HOW IT WORKS
HOW OUR PRINTING SERVICE WORKS
The Printing Division of Truesource is a fill service print company for signs, banners, posters, business cards, postcards, brochures, flyers, and other business documents. We print can in matte and gloss finishing. All of our printing is offset printing to give you the best quality of printing in the USA. We also have the most affordable pricing for your business. You send us your files and we set them up for you. You can get a proof sent to you in an email for an extra $10.00. While you may not need a proof for everything you get printed we recommend that for big projects you get a proof for you order. If you need design services then we can offer those too. Our graphic design services start at $35.00 an hour. We can also give you access to templates for certain products to make it easier for you to design your product yourself.
Price Quotes
We do not have the exact pricing listed for each of the items we can print or the quantities. This is due to the fact that we may be able to find you a better price than the competition. Also we love to give our customers discounts in order to save them money. We have starting prices for each thing we can print. If you are looking for something specific based on size, color, quantity, and a matte or gloss finish then you will need to contact us for a specific price quote. In addition we also have price matching other print companies. We will give you the best price or you will get a store credit or free business cards. Once we give you a specific price quote then we upload it to our quotes webpage with under your name so you can process the payment through our shopping cart.
Payment Methods
We accept the following forms of payment. Credit/Debit Cards, all types. Check/Money Orders, we will process the payment first to make sure it clears before completing the order. eChecks will be treated just like regular checks, once the payment clears then we will complete the order. You can process your payment through our website in our easy step by step shopping cart. We do not send order to the printer until final payment has been made to complete the order. We do NOT offer credit terms and invoicing for clients.
Pending Orders
We do not keep pending orders in our shopping cart for more than 48 hours after work has been completed and the final proof has been approved. Since we do not send work to the printer until full payment has been made, orders usually remain in a pending status until payment has been completed. If you are sending us a check for the order then we will keep the order in a pending status for a full week until we receive the check or money order, but orders that have been completed when it comes to design work and receiving print files will still be in a pending status until final payment has been made and it will only remain in a pending status for 48 hours before being deleted from our system. In addition, discounts that we offered for that order will be null and void. We can still apply the same discounts to your order once you are ready to finally make payment, but you will have to contact us about the discounts we offered before if the order is past 48 hours since work was complete and payment still has not been made for the order. If you have trouble making payments for order on time then you can always keep a credit card on file with us so we can charge your account automatically when you are ready to order and get 5% off your orders. If you have a Premium Account with us or a Wholesale Account then you will receive an extra 2% discount on your orders on top of the discounts you are receiving for being a Premium Customer or a Wholesale Customer.
Proofing
You can get a proof sent to you in an email for an extra $10.00. While you may not need a proof for everything you get printed we recommend that for big projects you get a proof for you order. Please understand that we do not edit your files. All customers are responsible for editing their own work. If customers find typos on their print work after it’s been printed there will not be any refunds of you do not like the work. We guarantee the quality of the printing and that’s it. This is where it’s helpful to have a proof to verify that your work has the quality you are looking for.
Files
Our website does allow you to upload files directly to our website. The Upload Form is on the right side of the Website in the Block or Widget Area. Keep scrolling down until you see it. If the form does not work then you can send them to info@1ststopprint.com
Shipping and Handling
We do charge shipping prices because we are an online store (FREE Ground Shipping) and do not allow STORE PICKUP at our corporate office – will be drop-ship your order you. Depending on how much you spend with us or for certain promotions, we will offer free shipping to our customers. Our regular shipping format is UPS ground so our shipping prices are based on their prices. We use what we call a table format for shipping prices, it’s based on the weight of the packages, which is based on the shipping prices of UPS. Orders of up to 1,000 print units can take 3 to 7 business days to process, orders of 2,500 print units or more can take 4 to 8 business days to process, and orders of 20,000 print units or more can take 10 to 14 business days to process.
Price matching
We do offer price matching on all items. If we can we will match the price of another company like Vista print or a local printer in your town. If we cannot beat the price then we will give you a store credit of $20.00 (limited 1 per customer) or 100 free business cards (color, front only). But no matter you will not be disappointed by our prices. Or we will give you the order for free.
