Proofing is mandatory unless specified and agreed to in writing by all parties.
All Custom Mats prints CMYK on Offset and Digital Printers to SWOP Standards (Specifications for Web Offset Publications). We try to hit requested Pantone colors 100% however ‘color matching’ is subjective and can vary depending on the art file supplied and the product for artwork application.
Note - dye sublimation on fabric mouse pads and counter mats is only a “close match” and may require several proof efforts to get an acceptable match. If PMS match is needed, an alternate imprint process and/or product proof may be required.
Monitor Color Matching - Like TV’s, colors on monitor screens vary and should not be considered an exact color match.
Artwork Design Guide Lines:
File Type:
FLAT Hi Res PDF File Only (All our products have Rounded Corners) DO NOT INCLUDE CROP MARKS and/or ROUNDED Corners)
Bleed Size on ALL Sides:
Standard Mouse Pads and Counter Mats
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.25” Fabric Material (up to.125” ‘shifting’ can occur during the cutting process)
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.125” Hard Top Material
Borders:
Due to the nature of our manufacturing process we do not recommend the use of a border, or other art elements that run parallel to your FABRIC mouse pad’s or counter mat’s edges. It is easy for your eye to distinguish slight variations in print positioning. For this, reason please allow a tolerance of up to ±1/16" in print positioning.
Example: If you have an 8.5x7.5 image with ½” border. This could result in there being a .5625” border on one side of the mat and a .4375” border on the opposite side of the mat. This results in a difference of 1/8” between the two sides.
We WILL print a border, if required, with a signed release accepting the potential ‘shifting’.
Proofing
This will be similar to how the completed project will look. We will review proofs for any variation in type, trim, bleed, or safety margins that do not meet our specifications and notify you of our concerns.
Electronic Proofing:
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PDF and/or JPEG Electronic Proofs provided via email within 48 hours or less for approval.
Product Proofing:
Standard Mouse Pads and Counter Mats
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First Proof Provided at No Charge
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(Shipped at your expense unless other arrangements are made.)
You should check ALL Proofs thoroughly, as once you approve it, the file becomes final. Check for color exactitude (if you chose to use spot colors), and make sure there are no typos. The accuracy of the proof imprint is your responsibility and we accept no liability if imprinting represents what you signed off on with this approval. We reserve the right to control any attempts to find an equitable solution.
Proof Approval: Carefully review and confirm all spelling, logos and art placement are accurate. We are not responsible for proofs approved with errors. Colors are approximate and will vary. If you find that everything is in order, please provide written approval via email.
Proof Not Approved: At any stage in the proofing process, make the necessary changes and re-submit it to us for revision and additional proof. Note: Art changes may delay ship date.
Electronic Proofing: No Charge
First Product Proof: No Charge (except as noted above for shipment)
Second Product Proof: $80 (except as noted above for shipment)
Guidelines for Matching Prior Work REPEAT ORDER from Another Vendor
ORDER PROCESS GUIDELINES for Artwork – Proofing – Production
PROOFING is MANDATORY unless specified and agreed to in writing by all parties.
Refer to section above for preliminary details.
All orders require a sample product of prior work to be supplied to our artwork and production team for review at your cost of shipment unless specified in writing our finished product is the ‘new norm’.
COLOR MATCHING PRIOR WORK
READ VERY CAREFULLY FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR ORDER
All attempts will be made to match prior work during the proofing process. However the proof we supply will be considered the standard for our printing processes. Should the proof we provide not match the prior work, there are clear explanations for this occurrence.
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The type of inks purchased and used by vendors can vary from one ink supplier to another.
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The type of printing process used – offset or digital.
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When artwork is submitted a possibly only one change is made to the original art (telephone number, new logo, etc.) there is a distinct possibility another designer created the new artwork on a different system with different settings and/or the file submitted was saved differently as vector art versus the PDF file we require.
PROOFING
This will be similar to how the completed project will look. We will check proofs themselves for any mistake that may have been made and notify you of our concerns.
Electronic Proofing
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PDF and/or JPEG Electronic Proofs provided via email within 48 hours or less for approval.
Product Proofing
Standard Mouse Pads and Counter Mats
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First Proof Provided at No Charge (about 72 hours)
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(Shipped at your expense unless other arrangements are made.)
You should check ALL Proofs thoroughly, as once you approve it, the file becomes final. Check for color exactitude (if you chose to use spot colors), and make sure there are no typos.
Proof Approval: If you find that everything is in order, contact us and tell us to proceed with the work – we will confirm approval each step of the process until confirmed and approved for production.
Proof Not Approved: If you are not happy with whatever stage of proofing occurring, make the necessary changes and re-submit it to us. Start over from step b) until everything is perfect. Each step of product proofing requires 3-5 days.
Electronic Proofing: No Charge
First Product Proof: No Charge (except as noted above for shipment)
Second Product Proof: $80 (except as noted above for shipment)
Third Product Proof: $80 (except as noted above for shipment)
Options should an exact match not be initially possible (see COLOR MATCHING PRIOR WORK).
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Preliminary artwork adjustments will be provided by our art department to color match prior work and proofs provided showing the result.
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Proofs are not approved and artwork requires adjustment for CMYK color mixing.
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You do it and resupply new artwork and the proof process starts over.
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We do the design work at $150 per hour and the proof process starts over.
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Should the Order be canceled by either party, you are liable for all expenditures incurred for the order.
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