About the Plates: We use KF95 plates (Regular Relief) – They last longer and are very versatile to use with any kind of press. The maximum size plate we can process is 8.25×11

Turnaround: 2 business days standard not including shipping time. Rush service is available (please inquire first).

Ordering: Please send in your order via email at plates@thatskyblue.com All orders must be prepaid via credit card before shipping. We accept Visa and Mastercard.

Shipping Costs: Canpar Ground Flat Rate to Eastern Canada $8.00 – add $2 for residential Canpar Ground Flat Rate to Western Canada $13.00 – add $2 for residential UPS Ground Flat rate for Eastern United States $15.00 – add $2 for residential UPS Ground Flat rate for Western United States $18.00 – add $2 for residential Contact us for overnight or expidited shipping fees

File prep tips for submitted artwork: Vector Artwork using Illustrator: Outline your fonts! By doing this you ensure that all fonts come out the way you want Make sure all your images and fonts are 100% Black (for example: c=0, m=0, y=0, k=100)

Photoshop Files: If your file contains an image, save it in bitmap mode using a resolution between 600 and 1200 and 50% threshold Save all photoshop files as .tiff not .jpg If you are using a file that contains halftones, we recommend a line screen between 80 and 100 lpi.

General Tips: You don’t need to send your files as negatives. Send us your file as you want the final print to be. We’ll take care of making the proper negatives for plate processing. Add about a 1/2″ of margin space around your artwork. This will ensure that your image is not too close the edge of the plate…which you don’t want. Smallest Fonts size: Our plates can guarantee a non-serif typeface as low as 4pts Thinnest Line weights: For best results we do not suggest a line weight less than 0.25pts If you have many small files, you can gang them up on one or more sheets of 8.25×11. Plastic-backed plates can easily be cut with scissors.

You can always call us if you need help preparing your file. 1.866.670.4927

Pricing:

* minimum order of $25.00 Prices are in CAD The pricing includes films, plate, plate exposure & adhesive backing.

CUSTOM LETTERPRESS PRINTING SERVICES

Whether it’s our design or yours, we make your ideas come to life. We work with some of the best design firms, art directors and graphic designers who constantly challenge us to push the boundries of standard letterpress printing.

We print with spot colours; matching our inks to uncoated Pantone colour swatches. Unlike digital printing, each spot color is printed separately. Letterpress works best with vector line art. If you are not sure how to set-up your file for letterpress, we would be happy to answer any of your questions. We also offer file preparation if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.

Die-Cutting and Assembly
: Diecutting is the method for punching or cutting out any special shapes by using a metal form that is called a die. Any shape can be made into a die, the more complicated the die is the more expensive it can get. We die cut anything from round coasters to custom made envelopes and pocket folds.

Scoring/Perforating
: Scoring (or creasing) is used to make a clean and crisp fold onto your printed piece. For example note cards, pamphlets & envelopes all need to be scored and folded.
Perforating is used when part of your printed piece needs to be torn off by the end user; like a ticket stub.

Gluing, Corner Rounding, Hole Drilling
: We offer gluing and assembly, corner rounding in a variation of sizes and hole drilling with or without grommeting.

A similar technique to gold leaf gilding mastered by bookbinders for centuries, edging is done by hand painting the outer edges of your printed piece with a colour of your choice to highlight your design.