Digital Printing
The convenience of custom products – A few tips about digital printing
Document Formatting
Note that you can print your document on the paper of your choice and mail it to us for Fabric Hard Cover Binding and for Printed Hard Cover Binding.
If we print your document, we can only do so with a PDF file.
Why only PDF files? In most cases, a PDF file will keep the font, margin, and other settings that were used to create the document, even when you open the PDF file on a different computer. Other common file formats frequently don’t do that. A PDF file means that your document will most likely print exactly as you want. There will be no surprise or disappointment. Many other file formats require that the fonts and software settings be identical on the source computer and the computer that will be used for printing.
Click here for how to convert any document to a PDF file.
PDF files with foreign languages or special characters
More than 99% of PDF files print exactly on our end as it appears on your own computer. But sometimes, if you use any special font for your document (e.g. foreign language font or special characters such as mathematical symbols or accents), your document might not print properly. This happens because we have only a limited number of fonts on our systems. If we do not have your special font on our system, Adobe Acrobat will automatically substitute the closest matching font on our system. This could be the wrong font.
In order to be certain that your document with special fonts will print exactly as it displays on your computer, you must Embed your fonts. Click here for instructions on how to Embed your fonts in your PDF file.
We prefer 1 PDF file for your main document
We prefer a single PDF file because documents submitted in multiple files are more likely to contain errors and problems. The typical problems include inconsistent page numbering, repeating pages, and missing pages. These problems are made worse if you want specific pages printed in color, because the wrong page numbers could be listed for color printing when you submit multiple PDF files for 1 document.
Please click the link below and follow the instructions for how to combine 2 or more PDF files into 1 PDF file.
How to Combine 2 or More PDF files into 1 PDF file.
Printing Quality Details
When you send us your PDF file, you can rest assured that your document will be output on high resolution digital devices. For your black/white/gray pages, you can expect crisp gray-scales and solid blacks. Your color pages will have all the details you’ve come to expect from the highest quality digital color output devices.
Color printing costs more than black/white/gray printing. But when we print your PDF file on non-coated paper for Fabric Hard Cover or Printed Hard Cover binding, you can specify the pages you want printed in color, and only those pages will be charged the color rate.
WARNING: Choose color printing for pages with a graph that has curves in different colors, such as blue, green, red, etc.
When you have a graph in your document that has curves with several colors, we suggest that you print those pages in color. In a Very Few Cases, we have seen the following happen when such pages are printed in black/white/gray: the different color curves might all print with the same shade of gray! Yes, the document might print as you want on your end, but the calibration of our equipment might be different from the computer/printer combination on your end. Again, this has happened only in Very Few Cases.
Note that you can print your document on your own printer and ship to us for Hard Cover Binding.
WARNING: Choose color printing for pages with fine gradations of gray, such as electrical fields, biological images, etc.
Even though these are gray images that printed perfectly on your end, our equipment could be calibrated differently, and the gray scale may come out not as well defined as you want. Printing those pages in color solves the problem.
Note that you can print your document on your own printer and ship to us for Hard Cover Binding.
Accepted Image File Formats
We accept 1 page image files for signature pages, or cover artwork for Printed Hard Cover, Perfect Binding, and Saddle-Stitch Binding. We accept:
- .jpg
- .tiff
- .eps
- .png
How to Send Your Files
Our Quote/Order forms will prompt you to upload your files in the Quote/Ordering process. We also accept files that are smaller than 10 megs as email attachments.
If you want your document printed Double-Sided, be careful to make sure that your PDF pages are arranged to print exactly as you want them. Please click on the link below for instructions on how to:
- make sure that the pages you want to face each other will face each other, and
- make sure that the first page of each chapter or section will begin on the correct side of the page
How to make sure your PDF file will print properly for Double-Sided printing
Signature Pages
We accept 1 or 2-page signature pages in the image file formats listed above. But you can also place your order with a PDF file and send your signature page or pages to us by mail. When you do this, please, please tell us that we should wait for your signature page or pages to arrive in the mail before we bind. You will tell us to wait for your signature page in the section of our Quote/Order form called “Comments and Additional Instructions.” We do not want to bind your document without your signature page if you’re sending the signature page by mail. So please warn us to wait to receive your signature page in the mail before we bind.
About Our Paper Quality
We offer 5 types of paper:
- 20lb regular or standard Copy Paper. This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have a watermark. Acid Free paper is made from wood pulp, and it resists yellowing and brittleness over very long periods (measured in centuries). The production of Acid Free paper is also more environmentally friendly than acidic paper.
- 60lb regular or standard Copy Paper (also known as 24lb Copy Paper). This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have a watermark. Acid Free paper is made from wood pulp, and it resists yellowing and brittleness over very long periods (measured in centuries). The production of Acid Free paper is also more environmentally friendly than acidic paper.
- 20lb, 25% Cotton Paper. This white paper is ACID-FREE and ARCHIVAL. It has a WATERMARK. Archival paper has all the benefits of Acid-Free paper, except that it resists yellowing and brittleness even longer than ordinary Acid-Free paper. Another difference is that Cotton Paper is made with cotton pulp.
- 24lb, 100% Cotton Paper . This white paper is ACID-FREE and ARCHIVAL. It has a WATERMARK. Archival paper has all the benefits of Acid-Free paper, except that it resists yellowing and brittleness even longer than ordinary Acid-Free paper. Another difference is that Cotton Paper is made with cotton pulp. PLEASE NOTE that A4 (European Letter size) is NOT available in 100% cotton.
- 80lb Gloss-Coated Paper. This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have a watermark. But unlike regular copy paper, it is also coated with a gloss finish that makes it perfect for printing photographs.
Note that academic libraries prefer 20lb paper because books made with this type of paper are thinner than books made with 24lb paper or thicker. Thinner books mean that libraries can fit more books on a shelf.
Confidentiality Policy
Abel’s Copies & Sentient Publishing consider the information in your electronic or paper document to be completely confidential. The contents of your document will never be reproduced in whole or in part or disclosed to a third party without your prior written consent. If after we have filled your order you want additional copies of your document produced, you must make the request with the same email address you used for placing the initial order. Otherwise, you must submit a new document file.