Design services
We have graphic design services available for customers. If you need help designing your print product then let the professionals do it for you. Our graphic design services start at $35.00 an hour. If you design the work yourself then we have information bleed for printing and links to templates you can use.
Gloss
Refers to the coating of the paper. Not to be confused with a post-production finishing process such as UV Coating or AQ Coating. “Gloss” simply refers to the actual gloss sheen of the paper itself, prior to printing. In finishing, however; “gloss” can describe an additional UV or AQ coating. Gloss stock may additionally be described in terms of C1S or C2S:
C1S
Coated One Side: Sheet is glossy on front, flat with no coating on back.C2S
Coated Two Sides: Sheet is glossy on both sides.
Uncoated
Uncoated means just that; there is no additional coating. This stock is commonly use for letterhead, envelopes and personal stationary. In this case, we recommend that you DO NOT use dark colors with high color density on this stock (black, purple, blue, brown, etc) because they may soak into the paper and possibly bleed. Use lighter colors for best results on uncoated stock.
Silk /Satin / Dull Cover
Matte, dull and silk coated stocks have a flat, unreflective or dull finish. These types of paper are frequently used to make pages easier to read that are text or type intensive. Having said that, it is still difficult for the end user to actually the difference in most instances. Dull Matte cover stock is a less expensive alternative to “Silk” or “Satin” cards because its elegant smooth finish closely resembles that of the more expensive silk or satin cards on the market.
Paper Weight
Now that you understand the two types of paper options and the various finishes they can have, it becomes much easier to understand the third and final factor: paper weight.
The weight of the paper stock, also known as caliper, is measured in 1/1000 of an inch. While their are a variety of weights, there are two options – cover or text.
Cover
As the name suggests, this stock is often used for the covers of brochures, booklets, calendars or products such as business cards, postcards, rack cards, collectors cards, bookmarks, hang tags, presentation folders and items requiring a durable paper stock. Cover stock is meant for products not typically meant to be folded, bent or easily torn. If bending is needed (such as with greeting or tent cards) then a score is required. Cover stock weight is described in points (pt). For example, “14 pt. Gloss Cover”. The higher the points, the thicker the paper. While this is not a complete list of cover stocks available, here is a list of the more popular:
10 pt. Cover Gloss
10 pt. Cover Soft Gloss; 10 pt. Heavy Duty Soft Cover Gloss; 10 pt. Soft Cover Gloss.
Description: Same as 14 pt Cover Gloss, but thinner for different applications.
Popular Uses: brochures, menus, flyers, door hangers, catalog covers, greeting cards, posters.
Noted Attributes: Foldable.10 pt. Cover Matte.
10 pt. Cover Soft Matte; 10 pt. Heavy Duty Matte Cover Gloss; 10 pt. Soft Cover Matte.
Description: A thick cover stock with a dull finish and soft texture.
Popular Uses: brochures, menus, flyers, door hangers, catalog covers, greeting cards, posters.
Noted Attributes: Foldable, markable, limited printer support, recycled material.11 pt. Cover Gloss – 100lb Cover Gloss
Similar to 100 lb Gloss Text, but much thicker and heavier.
Description: Thicker than 10pt cover stock with a soft shine and texture. Similar to 100 lb Gloss Text, but much thicker and heavier. Use when durability, not just thickness is a factor.
Popular Uses: brochures, menus, flyers, door hangers, catalog covers, greeting cards, posters.
Noted Attributes: Durable.11 pt. Cover Matte – 100lb Cover Matte
Variations Include: 11 pt. Matte Cover lb Gloss Text, but much thicker and heavier.
Description: Same as 100 lb Gloss Cover but Matte, having a dull finish and notably smooth.
Popular Uses: brochures, menus, flyers, door hangers, catalog covers, greeting cards, posters.
Noted Attributes: Durable, smooth finish, environment friendly.14 pt. Gloss Cover
Variations Include: 14 pt. Gloss Coated; 14 pt. Heavy Duty Gloss; 14 pt. Gloss UV Coated.
