Please look below for a list of frequently asked questions and answers about Printed Specialties.

What does Printed Specialties produce?
Our product line includes folding cartons, capper cards, specialty plastic printed items, litho labels, and many other items too numerous to list. Check out our Products Page to give you an idea as to our capabilities.

Do you have the carton I need?
We have over 1800 standing dies available for use, only a fraction of which you'll find on the following pages.

I checked in the catalog and didn't see the carton I need. What do I do now?
Check the Die Library, where you'll find the latest dies PSI has to offer, and possibly one that fits your needs.

I still don't see the right carton. What do I do now?
Contact customer service with your requirements and let us find a solution for your specific packaging problems. We will take your information and develop a sample based on your specifications via our in house CAD services.

I think Die #279 will work for me. Now what do I do?
Call customer service for pricing and turnaround. You can also download the eTemplate from the Die Library and begin designing your artwork.

O.K. I got my eTemplate, thank you, and I'm setting up my artwork. What software should I use for my design?
You should only use appropriate page creation applications such as Quark XPress or InDesign to create your art. See the Best Practices section for more information.

What is the difference between 4-color process and PMS colors?
4-color process, or CMYK, is a method of representing color based on the standard printing ink colors of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black. PMS colors, or Pantone Matching System, are inks that are mixed to match specific colors found in a Pantone Matching System book. It is more expensive than using process colors, but may be necessary if you have to match a particular color exactly, or if you are using metallic or fluorescent colors.

Do I need to worry about trap?
No. Trap is the overprint of one ink color on another. It is necessary to insure that mechanical movements during the printing process will not affect the final appearance of your job. All trapping is done when your job is processed by PSI, so please don't worry about trapping in the application.

What about line screen?
Line Screen, or Screen Frequency, is the number of halftone dots per square inch on a screen; the higher the frequency, the finer the screen. A screen of 30 lines per inch (lpi) is made up of dots that are 1/3 the size of the dots in a screen of 10 lines per inch.

What then is a screen and what is a halftone dot?
Laser printers and printing presses cannot produce gray; they only produce the illusion of gray. This illusion is accomplished by taking a continuous tone image, such as a photograph, and processing it through a screen that converts the image into dots of various sizes. These are halftone dots.

All this sounds complicated. What if I make a mistake in preparing my artwork?
It is complicated, but we can help you. Our Best Practices section contains many tips and tricks to help guide you through this process. Also, feel free to call customer service and ask for help. We'll do our best to answer questions before they become problems. Our Customer Service Number is 1-866-303-1341.

I've got my artwork done in Quark XPress and I'm ready to get a package produced. What do I do now?
Send the digital files to us. We will extract your files and create a contract quality proof for you to approve.

Can I email the files to you?
In most cases, no. Because of limitations imposed by Internet email servers, files over five megabytes cannot be reliably sent as email attachments. Large files must be transmitted by FTP or by sending us the files on removable media, like a CD-R. You'll be given instructions for accessing our FTP server when you submit your order.

Note: Be sure to remember to either call or email us to confirm your order after you upload your file. We receive a large number of files via FTP and you'd be surprised how many people simply place their files onto our FTP server and fail to let us know which job the artwork belongs to!

Can I have the film output locally and send it to you?
No. PSI utilizes CTP technology (Computer to Plate) and can only accept digital files. If you must send us film, we can still process the job by utilizing our copydot scanner to digitize the film, but you will incur additional charges for this process. It is much better, cheaper, and faster to send us the original digital files.

Will you match my proof exactly?
Yes, in most cases. Due to gang run of certain items, however, a slight variation may occur. This variation is usually minimal, but check with your customer service representative if you have concerns. Keep in mind that some colors are difficult to proof. PMS or Spot Colors are notoriously difficult to proof because most proofing systems are process color proofers. The best way to control this color is through a spot color swatch book when choosing your spot colors.

What is a gang run?
Some items, such as CD Quick sleeves and DVD Case Inserts, are run in tandem, or Ganged, with like items in order to achieve a better price for the buyer. There is a trade off, however, in that a compromise has to be made on press to achieve pleasing color for each item.

Is there any way to prevent this variation?
Yes. To minimize variation you can have your carton printed on a custom run. This is costlier, or course, but it is an option. FYI, though: If you are ordering 20,000 or more sleeves your order most likely will be run as a custom anyway. Gang runs are used in orders less than 15,000 and only with standard items like CD quicksleeves or wallets. You can also do a Press Check. Be assured, however, that even if you can't attend a press approval, our production crews and customer service reps will make sure your carton is printed as close to the proof as possible.

What are my paper stock options?
We print on paper ranging from 30# text to 32 pt. Coated Kraft. Depending on your application, we can recommend an appropriate weight stock for your package.

What are over/unders? Why can't I just order 2500 and get 2500?
In the production of a carton, many processes are utilized, such as printing, die cutting, coating, folding and gluing. Each process generates waste. In order to ensure that you receive the amount you ordered, we must run overs. The added benefit is that you get extra samples and if there is spoilage during the fulfillment process, you may have enough to fill the order.

Is grain direction important in positioning my job on the paper stock?
Yes. The grain of the paper should run across the longest scores. This helps keep the carton from rounding out when used on automated equipment.

What are my coating options?
We offer three primary types of liquid coating: Press Varnish, Aqueous, and UV. Press Varnish, gloss or dull, is applied in line and provides good protection for your package. It is economical in high quantities. Aqueous Coating is high gloss, smudge resistant, and holds up well in a retail environment. Our aqueous coating is applied in line. UV, or Ultra-Violet, is can be applied in line or off line, is very high gloss, smudge resistant, very durable, and offers the best protection from the liquid coatings for your package. You may also specify Film Lamination. This can be extremely high gloss and will offer the best protection overall from all coatings. It is exactly as it sounds: we laminate a film to the printed sheet before die cutting.

What delivery methods do you offer?
Many options are available. We can use UPS or Fed-Ex as well as common carrier to ship your order virtually anywhere. Unless your order was priced F.O.B. your company, all shipping costs as well as any express charges are borne by the buyer.