The top 10 questions to ask your printing company

If you’re considering which printing company you should work with, then you may already have a few technical questions about paper stock, creep and bleed, file types and turnaround. But even before you get to this stage, it’s worth ensuring that your shortlist of suppliers delivers more than just the tech stuff.

The following questions will help you identify a printing company that isn’t simply competent – but one that will actively help you get the best out of your project and perhaps even become a trusted advisor for the long-term.

1. How well-established are they?

Understanding a printing need, and being able to deliver it well, requires both knowledge and experience. KMS Litho was established in 1993 as a family business, and since then we’ve grown into a leading Oxfordshire printing company with clients all over the UK. Our maturity also means we’ve been able to grow our collection of industry-leading equipment!

2. Do they provide end-to-end services?

Some companies will deliver only the print element of the whole printing process. But you may prefer a company that can look after the whole job from start to finish – including the original graphic design right through to fulfilment. This approach allows the printing company to have a holistic overview of the needs and implications of any job, which means they can better understand your aims, speed up processes, and help you save both time and money.

3. Do they spend time with their customers and provide advice and new ideas?

A good printing company will get your job done to the right quality and on time. However, the best companies will take the time to discuss new ideas with you and suggest options that you may not have considered to best represent your work. At KMS Litho our staff have more than 100 years’ experience between them and would be delighted to chat to maximise the potential of your work.

4. Can they show you samples of their work?

A great printing company should be able to show you a whole range of samples that they’ve produced, with different paper stocks and ink types. This should not only demonstrate how your own materials are likely to look, but also what they could look like if you decided an alternative option was more effective or attractive. Contact KMS Litho today to request a sample pack.

5. Can you visit to see their studio?

We think a visit to a printing company’s studio will give you the reassurance you need that your work is in safe hands. At KMS Litho, we love to meet our prospective and current clients. We’re delighted, then, when customers arrange to drop by our Oxfordshire studio to check out our machinery and samples, and meet our staff.

6. Can you call them anytime?

You should be able to call your printing company at any point to ask questions about processes, or simply to check on how a project is developing. We’re always happy to put those little niggling worries to rest, and provide guidance and support throughout a printing job.

7. Can they demonstrate a commitment to the environment?

Printing companies vary wildly in their approach to sustainability. Look for a company that doesn’t just talk the talk, but that can also provide evidence of their responsibility. For instance, at KMS Litho we partner with the Woodland Carbon Scheme to help reduce our carbon footprint. You can read much more about environmental practices here.

8. What have other customers said about them?

Any company can tell you how good they are. But for real evidence, find out what other people have said about them. If objective third parties can offer examples of their success, then that should help to cement your trust. You can see what our customers have said about us on Trust Pilot and Facebook.

9. Can they explain what they do in an accessible way?

Printing can get complicated and there’s a lot to take in. While we could talk for hours about printing, we understand that customers may not need to know all the finer details, so we’re always happy to break down the complex information to a level that suits you. We also like to explain what we do in our online blogs. If you’d like to learn more about the world of printing, start here!

10. Can they answer my technical questions?

Of course on top of all of this, any printing company should also be able to answer your questions about your technical needs, from litho and digital printing, to the best types of paper for your print job to printing Pantone spots and metallics.

Even before you contact a company with these questions, you can usually tick a lot of the above off your list by checking their websites. Make sure you check out ours too. To work with a class-act Oxfordshire printing company, contact us today.

When it comes to getting the right results from a print run knowledge is key. The more you know about the process and the more you understand about your options, the easier it will be to get the finished product just right. To help you create the perfect print run, here are 10 questions you should ask your printer before your project gets underway.

1. What are the most cost effective options?

The cost of the job will depend on many factors including the size of the job, the materials and the finishes used. You printer will be able to talk you through these and suggest the best options for your budget and timescale.

2. What paper stock can I use?

The type of paper you use for your print run will have an impact on the look and feel of your finished product. If you talk to your printer about the result you’re looking for, they’ll be able recommend a stock that suits your needs.

For more details about 'choosing a paper stock' see these articles.

3. Can I use an environmentally friendly material?

Many printers will be able to offer you a paper stock that either contains recycled materials, is responsibly sourced or is carbon balanced.

At Swallowtail Print we take our environment impact seriously, so we use paper and cardboard that comes from FSC® approved sustainable sources. We also work hard to minimise the amount of waste we produce and limit our consumption of materials.

If you would like to display the FSC® logo and details about the materials used on your printed job then then speak to our production team. We can tell you the various logo sizes and wording you can use.

For more details see 'FSC and Environmentally Friendly Paper'

4. What print finishes can I use?

Adding a finish to your printed product can really help it to stand out from the crowd. Laminates, varnishes and bindings can all transform the look of your brochure, book, flyer or business cards, so don’t be afraid to try something a little different.

For details about 'different print finishes' see these articles

5. What size should I be using for a folded leaflet?

There are many standard formats for leaflets. However, because of the different ways they can be folded, page size can vary between printers so check with them before you finalise your design.

See ‘A quick explanation of the different types of folded leaflets available’

6. Do I need to allow for creep?

This is an important consideration when producing any printed document containing a large number of pages. When the sheets are folded and trimmed the sheets on the inside will be smaller than the outer ones, otherwise known as creep. The thicker the paper stock the greater this difference will be. Unless this is allowed for your margins will vary throughout.

Most commercial printer will make adjustments for creep during the file preparation process but it’s worth checking with your printer. Better to allow for this in the design than to have to make adjustments later.

7. What are your artwork requirements?

Supplying your files in the correct formats will help to speed up your job and make your printer’s life easier. Ask if there are any colour profiles that your artwork should be saved in and check if your printer would prefer the fonts to be outlined or supplied with the artwork*.

Outputting artwork to PDF is the preferred workflow for many printers. Check with your printer for their recommended PDF standard and compatibility settings. Most will require a pdf with bleed, crop marks and supplied as single pages, not spreads.

*Not all font foundries allow their fonts to be supplied to third parties, even if they are being used for output, so you will need to check the license for the fonts you are using. If you are using Adobe’s Typekit for syncing fonts then check that your printer has this facility. 

8. How can I supply artwork?

The easiest way to send us artwork is to upload it using the link in the top right-hand corner of this page. This will let upload files to our We Transfer account.

9. Seing a proof?

Proofs are good for printers and good for clients. They help to ensure everyone is happy with the finished result and give everyone an opportunity to spot mistakes with the design or format. Make sure you see something before your job goes to print, even if it’s just a pdf.

See ‘Different types of proofing’ for more details

10. How quickly can you print them?

It’s always worth asking when a job will be completed. Often the lead time depends on a number of different factors, so it’s best to find out when you need to get the artwork to the printer in order for them to meet your deadline.

At Swallowtail Print short print runs requiring a very quick turnaround can be handled by our digital printers. For high volume output, we have two high performance Heidelberg Speedmaster XL sheetfed offset printing presses.

To discuss your requirements, contact a member of our team.