FAQ's

Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Start by selecting one of the links below. If you don’t see what you need – call or contact us online.

Are you a “green” company?
At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?
How do I go about getting an estimate from you?
Is white considered a printing color?
My file prints out fine on my printer. Why doesn't it look the same at Lawton Printers?
What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?
What is a "proof"?
What is an embedded graphic and why is it bad to use them?
What is the Pantone Matching System?
What is the proper resolution for scanning a photograph intended for use in a printed piece, and how large should I scan it?
What is the proper resolution for scanning line art or text?
What type of products and services do you provide?
Why can’t I simply open a low resolution (i.e. 72 dpi) graphic in Photoshop and increase the resolution to 300 dpi if that’s what you need?
Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?
Why does a graphic image taken off the Web look bitmapped when printed?
Why is it important that I include my fonts with my job, can’t you just substitute your versions of the fonts?
Why should I supply lasers and color separations with my disk?

Are you a “green” company?

Absolutely! We take very seriously our role in preserving the environment and integrate numerous green practices into our daily operations. In addition to energy-efficient equipment and chemical-free technologies, we can perform many print jobs using recycled paper stock. If you would like to use recycled paper for your next print job, let us know. You’ll be pleased with the results and feel good about helping the environment, too.
At what resolution should I save my photos and graphics?

Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.

Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.

Also note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode when possible. Images saved in RGB mode may not print properly. If you are unable to save your image in CYMK mode, please let us know.
How do I go about getting an estimate from you?

Well, since you are here, we would suggest you use our online estimate request form. Although the best way to ensure that we get all the information necessary to do an accurate quote, give us a call and talk with one of our customer service representatives or sales professionals at 407-260-0400.
Is white considered a printing color?

Not typically. Because white is the default color of paper, it is simply recognized as the absence of any ink. However, when using colored paper, white ink may be used if any text or graphic requires it.
My file prints out fine on my printer. Why doesn't it look the same at Lawton Printers?

In order for us to successfully output your file, all the elements that were used to create the file (i.e. correct fonts, linked graphics, etc.) must be provided to us. We cannot guarantee that your job will come out as intended if we have not been given all the elements required for the job. Furthermore, the technology used in a desktop inkjet or laser printer is very different from the technology used in preparing a file for offset printing. Unfortunately, it is often not possible to exactly match the output from your inkjet printer.
What file format should I use when submitting my electronic document for printing?

PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.
What is a "proof"?

A proof is a way of ensuring that we have met your specifications and everything is in the desired place for your printed piece. Typically, we will produce a proof which will be sent to you online or printed on paper. On multiple color jobs, we can produce a color proof on our color output device to show how the different colors will appear.
What is an embedded graphic and why is it bad to use them?

An embedded graphic is a “read-only” copy of the graphic in a page layout file, which means it cannot be opened by the original application that created it. Therefore we cannot make any changes to the graphic that may be needed. If the application you are using allows you to embed placed graphics and you have chosen to use this option, you should still include the original external graphic file with the job. This gives us the ability to perform any manipulation to the graphic that may be needed or desired (i.e. color conversion, color separation).
What is the Pantone Matching System?

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color reproduction standard in which colors all across the spectrum are each identified by a unique, independent number. The use of PMS allows us to precisely match colors and maintain color consistency throughout the printing process.
What is the proper resolution for scanning a photograph intended for use in a printed piece, and how large should I scan it?

300 dpi is the standard resolution for scanning a continuous tone image (i.e. a photograph). An image should be scaled to no smaller than the size at which it will be used in the piece. Scanning it larger than the final size won’t do any harm. Furthermore, if the image is to be used more than once at various sizes, it should be scanned at the largest size.
What is the proper resolution for scanning line art or text?

1200 dpi is the standard resolution for scanning these types of originals.
What type of products and services do you provide?

Good question! We are a full service shop and offer a wide range of products and services. To see a full listing and description of what we can offer you, check out the Products & Services area in the Customer Service Section of our website.
Why can’t I simply open a low resolution (i.e. 72 dpi) graphic in Photoshop and increase the resolution to 300 dpi if that’s what you need?

When an image is scanned at 72 dpi at the outset, the amount of detail and sharpness that is captured at that low resolution is much less than that which is captured at a higher resolution setting such as 300 dpi. Increasing the resolution after the scanning stage will not put back detail and sharpness which was not captured in the first place, it’s merely adding more pixels to a poor scan. The image must be rescanned at the higher resolution.
Why do the printed colors look different from the colors on my screen?

In short, printers and monitors produce colors in different ways.

Monitors use the RGB (red, green, blue) color model, which usually supports a wider spectrum of colors. Printers use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, which can reproduce most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. Depending on the equipment used, CMYK generally matches 85–90% of the colors in the RGB model.

When a color is selected from the RGB model that is out of the range of the CMYK model, the application chooses what it thinks is the closest color that will match. Programs like Adobe Photoshop will allow you to choose which color will be replaced. Others may not.
Why does a graphic image taken off the Web look bitmapped when printed?

Graphics that are meant to be viewed over the Internet are typically saved in a low resolution format (such as .jpg or .gif) because this creates a small file size which allows for faster downloading. The resolution of these files is typically 72 dpi, which is an insufficient resolution for high quality printing. An image should be rendered at 300 dpi when it is intended to be used in a printed piece. This captures the maximum amount of detail.
Why is it important that I include my fonts with my job, can’t you just substitute your versions of the fonts?

First of all, we may not have some or all of the fonts you used. Also, fonts carry programming information within them that affects how the lines of text break and determines how the characters appear on the screen and on the page when it prints. These characteristics can vary from font manufacturer to font manufacturer, so substituting our different version of a particular font (i.e. Times) may cause dramatic and undesirable changes to the way the text flows within the document and the appearance of the final output.
Why should I supply lasers and color separations with my disk?

Customer provided hard copies eliminate guesswork and give us a clear picture of what the printed piece should look like. Providing lasers of the color separations also shows that the file has been prepared to separate properly during the final output.