Family-owned printing company in Orange County since 1987

Printing Help FAQ

Frequently asked questions faq about printing services

 

Check out our most frequently asked questions!

Click the topic to open up questions for each topic and click the question to open and close the answer.

1.  Go to this page to create a new account http://www.selectgp.com/account

2. Enter the requested information.  (Fields with asteriks are required.)

3.  Click the gray button at the bottom of the form labeled “Create Account.”

4.  If everything goes correctly, you should arrive at a confirmation page and a confirmation email will be sent to your email to activate your account.

5.  Go to your email inbox (the email you used to register), and click on the link in the email from SelectGP.com to activate your account with your email.

6.  You have successfully created a new account!

1.  Login to the website with your username and password

2.  You can change your profile, including your name, title, email, phone, fax, login name, address, password here: http://www.selectgp.com/settings

SelectGP.com is committed to protecting the security of your personal information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to protect against the loss, misuse, and unauthorized access of your personal information under our control because the security of your personal information is a high priority for us. The SelectGP.com website uses encryption technology, such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, to protect sensitive information (like credit card information). SSL technology represents the highest level of security available on the Internet, automatically encrypting information traveling over the Internet, verifying the identity of the transacting servers through certificates and digital signatures, and confirming that the integrity of the message content is maintained throughout its transmission. SelectGP.com cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us by e-mail, and you do so at your own risk.

Without your permission, we will NOT give, sell or otherwise distribute or disclose your personal information collected through this site to third parties outside of SelectGP.com,  Select Graphic & Printing, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless it is necessary in situations such as: it is required by law, to fulfill your service requests, to protect ourselves from liability, and in connection with a merger, acquisition, or liquidation of the company.  In some cases, we may use third-party suppliers to collect, use, or manage the data information in order to improve the accuracy of our customer database and better our understanding of our customers.  For more details, please read our Privacy Policy.

For standard products, papers, and sizes, you can get instant quotes:

1.Click the print product you would like pricing for (on the left side of the website under “Print Products”). (in the Pink Banner)

2. There is an instant price calculator on the right side of the product page. Choose details like paper, size, quantity, and other options from the dropdown menus of each print product.

3. You will see the quote, or price, for those specific details at the bottom of the calculator.

To request a custom quote, please fill out our Custom Quote Request Form, and a representative will contact you shortly.

Yes we do!  To see our online specials, check out our web banners and the promotion codes on the bottom of our homepage page.

Because all of our customers are valuable to us, we are willing to match prices as much as we can.  To match prices for you, we require that you email or fax over an estimate or invoice from the competitor with the specifications of the product (for example:  paper, size, color ink, quantity) and the price.

Of course you can!  At SelectGP.com, we are known for our personalized customer service and make extra efforts to accommodate custom orders and inpidual needs.  To request a custom quote, please fill out our Custom Quote Request Form, and a representative will contact you shortly.

No, you have the option of checking out as a guest. However, we do recommend creating an account so that you can save your order history, especially if you will want to reorder with the same type of paper and specifications in the future.

You can upload your files in one of two ways:

A. If you have your file before you place the order: Each product page has an instant price calculator on the left side. Right below the price quote, there is a section for "File Upload," and you can select the file for print before you "Add to Cart" and place your order.

B. If you have your file ready after you place your order: Click “Upload Files” (5th tab from the left on top of the homepage) and fill out the form and upload your files. 

Click “Upload Files” (5th tab from the left on top of the homepage) and fill out the form and upload your files. 

To reorder the same job with the exact or almost exact specifications or details as a previous job:

 

1.  Login to your account. by inputing your username or email address and password

2.  View your order history.

3.  Click the ">" symbol (left side of the order number) or "View Details" (right side of the order number) of the order that you'd like to reorder.


A. If you'd like to reorder an entire order, click the "reorder link" next to the order number.

If you'd like to reorder a job within the order, click the click the "reorder" link on the left of the job you'd like to reorder.

 

4. You will arrive at the checkout page. If there are any changes such as quantity, size, paper or any changes on the file, you can click the "Edit" link next to the job. If there are ANY changes on the file, then you must upload the file(s) again in the "File Upload" section right under the instant price.

If your order has been placed and processed, then a confirmation email with an order number will be sent to the email listed on your account.

Yes.  Once the order is placed (meaning you provided the payment information and received a confirmation email), then we will run the job in the order of when it was received.

When you place the order, you have already pre-selected the turnaround time in the dropdown menu of "Ready to Ship/Pickup in." The turnaround time starts once we receive the order, the payment, and a print-ready file. Files that do not meet our file requirements may cause delays in the turnaround time.