Description: This is a very popular heavy duty slick surfaced gloss paper.
Popular Uses: Business cards, postcards and rackcards or any product where a thick stock and slick surface is desired.
Noted Attributes: Extra thick card stock with gloss finish, not writable or printable.14 pt. Uncoated Cover
14 pt. Premium Uncoated Cover; 14 pt. Cover Uncoated; or similar variations refer to a heavy duty cover stock with an uncoated finish.
Description: This is a Heavy Duty Stock with no extra coating applied.
Popular Uses: as above or any product where a thick stock with no shine is desired
Noted Attributes: Mailing friendly, heavy card stock 14 pt. Dull Matte Cover
14 pt. Dull Coated; 14 pt. 14 pt Cardstock, Dull Matte Coated, 14 pt. Dull Cover, 14 pt. Matte, 14 pt. Matte Cover or any variation of the above may the same thing.
Description: A heavy duty stock dull coated for an elegant and smooth matte finish.
Popular Uses: business cards, club card flyers, postcards, hang tags, rack cards, presentation folders.
Noted Attributes: mail friendly, markable, limited printer support14 pt. UV Gloss Cover
Variations Include: 14 pt. Ultra-Violet Gloss Stock; 14 pt. Cover High Gloss; 14 pt. Gloss UV Coated;
Description: This is a Heavy Duty Stock with “ultimate” shine that features a Fade-Resistant UV Coating. This stock is almost always picked for the business card and rack card printing we do, with postcards being very close behind.
Popular Uses: Business cards, club card flyers, postcards, hang tags, rack cards,
folders, brochures, booklets, bookmarks, greeting cards.
Noted Attributes: Extra thick card stock with ultra high gloss finish, not writable or printable.14 pt. Gloss, AQ Coated
14 pt. Gloss Coated; 14 pt. Ultra-Violet Gloss Stock, 14 pt. Cover High Gloss, 14 pt. Heavy Duty Gloss, 14 pt. Gloss UV Coated or any variation of the above all means the same thing.
Description: This is a heavy-duty gloss stock with an additional Aqueous Coating.
Popular Uses: Business cards, club card flyers, postcards, hang tags, rack cards,
folders, brochures, booklets, bookmarks, greeting cards.
Noted Attributes: Extra thick card stock with a notable gloss sheen, not writable or printable. Text/Book
Also known as “book” stock – Text stock gets its name because it is meant for products that often include a lot of text and can be easily folded. Products such as flyers, posters, menus, catalogs, brochures, newsletters, door hangers, letterhead, envelopes, stationery, sales sheets, are most popular. Text stock weight is described in pounds (lb). For example, “100 lb Text Gloss”. The lower the weight, the thinner the paper. While this is not a complete list of cover stocks available, here is a list of the more popular:
100 lb Gloss BookAlso called: 100 lb Text Gloss; 100 lb Gloss Text; 100 lb Book Gloss. Description: Heavy Text Stock (25% Thicker than 80lb Gloss Text; 40% Thinner than 11pt Cover/100 lb Cover) with a soft gloss finish and Aqueous Coating.
Popular Uses: flyers, brochures, newsletters, sell sheets, mini menus, door hangers, catalog pages, posters.
Noted Attributes: Foldable.
100 lb Matte Book. Also called: 100 lb Text Matte; 100 lb Matte Text; 100 lb Book Matte.Description: Heavy Text Stock with a soft finish and usually Dull Aqueous Coating. Popular Uses: booklets, flyers, brochures, newsletters, sell sheets, mini menus, door hangers, catalog pages, posters.
Noted Attributes: Foldable, markable.80 lb Matte Book
Also called: 80 lb Text Matte; 80 lb Matte Text; 80 lb Book Matte.
Description: 20% thinner than 100lb Gloss Text; 10% Thicker than 70 lb book with a soft matte finish and sometimes dull Aqueous Coating.
Popular Uses: Letterhead, envelopes, note pads, sales sheets.
Noted Attributes: Foldable, printer friendly, environment friendly.70 lb Text Uncoated
Also called: 70 lb White Smooth; 70 lb Offset Smooth; 70 lb Book Smooth; 70 lb Opaque Smooth.
