Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Answers
Here you’ll find frequently asked questions and the appertaining answers to help you to get your bearings in our online shop and to facilitate ordering your business cards (or any other printed product)...
Note: Page under construction! We're sorry, to some answers there is no translation available at the moment. Questions in bold type are links which lead you to the appertaining answers.
Registration and Samples:
Quotes and Order
- How long does it take to get a quote?
- How do I order online?
- In addition to the prices shown on the product pages, what do I have to pay (tax, shipping etc.)?
- I only find quantities of 500 pieces and beyond. Is that the minimum order quantity?
- I’d like to have printed flyers in A4 format. Is this possible?
- On the product pages in the list of options, what does “personalisation” mean?
- With what radius do you round the corners when I order my business cards with rounded corners?
- A finishing option you offer is Hot Stamping (gold/silver)? What does that mean exactly?
- What does „ print with bleed“ mean?
- I’ve got an unusual idea. Are there other finishing options than mentioned?
- Is it possible to order a proof?
- Can I make you create an individual design for my business cards?
- How about the ecological relevance of the materials you use?
- Is it really so easy to order at yours in Italy or is there something I have to consider?
- Is it only possible to order online or also by mail order?
- Where do I enter the coupon code?
- Will I be informed about the progress of the print job?
- Can I change my order after placing it?
- Can I cancel my order?
Payment and Invoice
Artwork and Printing
Postage and Shipping
- What shipping methods do you offer and how much does the shipment cost?
- In what countries do you ship?
- Can I use a different address for delivery?
- How much is the turn-around-time and can I be certain that the job will be shipped on a fixed date?
- Is it possible to track the delivery?
- Can I choose a certain time for TNT to deliver?
- What do I have to do when the package is damaged at the delivery?
- The package came without an invoice, could you please send me the invoice by mail?
- I’m afraid I have to complain. What is the general practice?
Feedback
Is there any question to which you haven't found an answer yet, or would you like to send us some feedback? Just don't hesitate to send us a
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.
Registration and Request of Samples
I’ve just registered. Do I get a confirmation mail?
Yes. After your registration you will receive an automatic confirmation e-mail. If that’s not the case, please check your spam folder.
If together with your registration you ordered samples or added a note, you can be certain we received this request and the samples will leave for you on the next 1-2 days.
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get free samples of business cards. How about the shipping of the samples, do I have to pay for that?
We’re happy to send you free samples of our business cards or other products and of course the dispatch is also free for you ;)
Is it possible to ask for samples without registering?
Yes, of course. On our site we’ve combined the request for samples with a registration. That is to protect ourselves from automatic requests. You can, however, also order samples by mail.
What samples do I get?
If when ordering samples you leave only your address, we usually send you samples of business cards printed on each of our materials. That way you’ll get a frosted translucent (semi-transparent), a crystal clear (fully transparent), a white and a metallic plastic business card and also business cards in paper with special finishing. If you’re interested in other products please add a note to your request. Unless we ran out of a specific sample we gladly comply with such individual requests.
How long does it take for the samples to arrive?
Usually we ship the samples on the next working day. Shipping from Italy usually takes 3-4 days. If after a week you still haven’t received your samples, please send us a short note.
What if I forgot my password?
Simply click on the link "Forgot your password?" beneath the login button and enter your user name and your email address. By that you’ll get an automatic mail with a new pass word. This you can afterwards change in the "my profile & sample request" area (link below the Logout button).
What if I also forgot my username?
In this case just send us a mail with your name and email address with which you‘ve registered and we will send to this address an email with your username.
How do I delete my account?
In case you want to completely delete your account, simply click on "remove account" beneath the logout button.
Quotes and Order
Can I make you create a layout for my business cards?
Yes, of course. At a small extra charge our designers create your business card based on your material (logo, contact data) and ideas. When placing your order in our online shop you can choose the number of designs you'd like to be done. Two modifications are included if desired. Please send us your ideas, logo, font, color, images etc via mail. Kindly assure to note your order number.
Payment and Invoice
Are the prices with or without tax?
As we are an American company you won't have to pay VAT. You'll only have to pay the prices shown on the product pages (plus shipping). Your business cards will be shipped from Italy (European Union).
Artwork and Printing
Do you print exclusively with offset technology?
Yes. To be more exact: we exclusively print with UV-offset technology, using peak-performance (Speedmaster) presses, equipped with UV technology. We only use UV offset technology as, in comparison with digital technology, It provides a much higher image quality. It produces clean and pin sharp images with an evenly covering of the substrate. UV-inks are brilliant and vivid and above all environmentally safe, as they need no solvents.