1.  Login to your account. by inputing your username or email address and password

2.  View your order history.

3.  Click the ">" symbol (left side of the order number) or "View Details" (right side of the order number) of the order that you'd like to reorder.

Once an order has been sent to the press and/or work has been started, the job CANNOT be changed (changes not allowed) and there will be no changes or refunds.  Usually, work will begin on your job as soon as we have received your files and payment. In the event that we have not started working on a specific order or it has not been sent to the press yet, a change may be possible.  Please call in to our store at 714-537-5250714-537-5250 to ask if it is possible.  A processing fee equal to 15% of the total order amount (minimum of $15) will be charged for each printing downgrade (downgrade in quantity, paper stock, and shipping) if it is requested BEFORE it is sent to the press.  

The standard turnaround time depends on the product and the quantity. You can click on the print product you are interested in on the left side, and on each product page, there is a dropdown menu for "Ready to Ship/Pickup in" which provides the turnaround time (not including shipping time).

To ensure a fast turnaround time, you can pay for a rush. Please check by calling 714-537-5250714-537-5250 to check if it's possible. Rush is not available for all products.

To ensure a fast turnaround time, you should also make sure that your file meets the our File Requirements for high-quality printing before uploading your file. This is the most common cause of print job delays.  The .PDF and .EPS file formats with outlined fonts are also preferred and will most likely speed up your turnaround time.  Remember to add crop marks and flatten your files before uploading.

Turnaround time begins once you have paid for the order, your print-ready design file has been uploaded (if applicable), and your file has been approved (if applicable).
No, turnaround time does not include time for shipping, mailing, or delivery.

Delays of the start of turnaround time include, but are not limited to:  delay of payment, delay of customer approval of the electronic proof, delay of uploading customer file, customer-submitted files not meeting our file requirements.

Based on Pacific Standard Time, we are closed for all Saturdays, Sundays, and national and federal holidays:  New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. 

Yes, we can most likely rush your order for a rush service fee, but you must call in at 714-537-5250714-537-5250 to ask and let us know.  It depends on the product specifications and when you need it by.  We can let you know if it is possible or not to finish your product in the given deadline.  The rush charges are based on the price of your order, and you can check them at the bottom of the Turnaround Time page.

Yes, we can.  Please contact us at 714-537-5250714-537-5250, and we can assist you with any custom orders and help you place your order.  To get the quote for your custom order, please fill out our Custom Quote Request Form and one of our representatives will be happy to help and get back to you as soon as possible.

Folding

Our standard folds in order from left to right are: 1) Half Fold or Single Fold, 2) Z-Fold, 3) C-Fold or Letter Fold, 4) Double or Parallel Fold.

For any fold not listed above, please call in at 714-537-5250714-537-5250 and email a picture or bring a sample into the store to get accurate pricing. 

Scoring is creasing a paper stock so that it can be folded.  Thicker and heavier types of paper like any cover stock must be scored first in order to be folded.  Thinner and lighter types of paper like bond or text paper can be folded without being scored.

UV Coating, AQ Coating, etc.

UV Gloss is shiny clear coating that resembles a lamination and protects cards from scratches. It also enhances the density of colors to give photographs a rich look. However, you cannot write on UV gloss coating.

AQ gloss coating which protects the surface from dirt, smudges, fingerprints and scratch.

Matte is a AQ coating that allows people to write on both sides of the card. It gives a non-glossy, glare-free, flat look and looks great with images of texture. However, it also makes colors look more muted and is more prone to scratches, especially with dark colors.

Spot UV is a high-gloss coating (same as UV Gloss) printed only on specified areas. It can be used to highlight important text and logos with a shiny sheen as well as create a subtle artistic effect or watermarks when used on background objects.

Silk lamination makes paper more flexible and soft to the touch, providing a silky feel and texture that stands out from other paper-printed card stocks. It is also tear and water resistant and shows off vibrant colors.

Foil is a thin metal film imprinted on small areas of the paper to create a metallic, reflective surface. It looks great on logos and text to create a unique, elegant effect that is certain to impress. However, foil areas can flake or peel and are subject to 1/16" shifting.

If you’d like something not listed above, please contact us.

No, you cannot write or print on UV gloss coating. If you'd like to write on your printed piece, we also offer matte or aqueous coating as well as uncoated print products.

Cover stock refers to heavier paper that is often used as postcards, folders, and covers of catalogs or booklets.  Cover stock can come in a “coated” type, with a smooth, glossy surface, and “uncoated” type, which has a rougher, more textured surface.

