Top Questions

Most of the products featured on this web site take approximately 3-5 business days to print depending on the project and the time the order was placed. The projected time frame is given on all orders when checking out. Feel free to contact us toll free at 1-800-454-1092 for a better understanding of your projects time frame.

Our graphic designers will handle all aspects of your design. Unless you have your own art work, picture, logo or image in mind, Small Business Printing will provide all graphics, images, stock photos, logo, or anything else needed to produce your business card, brochure, postcard, stickers, fliers, etc.

 

We understand that while most people like this type of design, many may not have a specific design in mind. Let us put it together for you. All you have to do is provide us with your business information, such as company name, phone number, address, etc. We at Small Business Printing  will then produce custom designed samples that are appropriate for your particular industry.

 

If graphic design services are required it is important for our designers to understand the nature of your business and your design needs (if any). You will be assigned and contacted by one of our graphic designers to discuss your project and answer any questions you may have. 2-3 business days will be needed for the custom designed samples to be created. We will e-mail you 1-5 initial designs to start (depending on your project). Once you review the designs, you will be able to either choose one of them as a basis for further development or just simply explain to us why these designs don't work for you. Having a better understanding of your needs, we will continue to send targeted drafts for your approval.

When placing a printing order we provide our clients with several options.

Ordering Option 1: “Phone Order”
Call and ask to speak to a representative, he or she will be glad to assist you in discussing your project, placing the order, securing payment, arranging the file transfer if “Just Printing” is involved and answer any other questions you might have. We can be reached toll-free by dialing 1-800-454-1092

 

Ordering Option 2: “Online Order”
Start by selecting your product, color, quantity, price, and design options. Review your selected order, package options, and method of shipping. If all your selections are final simply pay for your order on our
Secure SSL Encrypted Site.

 

Ordering Option 3: “Appointment”
If you reside in the Southern California area and prefer to come in for an appointment you are more than welcome. Just call and ask to speak to a representative, he or she will be glad to arrange a date and time for you to come in and discuss your project. We can be reached toll-free by dialing 1-800-454-1092

Shipping and handling costs vary by the weight of your order and by the turnaround time you select during checkout. All products ordered online will display multiple shipping options based on your shipping zip code.

 

*Free Shipping Not Available On Digital Printing, Banners, & Standard Business Cards.

Yes, we protect our customers and their information using the most advanced standards for security.

 

We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which is supported by the vast majority of modern Internet browsers. SSL technology represents the highest level of security available on the Internet. It automatically encrypts information traveling over the Internet, verifies the identity of the transacting servers through certificates and digital signatures, and confirms that the integrity of message content is maintained throughout transmission

1.  Click on " Log In " at the top of the screen. (If you are not signed in yet, the next screen will prompt you to do so.)

2.  Click on "Order Status."

3.  Click "Re-Order” next to the document you wish to order.

4.  Complete the checkout process

My Online Order

The Login/Register screen to enter your account is available at the top section of this website, simply enter your previously registered e-mail address and password.

The Login/Register screen to enter your account is available at the section of this website. Once there, simply enter your previously registered e-mail address and password to track your orders.

An order can only be changed or canceled before it goes to print.

If you have received your order and believe that it is not complete, please review the details of your order to verify that all items have shipped together. Use the toll free number below to contact us with the details of what is missing. To view the details and status of your order, simply login.

800-454-1092

Payment & Billing

SmallBusinessPrinting accepts the following payment methods on our secure site:

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card.

Check or Money Order payments are only available to customers whose banks are located within the United States. Unfortunately, the collection fees associated with drafts drawn on foreign banks restrict us from economically processing the payment.

Please be sure to include your order number on the check or money order to ensure proper processing. Please note that the delivery expectations quoted on our web site are based upon the actual date your order is processed. If you choose to pay by check, your order will be processed once we have verified that your check has cleared.

The sign in screen to enter your account is available at the top section of this website. Once there, simply enter your previously registered e-mail address and password to track your orders.

