Frequently Asked Questions

Offset printing is the traditional method that uses aluminum plates to transfer an image onto a rubber "blanket," which then rolls that image onto a sheet of paper. It is the gold standard for high-volume jobs because once the plates are created, the cost per piece drops significantly. Offset offers the highest level of color accuracy and the most professional finish, making it ideal for large runs of brochures or stationery where consistency is paramount.

Digital printing functions like a professional-scale office printer. It uses liquid ink or toner and does not require plates, making it much more cost-effective for short runs (under 1,000 pieces). A major advantage of digital printing is "Variable Data Printing" (VDP), allowing each piece to have unique information—like a specific name or address—without stopping the press. While digital quality has caught up to offset, offset still holds a slight edge for massive projects and specialized paper textures.

The timeline for a project is influenced by proofing, production, and finishing. Once you submit your files, the process begins with a proof. Production turnaround—usually 3 to 7 business days—only starts once we receive your formal approval. Complex jobs like catalogs with custom binding require more time than simple flat flyers.

If you are on a tight deadline, we offer expedited turnaround options. Remember that "turnaround time" refers specifically to production and does not include shipping or transit time. We recommend building a "safety margin" into your schedule for unforeseen delays. To ensure the fastest delivery, submit print-ready flattened PDFs with bleeds to avoid delays in the prepress stage.

Direct mail campaigns are generally governed by USPS postage requirements for discounts. To take advantage of bulk mail rates, you generally need a minimum of 200 pieces for Marketing Mail or 500 pieces for First Class Mail. Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) requires a minimum of one full carrier route, typically between 400 and 600 homes.

Ordering very small quantities often results in a higher cost-per-piece because setup time is the same regardless of volume. Most clients find the "sweet spot" for ROI starts at 1,000 pieces. This allows the fixed costs of list processing and addressing to be spread across more units. We can process smaller lists, but you may be subject to standard postage rates rather than bulk discounts.

Costs are divided into Design, Production, and Postage. Postage is usually the largest expense, ranging from $0.20 to $0.55 per piece depending on mail class and size. Printing costs fluctuate based on paper stock and dimensions. Additionally, "mail house" fees cover data processing, NCOA verification (to ensure addresses are current), and inkjet addressing.

A full-service campaign for 2,500 postcards might cost between $0.60 to $0.95 per piece "all-in." Larger volumes see significant price breaks. By using our integrated mailing services, you save money by avoiding the cost of shipping printed materials to a separate mail house; we handle everything under one roof, reducing both costs and the risk of errors.

We strongly prefer **Flattened PDF files** as they lock in your fonts and layout. We also accept Adobe Illustrator (.AI), InDesign (.INDD), and Photoshop (.PSD) files. If sending vector files, ensure fonts are converted to outlines and images are embedded.

For image-based files like .TIF or .JPG, ensure they are at least 300 DPI at the final size. Web images (72 DPI) will appear pixelated when printed. For mailing lists, we accept .CSV and .XLSX files. We recommend avoiding Word or Publisher files for professional printing, but if you must use them, please "Save As PDF" before submitting.

We offer a massive selection of weights and finishes. "Text" weights are thinner (like magazine pages), while "Cover" weights are thicker (like postcards). Finish options include **Gloss** for high-shine and vibrant color, **Matte** for a smooth non-reflective look, and **Uncoated** for a porous surface that is easy to write on.

We also offer specialty stocks like linen textures, metallic shimmers, and extra-thick "double-thick" covers. If you are unsure which to pick, we can provide a sample book so you can feel the differences in hand. Choosing the right stock depends on the intended use of the piece—durability for menus, or elegance for invitations.

Yes, sustainability is a priority. We offer FSC certified stocks and papers containing up to 100% Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) recycled fiber. We use soy-based or vegetable-based inks in our offset presses, which emit fewer VOCs and are easier to remove during recycling.

Our digital presses are also eco-friendly, producing almost zero waste toner. We actively recycle all paper scraps, plates, and shipping materials. Choosing a local printer like ZippityPrint.com also reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact through every step of our production process.

Our mailing services are a "turnkey" solution. We handle **Data Processing**, standardizing addresses via CASS and updating them via NCOA. We then perform **Addressing** using high-speed inkjets that print the recipient's information and barcodes directly onto the piece.

If your project requires insertion, we handle machine-folding and stuffing. Finally, we handle **Postal Presorting and Delivery**, ensuring you get the lowest possible postage rates by delivering directly to the USPS Business Mail Entry Unit. You will receive a copy of the finalized postage statement as proof of mailing.