Cover stock is thicker than body/text paper.  Body paper is thinner than cover paper.  For example, cover stock is often used for the cover of a booklet and body paper is used for the inside pages.

Book and text paper are different names for the same thing.  They refer to thinner pages like inside pages of a book.

Uncoated stock is a rough porous type of paper. It is normally used in newspapers and tends to be less expensive. Coated stock has a smooth glossy finish. Printing on this type of paper will sharpen your text and graphic layouts. Coated stock, however, can be a bit more expensive.

That number is the basis weight or ream weight. It is the weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets of a basic size) of that specific paper.  Papers with the same basis weight may not look or feel similar because the basic size varies across different paper types (bond, ledger, writing, uncoated book and text, coated book, cover, bristol, etc.).  For example, 100lb gloss book looks and feels much lighter than 100lb gloss cover because the basic sheet size for coated book is 25” x 38,” but the sheet size for cover stock is 20” x 26.”

Because of our commitment to printing high-quality products for you, we have created a set of guidelines for you to follow to setup your file, so that we can print your file with the best results.  Please see our File Requirements.

The file will be delayed until you do one of the following:


1. Resend a corrected file that meets our file requirements

B. Request our graphic designers to adjust it ($10-$60 depending on length of time and complexity)

3. Approve the file to print as is.

We try our best to alert you when a file is incorrect, but SelectGP does not take responsibility for any customer-provided artwork.

If requested, we can correct most, but not all, files ($10-$60 depending on length of time and complexity).  Artwork fees will vary based on the file format, change needed, and time spent. You can find more details on our graphic design page.  We also require that the customer approves the file changes before printing.

We try our best to alert you when a file is incorrect, but SelectGP does not take responsibility for any customer-provided artwork.

Definitely!  We have professional graphic designers working for you.  You can find out more on our graphic design page

We provide layout templates that can help you format your file correctly, including bleeds and safety lines.  We highly encourage you to use them as tools, but you certainly do not have to use them if you are already familiar with the file requirements for print.

It depends on how big your file is and what your internet connection speed is. You'll be presented with a file upload progress bar that gives you feedback of the process from start to completion.

For any design to reach the edge of the page, the digital file provided must include a bleed.  This means that the images, colors, or design must extend beyond the trim line, usually by at least 0.125” per side.  Designs that require a bleed can sometimes add to the cost of printing because the printer must use a larger size of paper to accommodate the bleed. You can find out more on our File Requirements page.

DPI stands for dots per inch.  It is the unit for resolution, or the level of detail of an image.  A higher dpi (more dots per inch) means a higher image resolution and sharper image quality but also larger file sizes.  Printed graphics need to be created at 300 DPI in order to maintain the high quality of the image.  Images on the web are often done at a low resolution of 72 dpi which is ideal for screen but not for print.

Your file should be at least 300 dpi.

To get the best results on full color jobs, please convert all of your colors to CMYK color mode.   To get the best results on one-color or black and white jobs, please provide your artwork in grayscale color mode. 

CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) are the standard inks used in full-color (4-color) printing while RGB (red, green, and blue) are lights used to project color on a screen.  RGB colors tend to appear a lot brighter on screen than CMYK but will usually print duller as if it was washed out.  Any full-color artwork provided in RGB and Pantone colors will convert to CMYK and may produce different color outcomes.  

To get the color codes conversions from RGB to CMYK, you can go here:  http://www.javascripter.net/faq/rgb2cmyk.htm

Adobe Indesign

1. Click “Window” (on top menu) > “Swatches” (under Window menu), and a box will pop up with a tab labeled “Swatches and Window.”

3. Double click each color in the Swatches box and change the Color Mode drop-down menu to “CMYK” and the Color Type drop-down menu to “Process.”  Make sure all colors in the document have numbers corresponding to C, M, Y, and K.

4. If there are any colors that are not CMYK, you can double click the color and click top right arrow in the palette and click “CMYK.” 

 

Adobe Illustrator CS4

1.Click “File” (top menu bar) > “Document Color Mode”  > "CMYK Color"

 

Adobe Photoshop all versions   

For a new document: 

1.Click “File” (top menu bar) > “New.” 

2.Under Color Mode: “CMYK.”

3.Click “Save.”

For existing files: 

1.On the menu bar, click “Image” > “Mode.”

2.Click “CMYK.”

3.Click “Save.” 

 

Corel Draw X5

1.Click “Tools” on the menu bar.