In the event you have a charge on your credit card statement from Graphics & Printing Network that you do not recognize, please email the statement showing the charge to: accounting@SmallBusinessPrinting.com Attention: Billing Error

Please provide us with a phone number and time that we can contact you. Please do not e-mail your full debit/credit card account information to us, as generally e-mail channels are not secure.

SmallBusinessPrinting does not provide billing at this time. In the event that a credit card payment is not possible, we do accept checks or money orders that are payable in US dollars.

Printing & Production

CMYK printing, also known as 'Process Printing,' is an industry standard method of printing in full color. CMYK actually stands for the four colors used as part of this printing standard. C is Cyan, M is Magenta, Y is Yellow, and K is for 'Key,' which is the description that printers use for Black ink.

RGB refers to the primary colors of light, Red, Green and Blue, that are used in monitors, television screens, digital cameras and scanners. CMYK refers to the primary colors of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. These are the inks used on the press in "4-color process printing", commonly referred to as "full color printing". 

 

The combination of RGB light creates white, while the combination of CMYK inks creates black. Therefore, it is physically impossible for the printing press to exactly reproduce colors as we see them on our monitors. Many programs have the capability to convert the layout/images from the RGB color space to the CMYK color space. We request that you convert your colors from RGB to CMYK if your tools allow you to.

All customer print files are automatically reviewed. The standard review is a precaution that we take to reduce mistakes/reprints. Review includes image resolution, bleeds, font substitution, and color mode. If we find a problem with your file, the order will be placed on hold. Our design staff will contact you to discuss the issue and solution. Note: We do not check for spelling errors.

Yes. We offer 1-2 business day rush printing on selected orders.

Depending on your product - We print with a 200 to 20 micron / 500 Lines Per Inch.

Graphic Design

SmallBusinessPrinting provides a convenient way to purchase custom, 4-color CMYK process printing. If you're uploading a photo, logo or complete design, please refer to the requirements below to ensure success.

 

Acceptable File Formats:
Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) (recommended) 
Adobe Illustrator Artwork 8.01- (.ai) (recommended) 
Adobe Photoshop Image (.psd) (recommended) 
Bitmap Image (.bmp) 
GIF Image (.gif) 
JPEG Image (.jpg, or .jpeg) 
PCX Image Document (.pcx) 
PICT Image (.pic) 
PNG Image (.png) 
PostScript File (.ps) 
Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg, or.svgz) 
TARGA Image (.tga, or .vda) 
Windows Enhanced Metafile (.emf) 
Windows Metafile (.wmf) 

The absolute maximum file size you can upload to SmallBusinessPrinting is 60MB. However, we suggest using the smallest file size possible (while still maintaining image quality) to increase upload speed and to reduce the chance of errors during upload.

 

Resolution
Your images and designs should be saved to 300 DPI at 100% of the dimensions at which they will print to ensure high quality printing results.

 

Color
SmallBusinessPrinting uses the industry standard CMYK 4-color process printing. We print PMS only on selected stationery.

Acceptable File Formats:
Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) (recommended) 
Adobe Illustrator Artwork 8.01- (.ai) (recommended) 
Adobe Photoshop Image (.psd) (recommended) 
Bitmap Image (.bmp) 
GIF Image (.gif) 
JPEG Image (.jpg, or .jpeg) 
PCX Image Document (.pcx) 
PICT Image (.pic) 
PNG Image (.png) 
PostScript File (.ps) 
Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg, or.svgz) 
TARGA Image (.tga, or .vda) 
Windows Enhanced Metafile (.emf) 
Windows Metafile (.wmf) 

The absolute maximum file size you can upload to SmallBusinessPrinting is 60MB. However, we suggest using the smallest file size possible (while still maintaining image quality) to increase upload speed and to reduce the chance of errors during upload.

 

Resolution
Your images and designs should be saved to 300 DPI at 100% of the dimensions at which they will print to ensure high quality printing results.

 

Color
SmallBusinessPrinting uses the industry standard CMYK 4-color process printing. We print PMS only on selected stationery.

For best results, save your artwork to 300 dpi (dots per inch) at the final print dimensions (full bleed size when uploading an entire product design).

