| Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of printing do you produce?
What are your prices?
How do I start my project?
The quote I received is more expensive than I expected. How can I lower costs?
Do you produce color copies?
Do you produce t-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, boxes, etc.?
What kind of computer platforms and software programs do you support?
I have created a brochure on my computer. Can you use my digital files
or will you have to recreate them?
How do I send you my digital files?
I sent you my completed digital file. Then I was told I needed to send the missing fonts
and images of my document. Why are they missing?
I sent you my completed project on disk. Then I was told there were problems with my files.
They printed fine on my computer. What's wrong?
When do I see a proof?
How long will it take to complete my project?
Do you deliver?
What kind of printing do you produce?
Sorrento Mesa Printing is a full service commercial printer. We participate in all areas of print from the initial concept to the delivery of your completed project.
What are your prices?
We do not have a standard list of prices because there are many variables that contribute to the cost of a printed piece. Two one-color letterheads could have two completely different prices due to the type of paper they are using, the resolution needed to print the job or even if the ink bleeds off the page. Please contact us to give us information about your customized project. Our customer service representatives will be happy to send you a quote for your printed project.
How do I start my project?
The first step to starting a project is to contact our customer service department for a quote. For more complex projects we can set up a meeting to discuss the project specifics. If your project has already been created, please send us a printed or digital sample so that we can give you an accurate quote. For a list of information we will need to know in order to quote your project please see our "Contact Us" section or click here. Once the quote is signed off including quantities, we can begin working with your digital files. Any changes made after the quote is signed off (for example, adding another color, changing the quantity, changing the size, adding a page) will result in a new quote. We cannot start working on your project without a finalized signed quote.
The quote I received is more expensive than I expected. How can I lower costs?
There are several ways to lower costs. Sometimes changing the size slightly, the kind of paper used, or changing the ink colors can make a big difference in the price. If you will be printing several items that have images in the same place and type changes each run (such as business cards, data sheets, and newsletters) a popular cost-effective method is to create master shells. The master shells have the information that does not change each press run. For example, most business card shells have the company name and logo with the rest of the card blank. Each time a business card order is placed, the personal information is then imprinted on the shells. It is much less expensive to print thousands of shells with the colored logo and later print small quantities with one color type, than it is to imprint all the colors each time your project goes to press.
Once the master shells are approved, we create a template on our computers. The template has all the text information such as correct font, size and placement. Setting up a template will ensure that your files look consistent each time they are run.
There are many ways to minimize the cost of your printed project. Please call us to discuss your options.
Do you produce color copies?
Yes. We can print color outputs from digital files. However, we do not have the ability to place a document onto glass and make copies. Depending on the quantity of your job, digital outputs could be a cheaper alternative to offset printing. For quick turnaround, this is also a more cost effective solution. Call our customer service representatives to find out if it would be more cost effective to run your small quantity job on a digital color output printer.
Do you produce T-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, boxes, etc.?
Yes. We can print specialty items. However, our cost will be higher than places that specialize in these items because they produce them at a much higher volume. If you need printing on non-paper items, please call us to find out all of your options.
What kind of computer platforms and software programs do you support?
We support both the Windows® and Macintosh® operating systems. We support many software programs on both platforms. We are an Adobe® Service Provider, a Quark™ Authorized Commercial Printer, a Corel® Platinum Service Provider, and a Microsoft® Publisher® Service Provider. This gives us access to the knowledge and training to handle all of your digital content quickly and accurately. We use the fastest digital hardware and have the most current software available. We can work with any file you give us.
I have created a brochure on my computer. Can you use my digital files or will you have to recreate them?
Most likely, we will be able to work with your digital file without having to recreate the file from scratch. We have a wide variety of software we support and have both Windows® and Macintosh® workstations. Our graphic designers are also technical experts and well versed in most software and hardware issues. On the rare occasion that we do need to recreate a file, it is either due to the printing limitations of the software it was created in, or due to the lack of technical details in the file. There are several steps to making files ready for the press. A document may look correct on your monitor and print out on your desktop printer, however this does not mean that the file is ready to run on a commercial press. Images need to be saved in the correct formats, with high enough resolutions and accurate colors. The job may require trapping. If the job is being folded, the panels may need to be adjusted. We have included a section of this web site dedicated to discussing all the various elements required to create a file ready for the press. If you are creating your own files, we highly suggest you look at our Technical Tips page located in the "Education" section or click here for direct access.
How do I send you my digital files?
We accept files by e-mail, ftp, disk or CD. Please send a printout or .pdf file of the final version of your project you would like printed. Be sure to clearly mark your company name, the name of the file you would like printed, and accurate contact information.
