Frequently Asked Questions

What do Mainstream do?

We carry out the complete range of print requirements from business cards to forms, to complex marketing literature, including direct mail. For our complete range of products and services click here.

What type of clients do you service?

We service a range of clients from large organisations to small businesses. Our largest account spends in excess of £500k per annum, and our smallest, a few hundred pounds. We supply 20 companies who are quoted in the FTSE 100 index.

What does the price include?

Where required, our price includes quoting, designing, setting, printing, storage and delivery. We also supply detailed management reports in both hard copy and via remote terminal either peer-to-peer dial-up or through the internet.

What information do you need to print my job for me?

We require an order, an agreed specification for the print, and of course the artwork. We can accept artwork in a number of formats from hard copy to digital files – see below.

If I do not have finished artwork can you design something for me?

Yes, we can turn your ideas into finished artwork. This service includes logo design, forms design and copy writing, we can handle anything from a simple letterhead to a prestigious corporate brochure.

What do you do with the artwork when it is received?

We will provide you with a ‘proof’ copy of what we intend to print for you to sign-off prior to production.

Can I make amendments at proof stage?

Yes, you may amend the proof and receive re-proofs as many times as is necessary to achieve the desired result. We do make a small charge for these corrections the value of which depends on the complexity of the changes.

Can I receive my proof electronically?

Yes, we can send your proof via email.

How long will I have to wait for delivery?

The production lead time depends on the complexity of the job but we always try to offer an approximate delivery date on our quotation. Usually, our prints are delivered within four to five working days of receiving completed artwork, and we always do our best to meet your requirements.

Who do I talk to at Mainstream?

Your first quotation will give you the name of your contact. If you have any queries relating to your order, or requests for new prices, your account manager will be pleased to help you.

What is print management?

Print management is a service offered by Mainstream whereby we undertake to provide all of a customer’s print requirements. The service is supported by our Print Management Centre to handle multiple products to multiple end-user locations. We offer electronic trading, a comprehensive management information package and open book pricing.

How do I supply artwork?

When supplying artwork, please follow the instructions below and help us to make your job run smoothly. Should you have any queries though, your account manager will be happy to guide yuo through the process.

Email – All details, including delivery and printing instructions must be sent along with the attached files. If you have a designer sending files on your behalf, please forward them the details so that they can be supplied along with the finished artwork.

Disk – Please include a covering note or text file including your contact details, delivery and printing instructions. Disks containing urgent jobs should be sent using registered or Special Delivery as 1st class post can take 2 to 3 days to reach us.

File Types – Wherever possible, files should be supplied as flattened, CMYK artwork at a minimum resolution of 300dpi in either JPEG, TIFF or PDF format. Vector files (Illustrator, Freehand, etc.) are prone to numerous bugs and should really be avoided as a format for finished artwork. If there is no option but to send vector files, please ensure that all fonts are converted to outlines. Be aware that when conversion or printing software errors occur, there may be a charge for correcting the files. PDF files should be high resolution, without down-sampling and should have all fonts embedded. Please avoid sending Microsoft Word documents for print as this is not a print ready application and extra charges will be incurred due to reworking unsuitable artwork.

Colour Issues – RGB Images may suffer from colour shifts during CMYK conversion prior to printing. It is therefore suggested that all files are supplied in CMYK colour mode as not all RGB colours can be reproduced with the CMYK printing process. When using large areas of solid black, the colour breakdown should be: 100% of black 50% of cyan. Black areas without cyan can cause ink saturation problems and should be avoided. It is also worth steering clear of ‘4 colour’ blacks as they prevent the inks from being raised too high and can cause other areas of colour to appear washed out.

Need a quote?

Contact
Us
Mainstream Print Ltd
31 Coleshill Street
Sutton Coldfield
Birmingham
B72 1SD

Telephone: 0121 355 0518
E-mail: Click Here
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