Description: High quality stock commonly used for corporate and personal stationery.
Holds color remarkably well.Popular Uses: Letterhead, envelopes, notepad, personal stationary, sales sheets.
Noted Attributes: Foldable, printer friendly, environment friendly.
Finishing Options
Now that you understand the difference between paper types, let’s discuss the various finishing options available. UV Coating
Ultra Violet Coating; UV; U.V.; Gloss UV, High-Gloss, Ultra-High Gloss. A protective coating applied to a printed piece for a super glossy finish which enhances colors and provides limited protection against UV and water damaged. UV Coating is applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light, as opposed to Aqueous (AQ); which is cured with heat and evaporation. UV Coating tends to have a much glossier appearance (often described as a “high impact”, “ultimate shine” or “glossy” appearance that adds slightly to the overall weight of the product) than AQ Coating. The gloss feels very slick and refracts light well. Often combined with a heavy duty paper weight, the result truly looks fantastic and produces a product that won’t tear or bend easily.
AQ Coating
Aqueous Coating; Semi-Gloss Coating; Smudge-Proof Coating; Aqueous Silk.
Abbreviation for Aqueous Coating. This is available in gloss, satin (gloss + matte) and matte finishes. “Smudge-Proof”, “Smudge-Resistant”, “Water-Resistant” are all descriptive of AQ Coating. This clear coating is a semi post-production process in that it is applied directly after the inks. When the coating is applied, the product is sent through a heated air system that quickly dries the coated sheets for post production work. AQ Coating has long been an inexpensive substitute for a costly varnish application. The fast-drying, water-based, protective sheen provides a finish which boasts a very effective rub or scuff resistance (ideal for sales sheets and other material that will be handled a lot). In addition, aqueous coating protects the surface from dirt, smudges, fingerprints and scratches. AQ coating can also improve a products durability which is helpful for direct mailing, provided addresses are not directly ink-jet onto the AQ surface.Unlike UV Coating which provides an ultra shinny high gloss finish, AQ Coating can be provided in either a semi-gloss or matte finish. For example, AQ SilkMatte / Dull / Satin
Matte; Dull Matte; Dull Matte Coated; Satin Finish; Premium Satin. Refers to the matte finish of AQ coating. Not to be confused with an uncoated paper type.
Preparing Files
For best results please follow our guidelines.
FILE FORMAT:
We accept the following file formats TIF, TIFF, JPG, EPS, PNG, AI, PSD, and PDF.
FILE SIZE:
The maximum acceptable combined file size for all uploads is 50MB (megabytes).
RESOLUTION:
All file formats must have a minimum of 350 dpi (dot per inch) resolution.
The images designed for the web are done at a low screen resolution of 72 dpi. Print images need to be created at 350 dpi or there will be a substantial drop in the image quality.
COLOR MODE:
All color artwork and/or images must be provided in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color mode.
All black & white artworks and/or images must be provided in grayscale color mode.
Heavy black ink might cause smearing.
BLEED:
What’s a bleed?
Bleed is the portion of the product that will be trimmed off when it is cut to the final size.
Why bleed?
The purpose of a bleed is to continue a color, image, or design to the edge of the product. Due to the possibility of shifting in the trimming process, a bleed is required to ensure that a white line does not show on the edges of your product.
We require ALL files to be built to the full bleed dimension specified for each trim size.
We automatically trim the bleed off of each side, which will result in the desired trim size.
For example: all business cards except for the 2″ x 3.5″ with round corners and 2.17″ x 3.35″ with round corners require a 0.1″ bleed to each dimension (or 0.05″ bleed on all four sides). Thus, a 2″ x 3.5″ business card would have a bleed size 2.1″ x 3.6″. Please visit our download templates page and design your files on these templates to ensure proper bleed.
Please build your print-ready digital files by adding the appropriate bleed to your file.