2.Click “Color Management” > “Document Settings” button

3.Under Primary Color Mode drop-down menu, click “CMYK.”

 

Quark Xpress

1. Click “Edit” > “Edit Colors.”

3. Click “Show Colors in Use.” 

4. Click “Highlight Color.”

5. Click “Edit.” 

6. Change model to “CMYK,” and deselect “Spot color.”

 

Microsoft programs:  

Not possible.  Microsoft programs are not sophisticated graphic design software, so you cannot convert the colors to CMYK.

Colors on screen usually look different from colors in print.  Printing companies can never guarantee 100% color accuracy between the screen and the printer, but converting the colors on the file to CMYK and calibrating the colors on your monitor to print will make the colors look as close as possible to what you see on screen.

Because of the inconsistencies inherent in the printing process, no printing company can guarantee color match.  However, because of our devotion to you, we will make an effort to find a “respectable color” (printing industries’ standard) that is close as possible to your provided colors.  To do this, we need a printed sample sent to us by mail or brought into the store.  For best results, please provide all full-color files in CMYK and all one-color or black and white artwork in grayscale color mode.

We accept the following file formats:  .PDF, .PSD, .JPG, AI, .EPS, .CDR, .TIF.  We prefer that you send .PDF and .EPS files with outlined fonts. These files are easier to handle and will likely speed up your turnaround time.

Microsoft has a plug-in that works for the Microsoft Office 2007 programs called PDF Maker. 

1. Click this link from Microsoft.com:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041&displaylang=en

2.Click the button labeled “Download.”  It will automatically install it for MS Word, Publisher and Excel.

3.Once installed, the plug-in will add a new button on the right of your menu called ACROBAT. Or just click File > Save As > Adobe PDF.

Adobe InDesign

1.Select all text (Ctrl + A for PCs) (Cmd + A for Mac).

2.Click “Type” (on top menu) > “Create Outlines.”

3.Repeat steps for each page.

 

Adobe Illustrator

1.Select all text (Ctrl + A for PCs) (Cmd + A for Mac).

2.Click “Object” (top menu) > “Flatten Transparency.” 

3.Check box to “convert all text to outlines.”

4.Check box to “Convert all strokes to outlines.”

5.Uncheck  “Preserve Alpha Transparency.”

6.Uncheck “Preserve overprints and source color.”

7.Click the “OK button.”

 

Adobe Photoshop

1. Click “Layer” (on top menu) > “Flatten Image.”

 

Corel Draw

1.Ungroup all text (Ctrl + U for PCs) (Cmd + U for Mac).

2.Select all text (Ctrl + A for PCs) (Cmd + A for Mac) or click each text piece.

3.Convert the selected pieces to Curves (Ctrl + Q for PCs) (Cmd + Q for Mac).

4.Repeat steps for each page.

 

Microsoft Programs

There is no way to outline the fonts in any Microsoft program because they are not sophisticated graphic design programs.

Bitmap images (a.k.a. raster images) are made up of pixels (colored dots) in a grid.  If you resize them, it will affect the image quality.  Usually if you make the image bigger, it will decrease the image quality whereas when you make the image smaller, it will make the image quality better.  Examples of bitmap images include scanned images and digital photos.

 

Vector images are objects made up of lines and shapes.  Unlike bitmap images, scaling vector images does not affect the quality.  Although they are a smaller file size than bitmap images, they are not able to realistically represent photos as well as bitmap images.  Examples of vector objects are fonts. 

We provide electronic proofs of your artwork in 1-4 business days.  If you designed the product online using our design templates or uploaded a file, you will not receive an electronic proof.  You will only receive an electronic proof of the design if we created a custom design for you or made changes on your file.

Yes!  We do everything we can do to ensure customer satisfaction. For any files that we have created or revised, we require customers to look at the proof and approve it before we print. If customers submitted the files, then they have already approved the file to print. 

I If customers submitted the files, then they have already approved the file to print and no proof will be sent. For any files that our graphic designers have created or revised, we require customers to review the proof and approve it via email before we print. If customers submitted the files, then they have already approved the file to print. 

Once you approve the proof, we will immediately send your file to print as is. In the event that it has not been printed, plated, and imposed, there is a slight possibility to change the file. If it has already been imposed and/or plated but not printed, you may be able to pay a fee to change your file. Please check your electronic proof very carefully before approving, especially for numbers, spelling, grammar, punctuation, spacing, bleed, resolution, graphics, size, and orientation/alignment.  We are not liable for any of the above errors after they have been approved by our customer.

