After you have completed your design, click the "Continue" button in the upper right corner.
Name your file and choose your specifications, click the "I agree to Terms of Use" box, then click either the "Save Design and Continue" or the "Save Design and Checkout" button at the bottom.
If this saving process is not completed, your design will be lost.
The industry standard for bleed is .125" around all four sides outside of the actual size. The safe margin is .125" around all four sides inside of the actual size. This ensures that everything important is not cut off and that color goes all the way to the edge of the paper. This principle applies to all of our printed products.
Example
Design File Size: 5.25" x 7.25"
Actual Size: 5" x 7"
Safe Zone Size: 4.75" x 6.75"
For more information see "Bleed Explained." (There is also a quick link in the footer menu.)
From the time of order submission, it will take 1-2 business days to complete your proof. Once the proof has been approved, it will take 6-9 business days until your order is ready for pick up. If your order is being shipped, it can take up to 7 more business days to receive your order.
Business days are Monday through Friday. If a holiday falls on a business day, that day is not included in the turnaround time.
On Fridays, our machines are shut down early for end-of-week cleaning.
If ordering more than one product, you only need choose a proof from one of them, and it will cover the entire order. We will provide a proof for all products ordered if one proof is chosen.
We strongly suggest viewing a hard copy proof, especially if you are worried about color. Colors on your monitor may not be representative of the printed product. The monitor uses a resolution of 72 dpi and is RGB based, while printing uses 300 dpi and is CMYK based. The colors on the monitor are brighter than they will appear when they print. To see true color representation, you will need to see a printed hard copy proof.
Proofing adds to turnaround time based on whether you order a walk-in or mailed proof.
If you request a proof, we must receive your approval (in person, by phone, or email) to complete the printing process.
If you need to make changes to your order and require another hard copy proof, another business day will be added to your time frame, and you will be charged accordingly with the balance payment due at order pick up.
If you do not request a hard copy proof, placement of your order gives us permission to print without going through our proofing department. Watkins Printing will not be responsible for reprints if you are dissatisfied with your order and you did not request a hard copy proof.
Mailed proofs are sent using United States Postal Service (USPS) First Class Mail.
