Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about printing, packaging, signs, apparel, promotional products, mailing, storage, kitting and nationwide fulfillment.
How Can We Help?
Every project is different. These answers cover many of the questions we receive every day. If you don't see exactly what you need, contact us. We handle many custom projects that are not listed on our website.
Ordering & Custom Quotes
Questions about placing orders, quantities, pricing and custom projects.
How do I place an order?
Many standard products can be ordered directly through USPrinting.com. For custom projects, unusual quantities, specialty materials, packaging, fulfillment or projects involving several services, request a custom quote and our team will review the specifications with you.
Can I request a custom quantity that isn't listed online?
Yes. Online quantities are only standard ordering options. We regularly produce custom quantities based on the exact requirements of a project.
What if my project isn't listed on your website?
Send us the specifications anyway. Our website represents only part of what we produce. We handle many custom printing, packaging, signage, promotional, assembly and fulfillment projects that do not fit into a standard online product.
Do you offer volume pricing?
Yes. Pricing normally becomes more economical as quantities increase. For large orders, repeat programs or multiple related products, contact us for project pricing.
Do you offer rush production?
Rush service is available on many products depending on materials, production capacity and finishing requirements. Contact us before placing a time-sensitive order so we can confirm what is realistically possible.
When does production time begin?
Production time generally begins after the order has been approved, required payment has been received, usable artwork has been supplied and any required proof has been approved.
Shipping or delivery time is separate from production time.
Artwork & File Preparation
Preparing files correctly helps us produce the best possible result.
What file format should I send?
A properly prepared print-ready PDF is preferred for most commercial printing projects.
Depending on the project, we may also accept Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, EPS, TIFF and high-resolution image files.
What resolution should my images be?
For most printed materials, images should be approximately 300 DPI at the final reproduction size. Large-format graphics may use different resolution requirements depending on final size and normal viewing distance.
Should my files be CMYK or RGB?
CMYK is generally recommended for commercial printing. RGB files can often be processed, but colors displayed on a monitor may shift when converted to printable CMYK values.
What is bleed?
Bleed is artwork that extends beyond the final cut edge. It prevents unwanted white edges after trimming.
Most standard printed products require approximately 1/8 inch bleed on each side unless different specifications are provided for the product.
Can you work with Canva files?
Yes. Canva designs can often be used. We generally recommend exporting the final design as a high-quality PDF with bleed when appropriate.
Can USP create or fix my artwork?
Yes. Our graphics team can help with file corrections, resizing, layout, prepress preparation and complete design projects. Additional design or file-preparation charges may apply depending on the amount of work required.
Will you check my artwork before printing?
Files are reviewed for basic production issues, but customers remain responsible for spelling, grammar, content, dimensions, dates, phone numbers, pricing, QR codes and other information contained in approved artwork.
Printing & Finishing
Commercial printing, short runs, specialty projects and finishing.
What types of printing do you offer?
We provide commercial digital printing, large-format printing and a wide range of specialty print production. We can also coordinate additional production methods when a project requires them.
Can you handle both small and large quantities?
Yes. Digital production allows us to efficiently handle many short-run projects, while higher-volume production options are available for larger quantities.
Do you offer custom sizes and shapes?
Yes. Many printed and rigid products can be produced in custom sizes and shapes. Depending on the product, we can digitally cut, contour cut, route or die-cut the finished piece.
What finishing services are available?
Available finishing varies by product and may include:
- Cutting and trimming
- Folding
- Scoring
- Perforating
- Lamination
- Binding
- Mounting
- Drilling and hole punching
- Variable-data printing
- Custom assembly and handwork
What is variable-data printing?
Variable-data printing allows information to change from one printed piece to the next without creating a separate print job for every version.
Examples include different names, addresses, numbers, barcodes, QR codes, offers, images or personalized messages on each piece.
Signs, Banners & Displays
Indoor, outdoor, retail, event and trade-show graphics.
What types of signs and large-format graphics do you produce?
We produce banners, posters, window graphics, wall graphics, rigid signs, yard signs, A-frame graphics, decals, vehicle graphics, event displays, trade-show graphics and many other large-format products.
Can you print directly on rigid material?
Yes. Depending on the application, we can print directly to compatible rigid substrates or print graphics and mount them to the selected material.
