Product Questions

What types of products do you sell?

We offer business products that are generally printed and as such, we offer different solutions. Understanding each type is made simpler with our article on the product categories we offer.

How should I know which printing solution to choose?

Choosing the solution that fits your budget and time constraints will most likely be the determining factor. Below are some of the considerations to keep in mind when choosing your perfect printing option, or you may explore the article that explores whether or not you should use your own design.

Customized 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 customized 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 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 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. 

Custom imprints

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 or after placing an order. 

Products with your own design

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

Full color products are also printed on demand with your own design from camera-ready artwork, which is a file generally designed by a professional graphic artist. Full color products offer unlimited design and color options. The only limitations are the products' restrictions themselves (for example, carbonless forms cannot be printed in full color).

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.

Camera-ready artwork

Full color products 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

Full color products are not restricted to the number of ink colors you can use. Ink color options are limitless.

Design

Files need to be designed in CMYK mode. 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 may be considered camera-ready. Graphic design costs for full-color products is, on average, $75 for a one-sided job; $150 for a two-sided job.

Proofs

Proofs are mostly sent on new orders and reorders with changes. They are not sent when we are printing the exact same job as in the past.