Have you ever had a question and either didn't know where to find the answer or were too afraid to ask? If so, you've come to the right place.

As the name would suggest, this section is a compilation of answers to the questions our clients commonly ask. Here you'll find answers to common questions our clients ask. Just start by following one of the links below.

1. What is the preferred industry software for the page layout and design?
2. Why should I supply lasers and color separations with my disk?
3. My file prints out fine on my printer. Why doesn't it look the same at Lawton Printers?
4. What is an embedded graphic and why is it bad to use them?
5. What is the proper resolution for scanning a photograph intended for use in a printed piece, and how large should I scan it?
6. What is the proper resolution for scanning line art or text?
7. 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?
8. Why does a graphic image taken off the Web look bitmapped when printed?
9. Why is it important that I include my fonts with my job, can’t you just substitute your versions of the fonts?
10. What font files need to be sent with my job and how do I collect them?
11. How long does it take for you to complete my order?
12. What is a "proof"?
13. Why do I need to look at a proof if I've already given you everything I need to have done?
14. Do I still need to approve a proof if I bring my work in on disk?
15. How do I go about getting an estimate from you?

1. What is the preferred industry software for the page layout and design?
   QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, and Adobe InDesign have many features that make them the most efficient in both file creation and final output within a professional printing environment.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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).
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
6. What is the proper resolution for scanning line art or text?
   1200 dpi is the standard resolution for scanning these types of originals.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. 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.
   
   
9. 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.
   
   
10. What font files need to be sent with my job and how do I collect them?
    If your files were created on a Macintosh and you are using Postscript Type 1 fonts, you will need to send both the printer fonts and the screen fonts; with Truetype fonts, there are no separate printer and screen font files to worry about. These files will most likely be found in the fonts folder located inside your Mac’s system folder. Simply highlight the fonts you need to collect, and drag them to the folder or disk onto which you are going to copy the fonts while holding down the option key. Please note that it is critical to hold down the option key in this process. Otherwise, you may move the fonts instead of copying them.
    
    On the PC, the most common font format is Truetype (.ttf files). These files will most likely be found in the fonts folder located inside your PC’s Windows folder. If you are using Postscript Type 1 fonts, you will need to send both the printer fonts and the screen fonts (there will be 2 files with the same name, except for the file extension of .PFB and .PFM). Simply highlight the fonts you need to collect, click Edit/Copy in your Windows Explorer window, move to the folder or disk onto which you are going to copy the fonts, and select Edit/Paste in your Windows Explorer window.
    
    
11. How long does it take for you to complete my order?
    There really isn't a short answer to this question. Some jobs can be produced in hours and some jobs may take many days. Let us know when you need your job completed and we'll let you know if we can meet your deadline. We go to great lengths to meet your most stringent demands.
    
    
12. 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.
    
    
13. Why do I need to look at a proof if I've already given you everything I need to have done?
    We employ experienced professionals, but as humans we are not perfect. Your approval on the final proof is assurance that you have looked over every aspect of our work and approve it as accurate. It benefits everyone if errors are caught in the proofing process rather than after the job is completed and delivered.
    
    
14. Do I still need to approve a proof if I bring my work in on disk?
    It may seem like a proof wouldn't be needed in this case but it really is. Output devices process digital information using a variety of processing languages. Your approval of the proof which we will provide assures that the output device used has correctly interpreted and processed the information you have provided.
    
    
15. 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.