What color profile should I use when converting my art to CMYK?
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For switching to CMYK profiles we prefer using GraCol however any of them will work. If you are making color adjustments based off a previous printed proof, it is best to stick with the same profile you used before.
I noted in your instructions that it's not necessary to send files above 300 dpi, but is it acceptable to do so?
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If you want to send your files at 600 that is fine, I do recommend making sure the artwork is flattened (no layers) in that case so that the file sizes aren’t too large.
Quick question about templates. My artist sized everything in magazine sized format with white borders. I was looking at the template and it says that artwork must go past the red line. I'm confused as to why that is and if I need to resize every page to fit the template. When I do that, it's stretching out the artwork to fit outside of that line and it's still not fully outside of the line. Any help would be great!
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If your book has white borders you can leave them as is, since the bleed won’t matter. Any pages where you have a background color or artwork that you want to fully cover the page without any white edges, then you need to extend that past the red line.
Gutters – none of the pages were formatted with gutters in mind. Will this be a problem and if so, how do we fix it?
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There shouldn’t be any problem with that, however, we recommend ordering a proof copy to make sure the layout prints the way you intended it.
Spine - do I need a separate file for the spine?
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Yes, if you want to have anything printed on the spine on the book, you need to provide a file for it. To calculate the size of your spine take the page numbers x .0025 = Spine Width. So if you have a standard size comic book with 100 interior page numbers your spine size will be: .25” wide x 10.25” high.
Can you add page numbers for me? What about numbered covers?
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We can add page numbers and print numbering on covers but there will be an extra charge for the graphic design work. Check with customer service on pricing for that.
What size page should text files be formatted at (currently set at 6.88 X 10.5 with 1” margins)
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That’s good for a standard sized book.
Can you inspect image files for problems?
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A hard copy proof (physical proof) is the best way to check for problems.
Quality difference between JPG and PNG files?
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PNG files are not recommended for printing as they are optimized for digital display.
We use a gracol CMYK profile but any CMYK profile is fine! The difference is pretty negligible. If you make your adjustments based off the print proof, then sticking with the same profile you used before is probably best.
My files are larger than their intended printing size. To get the best quality, should I send them as they are - OR should I re-size them to the actual size they will be printed at?
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For the best results, you should resize your JPG files to print size with a resolution minimum of 300 dpi, maximum of 600 dpi.
Is it possible to print the reverse sides of the front and black cover's in color? I'm looking to have the content ( inside pages ) of the book printed in black and white, but would like the backside of the cover and back cover to be in full-color. ( Four color pages in all ).
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Yes our B&W books include a full color cover so the front cover, inside front cover, inside back cover and back cover will all be in color. There is no extra charge for that!
The CWS ad is a full page ad. So if you would like our ad in your book you receive a discount on your books, but you would need to leave a full page open for us to put our ad in. You can see our ad on this page: https://www.grekoprinting-comixwellspring.com/file-prep/
Does the text need to be on a separate layer?
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No, it’s best to send the files with the text flattened so everything is in one layer
My book contains language and nudity (NSFW) and I was wondering if that is a problem?
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Drawn and written adult material is not a problem. Artistic nude and pin-up style photography are also accepted at our discretion. We do not print any explicit material featuring live models.
Are the inside cover and back cover printed CMYK or RGB?
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The color will only print as CMYK so you will get a more accurate result if your files are in CMYK. If your files are in RGB we will convert them on our end.
The majority of What I want to print is black and white -- with the exception of the outer and inner covers. Do the color files need to be in CMYK? Do the B&W files need to be pure black (100%K) only?
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Your color cover should be in CMYK. For your black and white pages, they can be CMYK, RGB or grayscale. “Rich Black” ( especially RGB) will print darker if you have a lot of solid, filled-in areas, 100% black can sometimes appear slightly faded.
if I plan to have the front and back covers be one long image? Can I submit one continuous file for the front and back covers?
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You can submit a wrap cover for your book as one image with the front and back combined. The front should be on the right and the back is on the left.
How should double page spreads be sent?
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For your double page spreads you can either send it as a single continuous image, or split as two pages. If you send it as two pages, include the bleed on the inner edges so that there is an overlap between them
On your sketch covers am i able to just add the title or does the sketch cover have to be completely blank?
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You can add as little or as much as you want to print on the sketch cover, it’s up to you. You can also add a back cover and interior covers on those as normal if you want to, or leave them blank/white for sketching.
Do you have design templates so I can make sure my comic book will fit your format?
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What should my file size or dimensions be if I add a bleed to the files?
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Standard comic book size with bleed: 6.88”W x 10.5” H (finished trim size 6.625” W x 10.25” H)
Manga Comic Book size with bleed: 5.75”W x 8”H (finished trim size 5.5”W x 7.75”H)
Magazine comic book with bleed: 8.25”W x 10.75”H (finished trim size 8”W x 10.5”H)
How do I figure out the width of my spine for perfect bound books?