Image editing software applications enable you to save your artwork in a format of your choice. In general, saving your file as a high resolution JPEG will help to reduce the size of your file while maintaining relatively high quality of your image when it is printed.

The following are tips for reducing file size using specific application software.
Tips on Image Size Reduction using Adobe Illustrator™

If you are using Illustrator:
1. Flatten the Illustrator file.
2. Open the .ai file in Photoshop at 300 DPI.
3. Save the file as a .psd to upload.
*If your Illustrator file is too large when you open it in Photoshop, this means that you have an object extending beyond the art board. Open the file in Illustrator and make sure NO text or objects go past the black box. Resave the file and go through steps 1-3 again.

Tips on Image Size Reduction using Photoshop:
To decrease size of a Photoshop file, flatten the file. If it is still too large, save it as a .pdf. Select encoding: jpeg. First select #12 quality. Save the .pdf and check the file size. If the file is still too large, try saving it at lesser and lesser quality until it is small enough to upload.

Tips on Image Size Reduction using other programs:
If your file is larger than 5MB, you can try saving it as a PDF, JPEG or TIF format. These file formats compress images in different ways to achieve a smaller file size.
• PDF is a good choice for simple line art.
• JPEG reduces the number of pixels and will work well for photographs that are too large to upload. Experiment with different levels of quality when saving to JPEG to get the best quality possible at an acceptable file size (less than 5 MB).
• GIF compresses files by reducing the number of colours displayed in the image. Therefore, it does not work very well for color photos. It is best for online display.
• TIF is another recommended file format for good quality printing results.

To upload a Publisher file, you must first set up your file to be “printed by a commercial printer” and then save your Publisher file as a PostScript file. We strongly recommend that you complete the following steps, which will help to achieve optimal results in your final printed document.
From the Tools menu in Publisher:

1. Point to Commercial Printing Tools.
2. Click Fonts.
3. Select the Embed True Type Fonts When Saving Publication checkbox.
4. Select the Subset Fonts When Embedding checkbox.
5. Click to clear the Do Not Embed Common System Fonts checkbox.
6. Click OK.

From the Tools menu in Publisher:
1. Point to Commercial Printing Tools.
2. Click Color Printing.
3. Click Process Colors (CMYK) option button (radio button).
4. Click OK.
From the File menu in Publisher:

1. Click Save As.
2. In the Save as type drop-down box, click PostScript.
3. In the File name box, type a name for the file.
4. Click Save. Publisher now displays the Save as PostScript File dialog box.
5. In the Name drop-down box, click the PostScript printer or the appropriate output device. Note: You will need a PostScript printer driver. Publisher comes with a generic PostScript driver called “MS Publisher Color Printer.” You can also download a PostScript printer driver from Adobe.com.
6. Click Advanced Print Settings.
7. Click the Use only publication fonts option button and then click OK.
8. Click printer Properties.
9. Click Advanced.
10. Double-click PostScript Options.
11. Click PostScript Output.
12. In the drop-down box, click Optimize for Portability.
13. Click TrueType Font Download.
14. In the drop-down box, click Outline.
15. Click OK to save changes and to close the dialog box.
16. Click OK on the Advanced Printer Properties dialog box to save changes and to close the box.
17. Click OK on the Print dialog box to save changes and to close the box.
18. Click Save on the Save As dialog box to save the document as a PostScript file.
Your Publisher file is now ready to upload. Please click “Upload Your Files” on our main menu and follow the instructions to upload your file.

Pricing & Product Information

Printing quotes can be obtained by calling us toll-free at 1-800-454-1092. Our hours are 9am to 5pm Pacific Time M-F.

Yes, orders over 25,000 qualify for a high-volume discounts. Please call us toll-free at 1-800-454-1092 to get an exact price. Our hours are 8am to 5pm Pacific Time M-F.

We use both digital and offset printing. All of our premium products are printed using a four-color (CMYK) process. We use state-of-the-art, ink-based presses, resulting in unlimited color combinations and optimum print quality.

Shipping and Delivery

For deliveries within the United States, we generally deliver via UPS. FedEx, DHL, & US Postal Service is also available by special request.

United States and Canada.