What does “collect-run production” mean?
Offset printing normally is relatively expensive, especially at a small order quantity. That's because the lion's share of the costs goes into prepress preparation. Therefore, the higher the quantity we print at one go, the less is the price per piece. To let you take advantage of this fact, we collect several business card orders, place them together on a layout foil and print them all together. This way we can offer you such attractive prices.
What does "file control” mean?
"(Manual) file control" means, that when you order your business cards with this option our graphic designers double-check your printing data. They often recommend to do slight modifications to optimise the printing result (in most cases such a modification is included in the upcharge for this option). As for transparent substrates special factors have to be considered, we recommend that you add to your order the file control by our graphic designers.
What file formats do you accept?
Kindly send us your files preferably in .AI or .EPS format. Because of the chequered background it is oimmediately obvious which parts are meant to be in white and which ones transparent. The same applies to .PSD files. However, because of the pixel graphics instead of vector graphics, .PSD format should be second choice. Apart from these we also accept .PDF In any case, for orders on transparent, translucent and metallic substrates please attach a detailed description of the design with precise distinctions regarding white and tranparent parts.
What if I want to use an unusual font?
If you use unusual fonts please embed or rasterize resp. outline all the fonts or send us the font file together with your artwork.
In what colour modus do I have to create my artwork?
Please use the CMYK modus. We can’t guarantee for colour fidelity for files using RGB.
If your artwork contains your brand colour please send us the code or percentages (CMYK).
You’re talking of adding a "flash“ to certain graphic elements. What does that mean?
Sometimes we add a white layer (“flash”) on the back of graphic elements to add more contrast and brilliancy to the colors. Offset colors (apart from metallic colors) generally are slightly transparent. Therefore in front of dark backgrounds or depending on the light some colors might seem a bit pale or fonts aren’t easily legible. This we avoid by adding a white layer on the back. Of course a white layer isn’t added when the design requires transparency. We also don’t add white on the back of very small fonts, as (even if we work as accurately as possible) there is always the risk that the white colour will show on the front side. Therefore we avoid using this technique for small fonts.
What does "4+w/0c“ mean?
This is the indication of the number of printing colours on front and back of a business card (or any other printed product). In the case of "4+w/0c" we print with 4-colour-technology (CMYK) plus white on the front, the backside is left blank. The indication for a double-sided print could be 4/4c or 4+w/4+w.
Are there any restrictions regarding the resolution of pictures?
Files, including any images, need to be at least 300 ppi to print clearly. A lower resolution is not suitable for professional printing, as this way images may appear pixellated.
Do I have to bleed the artwork?
When creating your artwork please add to the product size 5 mm on each side. Extend your design 5 mm past the format of the finished product. For example, if your design contains a stripe which goes from one edge to the other, you must bleed it past the edges (at least 2.5 mm on each side). This prevents a white line down one or more edges of your print, caused by very slight variations in printing and guillotining.
In addition any text or important graphic element must be at least 5mm away from the edges of the finished size.
Kindly note: If you intend to order your business card with rounded corners, we'd recommend, that you don't bleed your design, but instead leave a small transparent or white border.In the case of die cutting of non-absorbent substrates such as pvc, there is always the risk, that the printing at the edges gets slightly ruined when the business card gets trimmed to its final format. However, you don't have to consider this when your business card is intended to have "normal" corners.
What size has to have my artwork?
All products are trimmed down on all sides, therefore the dimensions of your artwork need to be at least 5mm larger than the final trimmed product. The following table shows the size your artwork should be:
Business cards Artwork size 90 x 60 mm Product size 85 x 55 mm
Postcards Artwork size 90 x 165 mm Product size 85 x 160 mm
Calendar cards Artwork size 115 x 75 mm Product size 11 x 70 mm
Rulers Artwork size 215 x 55 mm Product size 210 x 50 mm
Bookmarks Artwork size 165 x 45 mm Product size 160 x 40 mm
Plastic cards Artwork size 91,6 x 59 mm Product size 86,6 x 54 mm
Where can I upload my file?
You’ll have the possibility to upload your file at the very end of the order process.
What is the maximum file size I can send you?
The maximum size of a file you can upload to our web site is 10MB. Larger files you can send us via
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I discovered a mistake in my design, can I send you a modified file?
I’d like to reorder, but unfortunately don’t find the file. Have you by chance saved the data or do I have to create everything anew?
Could you please exhibit my business card in the showroom on your site?
Postage and Shipping
Feedback
Your feedback is always welcome. Please send us a
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.
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