custom products will allow you to choose a specific layout. Layouts are commonly chosen for specific placement purposes. If none of the layouts offered match your criteria, then you may need to consider getting a custom product. Read our quote request section for more information.
Ink Colors
Custom products are printed in ONE or TWO ink color(s). Most of the time, it will be black or blue ink but sometimes, green or red is offered. If two ink colors are available, the first ink is usually for your company name and/or logo and the second ink for the rest of the text. Specific instructions can be provided during checkout.
Proofs
Proofs can be requested during checkout. Simply request it in the comments section and add xxxx in the payment fields if you wish to see a proof BEFORE you pay.
Customized Products
Customized products are
- usually pre-printed* (some products can also be plain, such as envelopes without any printing)
- then crash-printed or customized with your information BUT
- restricted to certain areas of print, specific colors and typestyle choices. Some products offer layout choices which are also restricted
- referenced by distinct item numbers (as opposed to names like "notepads"
- allow online preview during checkout
- proofs can be requested at no charge but not common since there is an online preview. If requested, will only show personalized portion
- ship within 3 business days (no logo or one of our business designs) or 7 business days (custom logo)
- rush service ONLY available on checks (2 business day turnaround)
Since these products are crash-printed, meaning that the printing is done by applying pressure. For this reason, a triplicate item printed in blue ink will be blue on on the top copy but black on the second and third copy. Products with your own design, on the contrary, will be blue on all 3 copies.
Logo Choices
Most customized products come with a choice of a custom or free logo. Products that do offer a logo will either have an image that shows a logo or will give the option to choose a logo during checkout. For more information on submitting a custom logo or creating a custom imprint, check our logo requirements and artwork guidelines.Typestyle Choices
Most customized products will offer you a typestyle (font) choice. Not all typestyles (fonts) are available on all products so the best way to proceed is to to add the product to the cart and start a checkout. This will show the options available on that product.Extra Lines of Print
Some customized products will allow you to ADD information. No information can be REMOVED or ALTERED since these products are pre-printed.For those products that allow you to add extra lines, it can almost be placed anywhere but commonly, they are used for terms or itemization of the products or services and are therefore most usually placed in the body of the product.
The cost is for the entire text and not by line of text.
Changes and Alternations
No information can be REMOVED or ALTERED from customized products (being that they are pre-printed). Envelopes, which are not pre-printed, are still limited to certain areas of print or by a layout which cannot be altered. Most products, however, are available with your own design and can therefore be reproduced, free of charge. This opens the door to a WIDE variety of options and a quote can easily be sent for whatever changes are required.Layouts
Some customized products will allow to choose a specific layout. Layouts are commonly chosen for specific placement purposes. If none of the layouts offered match your criteria, then they may need to consider getting a product with their own design.Ink Colors
Customized products are personalized in ONE or TWO ink color(s). Most of the time, it will be black or blue ink but sometimes, other colors are offered. If two ink colors are available, the first ink is usually for the company name and/or logo and the second ink for the rest of the text. Specific instructions can be provided during checkout.Proofs
Proofs can be requested during checkout. They are most commonly sent on products without a custom logo or custom imprint as plain text will be displayed in the product's checkout preview and should provide a clear representation of the final product.Online Preview
The online preview is a graphic tool that allows users to see a representation of the ordered product but is NOT meant to be EXACT. Since each order is reviewed by several of our printing experts during the process, there may be some slight rectifications. Common practices are to correct punctuation or typos but can also include the simplification of an uploaded logo. When in doubt, our printing experts will reach out to you for validation.
Examples of Customized Products
Products with Your Own Design
Products printed with your own design, sometimes referred to as "Custom Products" are
- printed from scratch and based on artwork (provided by you or designed by our art department, for FREE up to 3 ink colors - full color product designs require a quote)
- include full color items (CMYK model) and items printed with PMS / spot colors (RGB model)
- only restrictions are those imposed by the product or process itself (ex: a wrap-around book does not have spiral binding; self-sealing is a type of envelope and not an option)
- require a quote to be provided so that each option can be defined
- common options include:
- numbering
- back printing
- bleeds
- perforations
- plate change (used when one of the copies is different and requires a separate metal plate to be created for press)
- requires artwork or rough draft (word or excel, even hand written scan work) to be uploaded during checkout
- rush service available on all products
- include a proof of the entire product (except for routing and account number on cheques)
- ship within 9 business days
These products printed with your design are printed on demand from camera-ready artwork, which is a file generally designed by a professional graphic artist. They offer unlimited design options but can be limited by the product restrictions themselves (for example, carbonless forms always require a margin all around (no bleeds) and cannot be printed in full color).
These products can also be ordered without any printing but the cost remains the same. This solution might be counter-intuitive too as not many people would want to buy blank notepads or blank sheets of paper, which would be available from local office supplies stores.
The printing process requires that EACH sheet be printed (and bound if necessary) as opposed to customized products which are already printed and bound together. For this reason, a triplicate item printed in blue ink will be blue on all 3 copies as opposed to the custom product which will be blue on the first copy but black on the second and third copies.