At this time we are not able to accommodate such an arrangement. We might make an exception on special circumstances (call us before placing an order).

My Web Account

Yes, only on non coated & matte coated stocks. Our Products are not recommended for pencil, some ball-point pens, or home based ink-jet printers, but 3rd party mail houses should have no problem ink-jetting on our Non Coated or Matte Coated printed items. If you have any concerns, please order a free sample kit first for testing purposes.

The Login/Register screen to enter your account is available at the top section of this website. To obtain your password please enter the e-mail address registered with us. Your password will be sent immediately. If you receive an error stating, "Email ID does not exists," this means that we have no record of a registered user for that e-mail address. You most likely registered using a different e-mail address. If you need to register again, please select: New User

It might be your password. If you know your e-mail address, but have forgotten your password, we will e-mail your password to you. To obtain your password please enter the e-mail address registered with us. Your password will be sent immediately. If you receive an error stating, "Email ID does not exists," this means that we have no record of a registered user for that e-mail address. You most likely registered using a different e-mail address. If you need to register again, please select: New User 

To create an account with SmallBusinessPrinting please click on the link below.

Register New Account

To change your e-mail address with us, please follow the steps outlined below:

Account LogIn
• 1. Sign in to your account
• 2. Click on “Personal Profile.”
• 3. Change your e-mail address in the “E-mail” field.
• 4. Click on the “Update Personal Profile” button at the bottom to update your account.

 

To change your contact details with us, please follow the steps outlined below:


• 1. Sign in to your account
• 2. Click on “Personal Profile.”
• 3. Change the appropriate information.
• 4. Click on the “Update Personal Profile” button at the bottom to update your account.

Printing Glossary

Aqueous Coating

A clear, nontoxic finish used to add brilliance and durability to many products. Aqueous coating is not as durable or glossy as UV coating. 

 

Bandwidth

The amount of information that can be transmitted over a network such as the Internet in a certain amount of time.

Bit

The smallest unit of measuring information on the computer. A single bit can only hold two values, 0 and 1, by combining bits together you can get more information.

Bleed

When an image extends off all four sides of the printed area without a border. If you want the image to extend to the edge of the paper, then we must cut 1/8 inch off the printed original to allow for the tolerance of the printing process. Design full-bleed projects with the cutting process in mind.

 

Border

The area between the edge of the image and the edge of the paper. 

Bundling

In order to receive postal discounts, your mail must be grouped according to postal zone, boxed in special containers according to postal standards. A bar-coded label attached tells the post offices equipment where the mail piece goes.

Bulk Rate

The process of preparing and sorting mail to qualify for reduced postage rates. The lowest postage rates are available if you sort and automate the addresses on your mailing list. Bulk-Rate postage is lower than First-class, but Bulk-Rate has a longer delivery time. 

Byte

A measurement of digital data capable of holding a single charter. 1 byte=8 bits. 

Camera-Ready Art

Originals for a printing job that are prepared such that the printer can scan and print.

CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System)

A service offered to improve the accuracy of address matching. CASS software will diagnose and correct any problems to ensure delivery point is correct.

Coated

Papers that have clay slurry applied to their surface. These papers can range from extremely shiny to very dull. The chief benefit of these papers is that less ink is absorbed into the paper making for brighter colors and greater detail. Glossy papers are all coated papers. 

Cast Coated

A paper coated by a process that creates a very glossy surface on the paper. 

Cheshire

An older but still common way of addressing, computer printouts of each address are made and then fed into a machine which cuts them into individual labels and glues them to each piece. 

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)

The standard color model used in the printing process. These are the colors referred to in "four color printing".

Color Bar

A standard used to compare color accuracy of an image for output.

Color Correction

Adjusting an image to improve overall output color.

Color Separations

The process of separating CMYK into film layers, each layer is than printed separately one on top of the other to give the impression of full color.

Continuous Tone

An unlimited range of color and shades of grays. 

Contrast

An image with light tones (highlights) and dark tones (shadows).

 

Cookie

A message is given to a web browser then stored as a text file called cookie.txt. These files contain information to identify the user.