Add 0 .1″ bleed to each dimension (or 0.05″ bleed on all four sides) for the following products:
- business cards (For the 2″ x 3.5″ with round corners and 2.17″ x 3.35″ with round corners, add 0.325″ bleed)
- bookmarks
- CD packages
- club flyers
- collectors cards
- DVD packages
- event tickets
- postcards (For the 4″ x 6″ postcard with round corners and 5.5″ x 8.5″ postcards with round corners, add 0.325″ bleed)
- rack cards
- rip business cards
- rolodex
- stickers
- table tents
- tent cards
Add 0.125″ (1/8″) bleed to each dimension (or 0.0625″ bleed on all four sides) for the following products:
- brochures
- door hangers
- envelopes
- flyers
- hang tags
- letterhead
- mini menus
- notepads
- posters
- staggered cut flyers
- posters (wide)
- banners
- window clings
- window decals
- yard signs
Add 0.325″ bleed to each dimension for all special shapes.
Add 0.1875″ bleed to each dimension for roll labels (or 0.09375″ bleed on all four sides for square or rectangle roll labels).
Add 0.225″ bleed to each dimension (or 0.1125″ bleed on all four sides) for presentation folders, except for the 9″ x 12″, which has a bleed of 0.3″.
Add 0.375″ bleed to each dimension (or 0.1875″ bleed on all four sides) for booklets, calendars, and catalogs.
CROP MARKS:
Please build your press-ready digital files by adding crop marks.
Lines indicating where the paper should be cut to produce the correct size.
FONTS:
Fonts must be embedded in PDF files. b. Fonts must be outlined or converted to paths or curves in EPS files. c. Some fonts have copyright restrictions and will not embed in PDF Files. d. Quark Express: Fonts and images must be included with all files submitted. (Mac only)
SAFE ZONE:
All critical elements (text, images, logos, etc.) must be kept at least 0.125″ inside the edge. Anything left close to edge may be cut off during trimming.
BORDERS:
Please allow 1/16″ cutting space around your card. No borders are recommended, as shifting in the cutting process may make borders appear uneven.
PERFECT BINDING:
We do not recommend crossover images and/or copy, as these elements may be lost in the gutter and may not line up after binding.
Please keep all critical images and/or copy within the Safe Zone to ensure these elements are clearly visible and there are no line-up registration issues when the product is bound.
DIMENSIONS:
| Products | Final Print Size – 350dpi | Size with Bleed – 350dpi |
| Business Cards | Inch: 2″x3.5″
Pixels: 700×1225 |
Inch: 2.1″x3.6″
Pixels:735×1260 |
| Postcards | Inch: 4″x6″
Pixels: 1400×2100 |
Inch: 4.1″x6.1″
Pixels:1435×2135 |
| Postcards | Inch: 4.25″x5.5″
Pixels:1488×1925 |
Inch: 4.35″x5.6″
Pixels:1522×1960 |
| Postcards | Inch: 5″x7″
Pixels:1750×2450 |
Inch: 5.1″x7.1″
Pixels:1785×2485 |
| Postcards | Inch: 5.5″x8.5″
Pixles:1925×2975 |
Inch: 5.6″x8.6″
Pixels:1960×3010 |
| Rackcards | Inch: 4″x9″
Pixels:1925×2975 |
Inch: 4.1″x9.1″
Pixels:1435×3185 |
FEES and SERVICES
Cancellation Fee
If a Customer cancels an order that has already been paid for and we have begun work on the order including preparation with the printer, design work, and customer service then we will charge 25% of the amount on the invoice as a cancellation fee and then we will refund the rest of the bill. If you have not paid the bill then we will invoice you the 25% cancellation fee and if it’s not paid within 30 days, we will send it to a collection agency. All Customers must understand that we have the right to cancel any order for any reason if we feel it’s in our best interest not to complete the order. All customers agree to this within our terms of agreement when they check out and also agree to this when we invoice them for the order. You agree to this when you make an order under our conditions of use.
Restocking Fee
We do not accept returns on any custom made products, but we do have warranties and return times for electronics and resale items so if you have to return one of those items then you will be charged a 25% restocking fee if you return the item. If you choose to return a custom made product in order to try and get a refund then you will be charged the cost of making the product plus 15%. If you do not want to return the custom made product and need it reprinted or remade then you will be charged a reprint fee. Please consult our policy on reprint fees. You agree to this when you make an order under our conditions of use.