We charge California sales tax on orders within CA.  For orders outside of CA, there will be no sales tax.

You are immediately charged for the order once you submit the order and receive a confirmation message.  

As soon as you submit the order, we will run your payment information and you will receive a confirmation email that includes the order number and details of the order.

Yes, but during the payment process when you're entering in the debit/credit card, please make sure to enter the correct first and last name and billing address (the address the credit card statement is sent to) for the card you're paying with.

You pay when you submit your order. The order will not be processed until we receive the payment.

No.  If you order online, you must pay online.  However, if you want to pay in person or order through the phone, then we can write up a manual order for you and take your credit card in-person or through the phone.

Please contact us as soon as possible, so we can quickly resolve the issue.

We offer UPS Ground, UPS Second Day Air, and UPS Next Day Air.  We also allow pick-up at our store location for zero shipping and handling fees.

Besides having the item(s) shipped, we also provide the option of picking up at our store location during store open hours: 

11931 Euclid St. (on Euclid between Orangewood and Chapman)

Garden Grove, CA 92840

No changes or refunds on shipping charges will be allowed on any job once it has been shipped.  If the order has not been shipped, there is a $10 fee for any changes in the shipping address on top of any additional fees to ship to a farther or closer location.

No changes or refunds on shipping charges will be allowed on any job once it has been shipped.  If the order has not been completed or shipped, we can make the change for you.

If a package is delivered to a wrong address due to an error made by the customer, then the customer must pay for shipping and handling again for a new order (and possibly also the printing if UPS doesn't have it anymore).  If the customer submitted the correct shipping address and SelectGP sent it to the wrong address, SelectGP.com will reship the package with corrected address as a courtesy. SelectGP.com ships jobs via UPS, and our responsibility is limited to printing and preparing your order for UPS delivery.  Once a package is shipped, SelectGP.com is not responsible for any delayed, damaged, or lost orders during the shipping process.

Shipping and handling varies by product weight, number of boxes, and shipping address (relative to our store location in Garden Grove, CA 92840).  To find out the shipping and handling for your product(s):

1. Choose the print product you were interested in ordering, and choose the quantity on the instant price calculator of the product page.

2. Towards the bottom of the instant price calculator, there is a box titled "Estimated Shipping." You can type in your zip code or postal code and click "Get Rates."

3.The shipping costs for the selected quantity of the selected print product will show. This is just an estimated shipping. You pick your actual shipping method for the print prdoucts in the Shopping Cart page. If you want to see a shipping for another quantity, repeat Steps 1-2.

Yes, we can ship jobs early, but you should expect and prepare for the product to be shipped within the standard time (any day within that range of time up until the last day) unless you paid for a rush charge and/or rush shipping.

All sales are final. Since we customize each order according to your file and exact specifications, no refunds will be given once SelectGP.com starts working on your order. Usually, work will begin on your job as soon as we have received your files and payment. In the event that we have not started working on a specific order or it has not been sent to the press yet, we may allow a partial refund of 15% of the total order (minimum of $15) for any job cancellation. However, any labor hours (proofs, graphic design, etc.) or administrative fees (credit card fees, etc.) will be subtracted from your refund. We will not accept any refund requests after 7 days from the date you placed the order.  Once an order has been sent to the press and/or work has been started, the job CANNOT be changed (job cancellation not allowed) and there will be NO REFUND.

It depends on what the mistake is.  If there was a mistake on the order and we accept it as our responsibility, you will be asked to return the entire job, and we can reprint the job at no extra cost to you.  To be fair to you, we make every effort to correct mistakes that are our responsibility, so you can receive a product that you are satisfied with.  However, we will not reprint materials for any errors approved by the customer including but not limited to layout, numbers, spelling, grammar, punctuation, spacing, bleed, resolution, graphics, size, and orientation/alignment.  We also do not reprint for errors in customer-provided artwork.  We stress that customers look at our File Requirements to upload correct files for printing.

Please contact us as soon as possible, so we can give you the tracking number for your order.

SelectGP.com ships jobs via UPS, and our responsibility is limited to printing and preparing your order for UPS delivery.  Once a package is shipped, SelectGP.com is not responsible for any delayed, damaged, or lost orders during the shipping process.  Arrival dates are only estimates because they can be subject to unforeseen delays in transit. Customers may feel free to upgrade the shipping method before we ship at their own expense, but we will not upgrade the shipping method to accommodate a missed estimated ship date.  Shipping transit time is based on the number of business days in transit and does not include weekends, holidays, or the day the package is picked up by UPS.