Can you contour cut signs and displays?
Yes. Our finishing capabilities allow many signs, displays, decals and rigid graphics to be cut into custom shapes rather than only squares and rectangles.
Can you help with trade-show and event materials?
Yes. We can coordinate complete event packages including banners, backdrops, retractable displays, table covers, signs, badges, printed materials, promotional products, apparel and shipping.
Apparel & Promotional Products
Branded apparel, merchandise, gifts and promotional programs.
Do you print custom apparel?
Yes. We offer several apparel-decoration options depending on garment type, artwork, quantity and intended use, including full-color DTF transfers, embroidery and other production methods.
Can you provide the shirts, polos, jackets or hats?
Yes. We can source a wide range of garments and help select appropriate options based on style, quality, budget and use.
Do you offer promotional products?
Yes. We can source and brand a large selection of promotional products, corporate gifts, drinkware, bags, office products, event giveaways and custom merchandise.
Can you create complete employee or customer kits?
Yes. We can combine apparel, printed materials, promotional products and packaging into individual kits, assemble them, store finished inventory and ship kits to one location or directly to individual recipients.
Custom Packaging & Boxes
Printed packaging, prototypes, inserts, assembly and fulfillment.
Do you make custom boxes and packaging?
Yes. We can produce or source custom printed boxes, mailer boxes, corrugated packaging, sleeves, inserts, labels and other packaging components.
Can you help develop a packaging prototype?
Yes. Depending on the project, we can help develop prototypes and short-run samples before moving into larger production.
Can you print, assemble and fulfill the same packaging project?
Yes. This is one of the major advantages of working with USP. We can coordinate printing, packaging, inserts, assembly, kitting, inventory storage and order fulfillment as one integrated project.
Direct Mail & EDDM
Printing, mailing preparation, addressing and postal programs.
Do you provide direct-mail services?
Yes. We can manage printing and mailing as a coordinated project, including list processing, addressing, variable information, sorting and postal preparation when applicable.
Do you offer Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)?
Yes. EDDM can be an effective way for local businesses to reach households in selected postal carrier routes without purchasing an individual mailing list.
Can you help me determine the right mailing program?
Yes. Tell us who you are trying to reach, the geographic area, approximate quantity and objective of the campaign. We can help determine an appropriate printing and mailing approach.
Fulfillment, Kitting & Storage
Inventory management and nationwide order fulfillment.
Do you provide fulfillment services?
Yes. USP provides fulfillment services for businesses that need inventory received, stored, managed, picked, packed and shipped to customers, employees, dealers, stores, events or multiple locations.
Is fulfillment limited to Orange County?
No. Our production and warehouse operation is located in Orange County, California, but our fulfillment programs serve clients and ship orders nationwide.
Can you receive and store products that were manufactured somewhere else?
Yes. Your inventory does not have to be manufactured by USP. We can receive products and materials from your company or other approved suppliers and incorporate them into your fulfillment or kitting program.
Do you provide kitting and assembly?
Yes. We handle projects requiring multiple items to be assembled into finished kits, boxes, promotional packages, employee kits, sales kits, subscription-style packages and other custom configurations.
Can you assemble complicated projects by hand?
Yes. Many fulfillment projects require hand assembly, folding, inserting, labeling, sorting, packing, wrapping or other custom operations. Send us the project details and we can develop an assembly workflow and pricing.
Can you fulfill orders directly to my customers?
Yes. Depending on the program, orders can be shipped directly to individual customers, businesses, retail locations, employees, sales representatives, events or other destinations.
Can you connect fulfillment with an online ordering system?
Yes. Depending on your requirements, we can develop workflows for online ordering, inventory management and fulfillment. Contact us to discuss your current platform and order volume.
Do you charge for inventory storage?
Storage charges depend on the amount and type of inventory, space requirements and fulfillment program. Storage terms are established as part of your quote or service agreement.
Shipping, Delivery & Pickup
Local pickup, parcel shipping, freight and nationwide delivery.
Can I pick up my order?
Yes. Local pickup is available from our Santa Ana, California facility once your order has been completed and you have been notified that it is ready.
Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. We regularly ship printed materials, signs, promotional products, packages and fulfillment orders throughout the United States.