Camera-ready artwork
Your own design products require camera-ready artwork that will need to either be emailed or uploaded. The file will be reviewed by graphic artists before being sent to press but it will not be altered (unless there are obvious incompatibility issues with the chosen product, for example, the file is designed in full color but the order is for black ink only).* We can also design the file for you, most of time, free of charge.
Ink colors
YOD products are printed in ONE, TWO or THREE ink color(s). Price is mostly based on the product and the ink color. Since custom colors need to be mixed and then cleaned from the press, there is always a charge for a second and third ink color. The cheapest way to design a form is by using black ink.Design
Files can be designed in RGB mode or by specifying the PMS color number either in the file or in the instructions/comments box.
For more information on designing a file, you should consult with a graphic artist or create a sketch of what you would like in Word or Excel and submit that file with your order. A sketch should be marked as such or it could be considered camera-ready artwork. We can also work from a fax but touch-ups and designs cost extra.
Proofs
Proofs are sent on all new orders or reorders with changes. They are not sent when we are printing the exact same job as in the past, unless it is requested specifically.- - -
· Products with your own design are printed on demand from camera-ready artwork, which is a file generally designed by a professional graphic artist. These products offer unlimited design options but can be limited by the product's restrictions themselves (for example, carbonless forms cannot be printed in full color).
· These products can also be ordered without any printing but the cost remains the same.
· The printing process requires that EACH sheet be printed (and bound if necessary) as opposed to custom products which are already printed and bound together. For this reason, a triplicate item printed in blue ink will be blue on all 3 copies as opposed to the custom product which will be blue on the first copy but black on the second and third copies.
Camera-Ready Artwork
Products with your own design require that you obtain camera-ready artwork. You will need to either email or upload a file which indicates exactly what you would like printed. It will be reviewed by our graphic artists before being sent to press but it will not be altered (unless there are obvious incompatibility issues with the chosen product).
Ink Colors
Products with your own design are printed in ONE, TWO or THREE ink color(s). Price is mostly based on the product and the ink color, so do consider that when designing your file. Since custom colors need to be mixed and then cleaned from the press, there is always a charge for a second and third ink color. The cheapest way to design a form is by using either black ink or reflex blue ink.
Design
Files can be designed in RGB mode or by specifying the PMS color number either in the file or in the instructions/comments box. For more information on designing a file, consult a graphic artist or create a sketch of what you would like in Word or Excel and submit that file with your order. Do specify whether it is a sketch or it will be considered camera-ready. We can also work from a fax but it has to be very clear.
Does it cost extra if my product is designed landscape vs portrait?
Prices may indeed differ based on the orientation of the sheet as more glue, padding, binding will be needed on custom landscape forms. For more information, please request a custom quote.
Proofs
Proofs are mostly sent on new orders or reorders with changes. They are not sent when we are printing the exact same job as in the past.
Full color products
The printing process requires that EACH sheet be printed (and bound if necessary) as opposed to customized products which are already printed and bound together.
Camera-ready artwork
Full color products require that camera-ready artwork be emailed or uploaded. The file will be reviewed by graphic artists before being sent to press but it will not be altered (unless there are obvious incompatibility issues with the chosen product, for example, the file is designed for 2 spot colors and the customer ordered full color).* We can also design the file for the customer, most of time, free of charge. Check on the current promotions to see if the offer is still valid.
Ink colors
Full color products are not restricted to the number of ink colors which are limitless.Design
Files need to be designed in CMYK mode. For more information on designing a file, you should consult with a graphic artist or create a sketch of what you would like in Word or Excel and submit that file with your order. A sketch should be marked as such or it could be considered camera-ready artwork. We can also work from a fax but touch-ups and designs will cost extra. Touch-ups are $50; designs are $75 for one-sided jobs; $150 for two-sided jobs.Proofs
Proofs are sent on all new orders or reorders with changes. They are not sent when we are printing the exact same job as in the past, unless the specifically requested, in which case, we can pull up the file from our previous orders.Availability by category
Currently, the products available in each of the following product categories are displayed in the table below. Please note that this is NOT an extensive list of the products we offer and should not be used as such. For the most-up-to-date information on our products, always refer to the website.
| Product Category | Customized | Custom | Full Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brochures |  | ||
| Business Cards |  |  |  |
| Business Checks |  |  | Ask for quote |
| Business Forms |  |  | Ask for quote |
| Catalogs |  | ||
| Corporate Kits |  | ||
| Deposit Tickets |  |  | |
| Door Hangers |  |  | Ask for quote |
| Envelopes |  |  |  |
| Folders |  | ||
| Gift Certificates |  | ||
| Greeting Cards |  |  | |
| Holiday Cards |  |  | |
| Labels |  |  | |
| Letterheads |  |  | Ask for quote |
| Medical Products |  | ||
| Notepads |  |  | Ask for quote |
| Postcards |  |  | |
| Posters |  | ||
| Presentation Folders |  | Ask for quote |  |
| Promotional Products |  | Ask if available | |
| Rack Cards |  | ||
| Retail Products |  | ||
| Sell Sheets |  | ||
| Stamps |  | ||
| Tags |  | ||
| Tax Forms |  |