Organize your list in Excel or CSV format with clear headers like First Name, Last Name, Address, City, State, and Zip. Keeping these fields separate allows our software to properly format the address for the USPS. Before sending, look for obvious errors like missing zip codes or all-caps formatting.

If your list has duplicates, our software can identify and remove them. If you don't have a list, we can help you rent or purchase a targeted list based on specific demographics like income, geography, or consumer interests. Just let us know your ideal customer profile, and we can provide counts for your area.

Union printing signifies quality and social responsibility. The "Union Bug" label shows that workers are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions. For political and non-profit organizations, using a union printer is a strategic choice to show solidarity with organized labor.

Union members undergo rigorous training, resulting in a highly skilled workforce experts in color management and complex bindery. We take pride in our union affiliation and the craftsmanship it guarantees. We can include our union bug on your artwork upon request at no additional charge to demonstrate your support for fair labor practices.

"Bleed" refers to images or colors that extend to the very edge of the paper. We require an extra .125" margin on each side, which is cut off during trimming to ensure no white borders appear. The "Safety Zone" is the area where important text and logos should stay (at least .125" from the edge) to avoid being accidentally cut off.

We offer a wide range of binding options to suit everything from simple reports to professional paperback books.

One of the most frequent points of confusion in printing is the difference between a "sheet" and a "page." In the printing world, **one sheet of paper equals two pages.** When ordering booklets, this becomes even more critical. A single sheet of paper folded in half creates a 4-page signature. When requesting a quote or setting up your file, always refer to the **total page count** (the number of sides) rather than the number of physical sheets. For example, a 16-page booklet consists of 8 physical sheets of paper bound together.

Folding transforms a simple sheet of paper into an organized and engaging marketing tool. Choosing the correct fold is essential for the flow of information in your brochures, menus, or mailers. We offer a variety of standard and complex folding options to fit your specific design needs.

Please note that for heavier cover stocks, we utilize "scoring" (a mechanical crease) before folding. This process prevents the paper fibers from breaking and ensures that your ink does not crack along the fold lines, resulting in a crisp, professional edge. Below are the standard commercial folding methods we provide:

A clipping path is the digital equivalent of using a pair of scissors to cut an object out of a photograph. It is a precise vector path created by trained professionals using sophisticated software to isolate a specific area of an image. Everything inside the path is kept, while everything outside the path—typically a cluttered or unwanted background—is removed or made transparent. This is the industry-standard method for producing clean, professional product photos for catalogs, websites, and marketing materials. The primary reasons to use a clipping path over simple background "erasing" are professionalism and flexibility. A clipped image maintains sharp, defined edges and can be placed onto any color background without looking "jagged" or poorly edited. Furthermore, clipping paths are non-destructive, meaning you can edit or adjust the path later if needed. We categorize our service into three levels based on the complexity of the object:

Simple: Basic outlines with few curves (e.g., a square box or a simple bottle). Medium: Compounded shapes with many curves (e.g., a piece of furniture or clothing). Complex: Very detailed outlines or images with "inside" paths, such as a bicycle with spokes or a group of multiple items. If you have an image you want printed but need the background removed to highlight the product, you need a clipping path service. The cost is based on the volume of images and the level of detail required.

In the world of commercial printing, **collating** refers to the process of gathering individual printed sheets and layering them in a specific, sequential order. This is a critical step in the finishing process for any multi-page project, such as booklets, manuals, catalogs, and brochures. Without collation, your pages would remain in separate stacks, requiring manual assembly.

When you select collating for your project, our equipment ensures that page one is followed by page two, then page three, and so on, until the set is complete. We also offer **Slip Sheeting**, which involves placing a blank or colored piece of paper between finished sets. This makes it incredibly easy to identify where one set ends and the next begins, which is especially helpful when shipping loose sets in bulk cartons. Below are the common ways we handle page sequencing:
Choosing the right collation method depends on your final use case. For most books and booklets, standard collation is required before binding. If you are ordering inserts that you plan to distribute individually or assemble yourself later, uncollated may be the more cost-effective choice. If you have questions about how your specific file layout affects the collation process, please contact our production team for guidance.

To ensure your project is printed accurately and on time, it is vital to follow a few professional pre-press standards. The most common issues we encounter involve color modes, image resolution, and font handling. By preparing your files correctly, you avoid "color shifts" and blurry images.