Can you ship to multiple addresses?
Yes. Orders can be distributed to multiple locations. This is especially useful for franchises, retail locations, sales teams, events and corporate programs.
Can you use my UPS or FedEx account?
In many cases, yes. Let us know before the project begins if you would like shipping billed to your own carrier account so we can confirm the appropriate workflow.
Payments, Cancellations & Policies
Important information regarding custom production, balances and stored inventory.
When is payment required?
Payment requirements depend on the project and the customer's approved account terms. Custom production may require a deposit or full payment before production begins.
Can I cancel an order after placing it?
Contact us immediately. Because many products are custom manufactured, an order may not be cancelable once artwork, materials, setup, production or outside purchasing has begun.
Costs already incurred may remain payable even if the final order is canceled.
What happens if an invoice is not paid?
Past-due balances may result in production, release of goods, shipping, fulfillment or other services being placed on hold. Additional charges may apply as permitted by the applicable agreement and our Terms & Conditions.
What happens if storage charges are not paid?
If storage or fulfillment invoices become delinquent, access to inventory and fulfillment services may be suspended until the account is brought current.
What happens to products or inventory that are left at USP?
Customers are responsible for arranging pickup, shipment or continued paid storage of their materials and inventory.
Products, materials or inventory remaining unclaimed for six months may be considered abandoned subject to the applicable service agreement, our Terms & Conditions and applicable law.
Where can I review your complete terms and policies?
Please review our Terms & Conditions for additional information regarding orders, production, payments, storage, customer property and other policies.
Don't See Your Question?
That's okay. A lot of what we do doesn't fit neatly into an online product category. Tell us what you're trying to print, package, assemble, store, mail or ship and we'll help determine the best way to get it done.
FAQs
Preliminaries
Online Printing System is a prepress process that bridges the gap between online digital content and commercial print production. The process allows a print house, a client or a graphic designer to create, edit, and approve computer-based online templates during the prepress phase. This process increasingly calls for a Portable Document Format (PDF) workflow environment with output provided by digital printing.
This solution will make your company run more efficiently and profitably by streamlining your business processes, maximizing your resources and eliminating redundant operations.
Products
USP offers a wide variety of print and promotional products such as graphic design, mailing labels, vinyl stickers, catalogs, banners, calendars, door hangers and raised ink cards.. and so much more. With 10 new products being added every week you are sure to find the right product for you or your business.
There are three options for designing and customizing a product off of our site.
1. Custom Design: lets you customize the products. Click it to open the design studio and use multiple tools to create your own design.
2. Upload Design: using this option, you can upload your own JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, EPS, AI, PDF and PSD images.
3. Browse Design: use this to select hundreds of pre-loaded templates. Work on them or customize them through our design studio.
The paper used for writing/printing (letterheads and such stationery) is generally between 60 to 120 gsm (20 to 70 lb) and is called the paper or text stock. Anything heavier than this is considered the card stock, i.e. the paper used for business cards, postcards, greeting cards, etc.
The type of paper used for difference purposes is expressed in weight. In the countries following the European system, it is grammes per square metre (gsm or g/m2 or simply g) and in the US system it is Pound (lb).
Coated papers are available in two finishes – glossy (shiny and smooth) and matt (flat and lusterless). Coated glossy papers reflect the light evenly so they are suitable for almost all types of printing jobs. Glossy papers have a good ink holdout, which is important for creating sharp, bright images.
Printing
Our system supports RGB (red, green, blue) for producing digital prints. We have accurately mapped color pallet to match RGB to CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key) to ensure proper 4-color printing.
300 dpi (dots per inch) is the resolution of the output PDF file.
We use offset printing, which provides the highest quality of print material for both text and images as well as Digital Printing for faster and more affordable printing.
Pricing
No, the price list indicates basic prices of products against the speculative quantities. The prices are calculated with regard to the most basic paper/card types, sizes and single side printing. As you know, the final printing cost depends on many parameters: paper/card weights or thickness (GSM/Pt), glossy or matt finish, 2 or 4 colors, square or rounded corners, single or double side printing, quantity, destination shipping charges and the mode of transport. Please use the indicative prices for calculating the basic cost. Once you place the order using the above parameters, we will quickly mail you the final, exact cost.