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Use this formula to figure out the width of your spine. Page count x .0025 = Spine width. For example a 100 page book would be 100 x .0025 = .25” wide.
what are your accepted file types/formats
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CWS can process .TIF, JPG, or print quality PDF. All files should be 300 DPI in resolution to insure that the files digital quality remains sharp when printed. There is no need to transmit a file that is at a higher resolution. Please indicate if they are full bleed. All files must be exported in one of the above formats before submitting to CWS. We do prefer single pages please do not put your book into spreads, all files should be labeled where they belong. Please see our video on our “specifications” page for correct labeling.
Where do I find your CWS ad?
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you can download our ad from our “specifications/templates” page. There will be a link to download.
How do I upload my files?
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We are currently working on a new upload system but for now we found it best for customers to upload their files to use using a file transfer website such as www.dropbox.com or www.wetransfer.com these are free website that help transfer large files by creating a link you can paste onto our order form. We have a great video that explains this in detail on our “specifications/template” page, please watch that video before placing your order.
Can I order just one proof copy? Do you guys offer a proof option?
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We do offer a proof option but you will need to place a full order for us to start the proof process. On our order form you will have an option to choose a “digital proof” or a “physical proof” – If you choose the digital proof option we will email you a proof and wait for approval before printing, this is a free option. If you choose physical proof on the order form we will print one copy of your book and ship it to you, we will then wait for approval (or changes) before putting your full order into production.
If I don’t like the quality of my print order can I get a refund?
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CWS stands behind our work, if there is an error we made we will make it right! But if the files uploaded were not of good quality and the customer did not order a printed physical proof then we cannot be held responsible for any reprints. Any customer who opts out of the “physical proof” option leaves all responsibilities of reprints to them and not to CWS. The best way to see the quality of your book is to order the printed physical proof and then give final approval to print. A Digital proof does NOT put the responsibility on CWS since the digital proof is a low resolution proof to check the page order and trimming of your comic. The digital proof is compressed for email, and colors may vary from the printed product due to differences in screen settings.
Is the digital proof to show color quality?
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No, digital proofs are low res proof file that are emailed to check the page order and trimming on your comic. This digital proof is compressed for email, and colors may vary from the printed product due to differences in screen settings. Please note that the final trimmed edge may have a variance of up to .125” from the edge as it is shown in the proof file
Can I order a physical proof with a rush order?
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Unfortunately you cannot, if a rush order is placed then you would need to select either “no proof” or “digital proof” so we can get your order right into production to meet your deadline. With a physical proof, the proof is shipped which means we need to put your proof into production, ship the proof, and wait for approval before printing. So if a physical proof is needed then “standard turn around time” would need to be selected on the order form.
I don’t see my digital proof in my email?
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Please check your spam folder, our company email address can be marked as spam sometimes so if you order the digital proof please keep an eye on your spam folder to make sure we receive your approval ASAP.
How long does it take to get the digital proof?
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Our standard orders are processed first come first serve so as soon as we get to your order, we will process and email you a digital proof. This can take a few days to get to your order if the “standard turn around time” is selected so please be patient, and if you think you should have received the digital proof by now please check your spam folder and then reach out to customer service. Most of the time we have already sent the digital proof but it is sitting in the spam folder. We have a great reputation for our speed so we will make sure to get your order processed and printed ASAP!
I received my physical proof copy in the mail, what do I do now?
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When we ship your proof copy we send you an email with instructions and a tracking number, but sometimes those emails can end up in the spam folder. If you are ready to approve your proof or need to send a new files please email sales@grekoprinting.com with your approval or changes that are needed. Please reference your order number in the subject line. Any delay on approval will delay the turn around time of your order so please contact us as soon as possible so we can meet your deadline.
What is your turn around time?
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Our average turn around time is two weeks (this is not guaranteed). This is assuming your files are print ready and there are no errors with your files. If you select the “standard turn around time” your order will ship in 14 days or more. If you select our “standard rush” your order will ship within 7-13 days, if you select our “lightning fast” your order will ship within 2-6 days. Typically we try to get these into production and printed faster than that, and most of the time that is the case. But please keep in mind these are production times, this does not include the time it takes for the shipment to arrive to you. We have a great reputation for our production speed and try to exceed the expectations of these turn around times.
The reorder option is a new feature that we launched on July 3rd 2020, so any new orders that are placed after July 3rd 2020 would be able to use the reorder button in your account history. You can do this by logging into your account and selecting “account” in the upper right corner, and then select “orders” there will be a list of all your orders, click on the ORDER NUMBER that you would like to reorder. To the left of the product will be a box you can check to reorder that product, select that box and select reorder. Please make sure you update your product options, since it will have the original options selected from your first order, such as proof, rush, ETC. Unfortunately anything that was ordered before July 3rd 2020 would not be able to use the reorder option in account history because the system cannot pick up on the old orders. To reorder those you will fill out the order form like you did on your first order but you will NOT need to provide files again since its a reorder. When filling out the form you will see an option that says “exact reorder” when you select this we know to use the latest files we have on hand. If you do not remember how you filled out the order form the first time you can go into your account history and see your order details
Why is there a blank page in my book?
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Because of the way the staple bound books are constructed, the page count must be divisible by 4. If not enough pages were provided for the book, there will be a blank page or pages.