Color Mode & Resolution: Always design your files in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) color mode. Most digital screens use RGB, which has a wider color spectrum than ink; converting from RGB to CMYK at the last minute can cause colors to look duller than expected. Additionally, ensure all images have a resolution of at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). Images pulled from the internet are typically 72 DPI and will appear jagged or blurry when printed.

Fonts and Lines: If you are using vector software like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign, you must convert all text to outlines (or "curves"). This prevents our systems from substituting your unique fonts with generic ones if we don't have your specific font file. For thin lines or "rules," ensure they are at least 0.25 pt thick; anything thinner may disappear during the printing process.

Borders and Safety: While we strive for perfection, mechanical trimming has a tolerance of 1/16". For this reason, we discourage the use of thin borders close to the edge of the paper, as they can appear uneven after trimming. If you must use a border, it should be at least 1/4" thick and placed at least 3/8" away from the bleed line. Always keep your essential text and logos within the Safety Zone (1/8" inside the trim line) to ensure nothing important is cut off. Finally, please submit your files as flattened PDFs without crop marks, as these marks can interfere with our automated layout software.

Placing an order with ZippityPrint.com is a streamlined four-step process designed to ensure accuracy and security. You begin by selecting your product and using our Instant Price Calculator to choose your quantity, paper stock, and turnaround time. Once your options are selected, you can upload your artwork directly to the product page. After adding the item to your cart, you will log in to select your shipping method and provide payment via our secure portal, which handles credit cards and electronic checks through Authorize.net.

The Production Timeline: It is important to understand that placing an order and paying for it does not immediately start the production clock. Official production turnaround time begins only when the following three criteria are met:

• All print-ready artwork has been successfully uploaded.
• Full payment has been processed.
• Your proof approval has been received.

If you request a PDF softproof, we will email you a link to review it; if you request a hard copy proof, we will mail it to you for physical inspection.

Turnaround vs. Shipping: Please note that advertised turnaround times (Standard or Rush) refer specifically to the time your job is in production at our facility. Transit time for shipping is always additional to production time. To avoid delays, ensure your proof approval is submitted before our daily 2:00 PM cutoff; approvals received after this time will begin production on the following business day. We reserve the right to refuse orders containing offensive or illegal material, and customers retain full legal liability for the content of the materials they instruct us to print.

Understanding standard paper sizes is essential for ordering stationery, brochures, and marketing materials. There are two primary standards used today: the **North American** standard (used in the US and Canada) and the **International ISO** standard (used throughout the rest of the world).

The North American standard is based on sizes like "Letter" (8.5" x 11") and "Legal" (8.5" x 14"). In contrast, the ISO standard uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2, meaning that folding an A-series sheet in half results in the next size down (e.g., folding an A3 sheet creates an A4). Notably, the International A4 size is slightly narrower and longer than the North American Letter size. Below are the charts detailing the most common dimensions:

North American Standard Sizes

International ISO (A-Series) Sizes

Choosing the right size depends on your project goals. Large formats like Arch D are perfect for blueprints, while A4 and Letter remain the global standards for correspondence and reports. If you require a custom size not listed here, please contact us for a custom quote.

Choosing the right paper involves understanding three key factors: the **grade** (Text vs. Cover), the **finish** (Gloss vs. Matte), and the **weight** (lbs vs. gsm).

Text vs. Cover: "Text" refers to lighter, flexible papers used for flyers, letterheads, and the inside pages of books. "Cover" (or Cardstock) is heavier and more rigid, making it ideal for business cards, postcards, and invitations. Cover stocks must be scored before folding to prevent cracking.

Gloss vs. Matte: A Gloss finish is shiny and reflective, which makes colors "pop" and is perfect for photography-heavy designs. A Matte finish is flat and non-reflective, making it easier to read and providing a more subtle, professional elegance that is forgiving of fingerprints and smudges.

Understanding Weights (lbs vs. gsm): North America uses pounds (# or lb), while the International system uses grams per square meter (gsm or g/m²). It is important to note that a 100lb Text stock is significantly thinner than a 100lb Cover stock because they are measured using different base ream sizes. Below is a comparison chart to help you understand the relative thickness of different stocks:
Selecting the right combination ensures your project feels as good as it looks. If you are producing a high-end catalog, you might choose an 80lb Gloss Text for the inside pages and a 100lb Matte Cover for the outside to provide a durable, premium feel.

We accept all major credit cards and Electronic Check (ACH). Custom print orders must be paid in full at the time of placement because they cannot be resold. For government or large institutional POs, contact us to set up an account. If changes are made to your order after payment, we will issue an adjusted invoice or refund before the job ships.