Out of Stock Fee
We do have fees for items that are out of stock and if an order has to be canceled. If you order an item and the items suddenly become out of stock then you can cancel the order, but there will be a 18% out of stock fee charged for the work we have done on the order. If the order is on backorder then you can wait for the item to be fulfilled or cancel the order, but when we cancel the order there will be a 18% out of stock fee charged before we refund your payment. If you order a certain quantity and can only fulfill part of the order due to a shortage of items then we will fulfill part of the order and any costs based on quantities will be added to the total invoice…meaning if you received a discount based on quantities and we can’t fulfill the total number then you will be charged the price based on the quantity that we can fulfill and then we will refund the rest of the bill. We have the right to cancel any order that may be on backorder at anytime and charge you the out of stock fee especially if we we feel that its more benificial to cancel the order than do conduct business with a client. You agree to this when you make an order under our conditions of use.
Reprint Fee
If we have to reprint an order because of a mistake in the design even after you approved the proof of the order we will charge a reprint fee. All customers are responsible for the final editing of their printing, if a proof is approved For Print items, we charge 75% of the regular price for the order, you get a 25% of discount off the regular price. If the items are Apparel or Promotional Items then the reprint fee is 90% of the regular price order, you will get a 10% discount to reprint the items because all sales are final when it comes to print items. You agree to this when you make an order under our conditions of use.
Service Fee
We charge for our time. Out time is worth money. Whether we print anything for you or not, we will charge you a service fee for the amount of time we have spent designing your order, preparing your order to be printed or any other services we may have provided. We charge $35.00 an hour and $20.00 for a half hour. If you have not paid for your print or service order and choose not to do business with us then we will invoice you for our services. If the invoice is not paid within 30 days then we will send your bill to a collection agency. You agree to this when you make an order under our conditions of use.
RETURN POLICY
All sales made through the 1st Stop Print Website and Merchant and is covered under 1st Stop Print’s return policy. There are no returns/refunds unless the following criteria are met. Items can be returned if they comply with our policy and we only partial refunds, the prices of printing will be deducted from the refund unless the mistake is on our end. We ONLY GUARANTEE THE PRINTING QUALITY as long as it meets the qualifications of our printing requirements. We accept the following file formats TIF, TIFF, JPG, EPS, PNG, AI, PSD, and PDF. The maximum acceptable combined file size for all uploads is 50MB (megabytes). All file formats must have a minimum of 350 dpi (dot per inch) resolution. The images designed for the web are done at a low screen resolution of 72 dpi. Print images need to be created at 350 dpi or there will be a substantial drop in the image quality, This has to be done by the customer unless we design it for you and charge you a fee. All color artwork and/or images must be provided in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color mode. All black & white artworks and/or images must be provided in grayscale color mode. Heavy black ink might cause smearing. All critical elements (text, images, logos, etc.) must be kept at least 0.125″ inside the edge. Anything left close to edge may be cut off during trimming. All customers are responsible for editing their own work. If customers find typos on their print work after it’s been printed there will not be any refunds and if you do not like the work afterwords, but it did meet all the standards and specifications for printing. We guarantee the quality of the printing and that’s it. We do not accept returns unless the quality of the printing is not satisfactory (did not meet our standards and specification) or the printer ruined the printing by which the print quality is guaranteed. But we are not responsible for the quality of the work if a customer sent us artwork that did not meet our standards and specifications for printing mentioned in the policy and had us print the work anyway. In this case you have 7 days from the date your item arrived in the mail to exchange it with a product that is compatible or to get us to reprint the items. If you want a refund then it will only be a partial refund and the price of printing we deducted from the total refund sent back to the customer. STORE CREDIT: We do not do store credit for anything over $50.00, any refunds larger than that will be sent back to the Credit Card/Debit Card or PayPal Account and all customers must understand that it can take up to 30 days with a credit card merchant for the refund to show up on the credit or debit card statement. Any full refund will be applied to reprinting the same exact item as long as it doesn’t violate any other terms and conditions and policies.