6 FAQs About Professional Printing

A professional printing service can add a lot of value to your business. It can be the difference between an average job that makes little to no impression on potential customers to getting a finished product that has been handled by dedicated industry professionals from design to print, ensuring that each project has that wow factor.

If you’re considering using a professional printing service and are not sure where to start, below you’ll find a list of commonly asked questions and answers relating to professional printing, including what it is, what kinds of files you should supply us with, various types of paper, design and layout information, as well as how professional printing can benefit your business.

1. What is professional printing?

Too much screen time can drain our mental resources and lead to a sense of being overwhelmed, meaning there will always be a space for print. But there’s a difference between your everyday printed materials and a professionally printed item. 

Unfortunately, many companies that sell colour copiers have jumped on the print bandwagon, advertising under the guise of them being “digital presses” but they are really only high-volume colour copiers that do not have the level of control systems that professional high-end presses or colour management systems have. A professionally printed piece is one that has been well designed and printed on good quality paper, using high-end digital presses or litho presses that match industry standards consistently.

The high-end technology of digital printing is the perfect solution for small to medium print runs and allows you to print on-demand projects, including business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, company profiles, catalogues, books, digital labels (paper and polypropylene) and more. Digital printing also has a very quick turnaround time and is very flexible as there is no need for plates. Each print can be different making it a dream for the personalisation of each printed document.

Using high end digital presses and software, variable data printing takes your database and uses it to create personalised and customised products in the form of brochures, calendars, stationary, invitations and more. Printing for ‘the audience of one’ is becoming a key feature of print, raising the ROI of each printed piece and ensuring high customer engagement.

Litho printing is better for longer generic runs. With litho printing, we are able to offer a wide range of products on a variety of paper types and sizes. Products include leaflets, brochures, stationery, books, coffee table publications, large posters, magazines, newsletters, calendars and much more.

2. How do I submit my documentation or designs that I want to be printed? 

The only file type that will be accepted is PDF. We encourage you to make sure you have supplied us with the correct file and that it has been checked for errors and finalised to minimise additional costs associated with changes and possible reprints. All PDFs need to be Adobe Acrobat 5.0 and above compatible and artwork needs to be saved as a PDF as well, which is X1A compliant (press quality).

Artwork under 10Mb can be emailed to production@remata.co.za. However, if the file is larger than 10Mb, artwork can be sent via a memory stick or using file transfer protocols like Wetransfer or Filezilla.

In order to ensure that your document is set up properly and you are informed about typesetting, colour and paper, please see our file supply guide.

Once you have sent us your files and artwork, please send through the signed quotation and PO, ensuring that you specify hard copy or email proofs on your quotation. 

3. What paper is best for professional printing?

The type of paper you should use depends on the type of project or job it's being used for. For a breakdown of the different paper sizes, take a look at our paper size guide. Choosing the right paper size for your needs can mean the difference between a professional looking job and it looking just not right. 

As well as different paper sizes, different paper weights are also available. Paper weight is measured in GSM, which stands for grams per square metre, which is a measurement of thickness or density - as the name suggests. The measurement relates to how much a 1m x 1m piece of paper would weigh in grams. The higher the GSM, the thicker the paper. Choosing the right paper weight also depends on the type of project. The thicker the paper, the more durable the sheet will be. Generally thicker paper is used for more industrial uses. 

You can use the below as a general guide:

4. Do you have templates I can use or designers that can help with design and layout?

Yes, we do. At Remata, we have exceptional graphic designers who can work with you to create designs and artwork that will tie in with your company branding and messaging. With the help of our in-house graphic design team, coupled with our printing expertise, we are able to provide professional typesetting, design and layout solutions to our clients.

The importance of great design and layout cannot be overemphasised. It is the foundation of any great print piece. Never skimp on the look and feel as they make a huge difference to the end product. Skilled designers will make your print piece attractive, inviting, as well as increase the potential for customer engagement.

Our online print shop has various predesigned templates that are easily customisable to meet your brand CI or the look and feel you require. 

For variable data items such as personalised calendars, we have predesigned templates that we simply drop your logo onto and tweak to meet your corporate colours and is in line with your brand bible.

5. How can professional printing benefit my business?

There are numerous benefits to using a professional printing service for your business. Here are just some of them:

• You’re getting access to expert advice you may not normally get from just taking your files to any print shop. At Remata, you will get access to professional graphic designers and layout artists who can help you with your design and make sure that everything looks as professional and in line with your business’s branding as possible. Our Team also knows the ins and outs of different paper, inks and printing methods, and which are right for your needs.
  
  
• You will benefit from using the best equipment available. At a professional printer, you will have access to all the printing equipment and software you need for any professional print job.
  
  
• Long-term ROI. When companies decide to do all their printing in-house, they aren’t necessarily saving money. With each printed piece speaking volumes about your brand and values, more and more companies are opting for the type of high-end print you would only find at a professional printer. The ROI on high quality print should never be underestimated. People buy with their eyes so print is a highly strategic tangible form of advertising and communication.

6. How long does it take for an order to be completed? 

That depends on the size of the order and whether other services are required to complete the job, such as the use of our graphic design or omnichannel marketing services. Please get in touch with us directly so that we can give you an estimate on how long your order will take to be completed. 

Our online print store is live! Creating and ordering professionally printed products has never been easier. Click 👉 here to take a look.