If you are sending multiple digital files electronically, please compress them using WinZip™ for Windows® files or StuffIt™ for Mac® files.
E-Mail: You can send small files to us via e-mail by attaching your files to the message you send to us. Please e-mail all digital files to: graphics@sorrentomesa.com
If you are reordering a job and do not need to send new digital files, please e-mail your request to: orders@sorrentomesa.com
FTP: FTP (file transfer protocol) is more reliable and much faster than sending e-mail attachments and will allow much larger files to be transferred. You can access our ftp site by clicking here.
Disk or CD: You can give us your files personally or we can arrange to have our driver pick up the files.
I sent you my completed digital file. Then I was told I needed to send the missing fonts and images of my document. Why are they missing?
Page layout programs such as QuarkXpress®, PageMaker®, InDesign™, and Publisher® save the page layout information. They save where the images go and the text information. They do not save the actual image in the file unless you specify to embed the images. DO NOT EMBED IMAGES! We need the images to check the quality, color and resolution. Fonts are located on your computer. The page layout program accesses these fonts from your hard drive, then displays what they look like in the document. It does not save the actual font with the program. If you send us your page layout file and forget to send the fonts, the type will default to another font that is on our system. Corel® and all Microsoft® programs do not tell us that the font is missing and we have no way of knowing. Always send all fonts and all images used in your final documents as well as a printed copy of what the file looks like so we can double-check for accuracy. For more technical details about creating print-ready files, please refer to our Technical Tips page located in the "Education" section or click here for direct access.
I sent you my completed project on disk. Then I was told there were problems with my files. They printed fine on my printer. What’s wrong?
There are several steps to creating files ready for offset printing as opposed to a desktop printer. If a document is missing information or not created accurately, it can cause problems and delays in printing. A document may look correct on your monitor, and may print out correctly on your desktop printer, but that file may not perform properly when printing color separations to produce plates for a press. We have included a section of this website that explains the most common issues you need to be aware of when creating files ready for press. If you are creating your own files, please look at our Technical Tips page located in the "Education" section or click here for direct access. If you have questions about your specific project, please contact one of our graphic specialists for additional help.
When do I see a proof?
The normal turnaround time for proofs is 1-2 working days. Depending on the complexity of your project, you may see several proofs before we print the final version.
TYPES OF PROOFS
Fax A faxed copy of your project. Primarily used as a confirmation of the sent e-mail proof or with our customers who do not use e-mail. This is when all changes are made to the file. There are no charges for modifications at this stage.
E-Mail A .pdf file of your project sent to you via e-mail. This file is much clearer than the faxed copy and is shown in color on your monitor. This is when all changes are made to the file. There are no charges for modifications at this stage. Please keep in mind that your monitor may not show accurate color.
Epson® This is a full color digital printout of your project, primarily used when your project is complex or has a wide range of colors. This proof is given when the .pdf proof has been approved but before your project goes to film. Our Epson® Stylus Pro 5000 is color calibrated with our system to produce accurate color printouts. Keep in mind, if you are using a Pantone® color, the accuracy may be slightly off depending on the hue. If there are any changes at this stage, the client might have to pay for more design time or another Epson® proof depending on the changes made to the file.
Blueline This proof is given after the final faxed or e-mailed proof has been approved. The film is output and the blueline is created from the film. This is used on projects that contain 1, 2 or 3 colors. The blueline does not show what colors are being used, but it does show accurate position, type, gradients and tints. If there are any changes at this stage, the client will have to pay extra film costs.
MatchPrint® This proof is given after the .pdf proof and the Epson® proof have been approved. The MatchPrint® shows exactly what your project will look like when it is printed in full color. Colors are accurate because this proof is made from the film. If there are any changes at this stage, the client will have to pay extra film costs.
How long will it take to complete my project?
That depends on the work involved to complete your project. From final proof sign-off, our normal turnaround time is 2-3 working days, but there are many things that may effect this timeline.
The biggest influences on how soon we can produce your project are incomplete files, and how many changes are requested in the proofing stages. These delays are easily avoidable. When sending us files, please make sure they are complete and final. Every time a change is made (even the really little ones) it adds extra time to your project. Once the job is printed, the ink needs to dry overnight before your project can be folded or trimmed. With certain types of paper and large blocks of solid color, the ink might need longer to dry. If your project has any special die cuts, foiling, or embossing, it will take more time because this adds more steps needed for completion.
If you have a deadline, please let us know as far in advance as possible so that we will be able to print your project on time.
Do you deliver?
Yes. We can deliver or ship your project anywhere you need.
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