FAQ'S

How do I place an order?

There are 3 options. Order online, Request an Estimate, or give us a call! To get started, browse the website and determine what products you are interested in. Once you are ready to make a purchase, you can continue through our online ordering process, visit our Request Estimate page, or give us a quick phone call. A member of the AAA Printing & Graphics team will contact you within a few hours to follow up. You can call us at 601-932-3138 or email us at production@aaaprintingms.com.

What is your standard turnaround time?

Standard turnaround time for most orders is between 1 and 4 business days. It is product specific and oftentimes we can turn jobs in as little as 24-48 hours if needed. If before 1pm CST, turnaround time begins once we have received approval from the client for properly formatted print ready artwork.

How can I pay for my order?

We accept MasterCard and Visa. We also accept checks and encourage you to use our electronic payment system. In all cases we require a valid credit card on file.

How should my files be setup?

High resolution pdf files work best. These can be made from most design software. Vector files are most preferred because resolution no longer becomes a possible issue. Our designers can work with most files when creating your design. When designing your own work, refer to our Artwork requirements document for full details regarding format and setup

Can I order online?

Absolutely! Our new online ordering system allows you to customize your order and checkout at your own convenience. No more need to wait for estimates or invoices.

1. What kind of work does our store do?

   Copy Services - Our high-speed digital presses can produce your job efficiently and economically whether you provide hard copy or bring in digital files on disk. Our state-of-the art production duplicating equipment allow us to deliver work quickly and efficiently. Printing Services - From one-color to full-color printing, our store has the capability to meet your needs. From short run to long run, we can offer a solution that will be just right for you. Finishing Services - We can cut, perforate, score, number, fold, collate, saddle stitch, bind, coil, die-cut, foil, and more. Design Services - We utilize the latest design technology available in order to offer a full range of design services. If you need a brochure produced, we can work from your printed piece, use the files you provide on disk, or design your brochure from scratch or a template provided online.

2. How do I go about getting an estimate from you?

   Simply use our online estimate forms by or give us a call and speak with one of our customer service representatives.

3. How long will it take for you to complete my order?

   Every job is different. Some jobs can be produced in minutes while some may take several days to complete. Most jobs are done within 1 – 4 business days.

4. What is the best file format for submitting a document for printing?

   The Portable Document Format (PDF) is generally the preferred file format for submitting a document for printing as it works with virtually all professional printing and digital output devices. By design, a PDF file incorporates the information needed to maintain document consistency from system to system. Most other file formats such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Microsoft Word are easily converted to PDF format.

5. How well will what I see on my monitor match what I see on paper?

   The technology of design, layout and printing has come a long way to the point where much of the work is done in a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) digital environment. However, there are sometimes noticeable differences in color calibration and spatial conformity from monitor to monitor and consequently from screen to print. The process for minimizing any variance begins with adjusting your monitor for optimal color and clarity according to the manufacturer's recommendations as outlined within its product manual or website. Doing this will alleviate a number of potential issues. If color match is important, request a “live” proof so you can see firsthand the printed colors.

6. What is a proof and why is it needed?

   A proof is used for visual inspection to ensure that the layout and colors of your document are exactly how they are intended to be. A proof is made prior to sending the document to the press for final printing.

   Typically, we will produce a proof that will be sent to you online in PDF format or on printed paper, which can be either viewed in our store or delivered to you in person. For multiple-color jobs, we can produce a proof on our output device to show you how the different colors will appear on the final product.

   Your approval on the final proof is the best assurance you have that every aspect of our work and your own is correct, and that everything reads and appears the way you intended. Mistakes can and sometimes do happen. It benefits everyone if errors are caught in the proofing process rather than after the job is completed and delivered.

7. What are the different grades of paper and their respective basis weight?

   The basis weight of a given grade of paper is defined as the weight (in pounds) of 500 standard-sized sheets of that paper. With that in mind, here are different examples of paper grades and their respective basis weights:

   Bond: Most commonly used for letterhead, business forms and copying. Typical basis weights are16# for forms, 20# for copying and 24# for stationery.

   Text: A high-quality grade paper with a lot of surface texture. Basis weights range from 60# to 100# with the most common being 70# or 80#.

   Uncoated Book: The most common grade for offset printing. Typically 50# to 70#.

   Coated Book: Has a glossy finish that yields vivid colors and overall excellent reproduction. Basis weights range from 60# to 110# for sheet press.

   Cover: Used in creating business cards, postcards and book covers. Can be either coated or uncoated. Basis weights for this grade are 60#, 65#, 80#, 100#, 130#.

8. What is the difference between coated and uncoated paper stock?

   Uncoated stock paper is comparatively porous and inexpensive, and is typically used for such applications as newspaper print and basic black-and-white copying. Coated stock, by contrast, is made of higher quality paper having a smooth glossy finish that works well for reproducing sharp text and vivid colors. It tends to be more expensive, however.

9. What does "camera ready" mean?

   In the digital age of printing, it means that an image file submitted for printing is ready to be transferred to the printing plates without any alterations.

10. I got an estimate from you on the design of my project and showed the design charges as a range. Why can't you tell me exactly how much it will be ahead of time?

    Ultimately it comes down to how long we spend on your project. Theoretically, your job could be constantly worked for weeks because of indecision. The better you know what you want and communicate this, the lower your design fee will be. Many people show us other jobs already printed and show how they want it changed and personalized for them which takes a lot of the guesswork out, thus saving time.

11. What are Pantone colors?

    Pantone colors refer to the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a color matching system used by the printing industry whereby printing colors are identified by a unique name or number (as opposed to just a visual reference). This helps make sure that colors turn out the same from system to system, and print run to print run.

12. Is white considered a printing color?

    No. White is not generally considered a printing color as typically the paper itself will be white. If a colored paper (something other than white) is chosen, then white becomes a printing color if any text or graphics require it.

13. What are the types of bindings I can use for multi-page projects?

    Some of the common methods of binding books and other multi-page documents include:

    Corner Staple: Using 1 staple in the upper left corner

    Saddle-stitch binding: Using staples along the folds of the pages to bind them together for a book.

    Spiral binding: Wires in a spiral form threaded through punched holes along the binding edge of the papers. Allows the document to lay open flatly.

    Plastic comb binding: Similar to spiral binding but using a tubular plastic piece with teeth that fit through rectangular holes punched into the

    binding edge.

    Three-ring binding: Holes are punched into the pages and fitted into a binder.