Copy

Originally newspaper slang, it refers to the words that are used in your design.

Crop

To trim or remove unwanted portions from the image in order to make it the proper proportion for your job. 

Crop Mark

A small mark outside the printed area used to show how a product should be cut.

Direct Imaging

A process where a digital image files is converted into CMYK bitmaps (ripped) and burned directly into the plates by a laser, eliminating the costly and environmentally questionable film step.

Direct-to-Plate

This is a process where no film is used. A job will go direct to plate and then print eliminating an extra step, producing better quality.

Dot Pattern

A series of dots that make up a printed image.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

A measurement of how many dots can fit into one inch. The higher the amount of dots the sharper the image will be.

Duotone

A halftone that prints in two colors to create greater visual interest or more subtle detail and gray tones. 

EPS (Encapsulated Postscript File)

A file format for high-resolution images that is often used when you need to move an image from one program to another.

File Extensions

Three-digit designations at end of a file name that tell the computer what format the file has been saved in. (Examples: .doc, .txt, .pdf, .psd)

File Format

Each different type of file has a different file format. A file format specifies how information is organized. (Examples: .doc, .txt, .pdf, .psd)

Four-Color Process

The process by which full-color photographs and artwork is reproduced. Four halftones --one for each of the primary colors, plus black --are printed one on top of the other, creating the range of color that was in the original. 

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A protocol or method used to tranfer or copy files between computers over the Internet.

 

Grayscale

256 levels of gray from black to white.

 

Halftone

The way that tints or grays are printed is by breaking the solid color down into a pattern of dots so small that they cannot be seen by the unaided eye. When this technique is used to created a uniform area of lighter color, it is called a "screen tint." When it is used to reproduce a photograph it is called a "halftone." 

High Res

The resolution of an image indicates the number of dots per inch (dpi). High resolution is usually anywhere from 300 dpi to 2,500dpi.

 

Imagesetting

A system that takes digital design file and produces film negatives that older processes require to make the printing plates. Sometimes this is referred to as Lino, after one of the first brands of imagesetters. 

Inkjet

A type of printer that works by spraying ionized ink at a sheet of paper. Inkjet printers are capable of producing high quality print resolutions up to 2400 dots per inch. Newer models offer even higher resolutions.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

A file format used for color images. It retains a higher degree of color and files are smaller. Uncompressed JPEG can be used for high-quality printing.

 

Kilobyte (KB)

A measurement of data equal to 1,024 bytes. 

Line Screen

The number of dot lines created per inch, or lines per inch (LPI).

Low Res

The resolution of an image indicates the number of dots per inch (dpi). Low resolution is usually anywhere from 72 dpi to 250 dpi.

LPI

See Line Screen.

 

Mask

This is a process used to delete unwanted areas of an image while maintaining its shape.

 

Match Print

A color proof made from the printing negatives for a four-color process piece. This is the most accurate color proof available for analog presses. 

Megabyte (MB)

A measurement of data equal to 1,024 kilobytes. 

Mockup

A piece that is handmade by the graphic artist to better show you how your finished piece will look. It generally will be folded and bound the exact way it will be done in production. Sometimes also referred to as a "comp".

Moire

An undesirable result in an image when a texture or screen is placed one on top of another. The image will appear fuzzy or wavy.

 

Negative

A reverse of an image created when processing film. Dark areas will appear light and light areas will appear dark.

 

Offset Lithography

Also called Offset Printing it is a process in printing where ink is spread on a plate then transferred to paper by using a blanket and pressing down.

Offset Printing

See Offset Lithography.

PDF (Portable Document Format)

A popular way of formatting documents so they can be viewed and printed on multiple platforms without changing. PDF is a modified Postscript format developed by Adobe as a standard for the web and for printing.

 

Pixel

An image displayed on a computer is made up of lots of dots called pixels. A number of pixels displayed is referred to as the image's resolution.

Plates

A metal sheet of coated material that transfers ink from the printing press to paper.

PMS (Pantone Matching System)

A printing color standard and selection system. This is virtually the universal standard for printing color selection. Most printers have books containing samples of more than a thousand colors and their mixing formulas.