FAQs

ColorCopiesUSA.com is one of the ways in which you can connect and place orders with us.

We are a brick and mortar company, located in Fort Lauderdale, FL with offices and production equipment that you are welcome to visit.

On Demand Online Printing  is the platform that allows both of us to do business online in an efficient way. 

Our platoform allows you to choose from a number of products and services that we offer, it allows you to upload your files, proof them, pay online and expect to receive your order (if it is a physical good) wherever you instruct us to do so.

In order to make this interaction very convenient to you, we have created live preview images, proofing systems and templates that help both of us be on the same page when ordering printing, signage or graphic design services

Online ordering makes it easier for you to place your order and for us, it is easier to understand exactly what you want.

There are situations when the online platform won't be better than a friendly phone call or a person-to-person coordination of jobs, schedules. For most regular needs, ordering online at ColorCopiesUSA is the best way to go. 

Both of us gets documentation and follow-up steps that are easy to track, and makes reordering a breeze.

If you miss our friendly voice on the other side of the phone, of course! Give us a call!

Paper and cardstock are made of fiber.

When you fold paper, you are breaking fibers. Those broken fibers might look like cracks on your fold.

How to prevent 

Most of the most popular printed products have their space in our website. 

We cover the following areas:

• Printing on paper
• Printing on water-proof plastic substrates 
• Direct Mailing Services
• Posters and a Mounted Posters
• Stickers and decals
• T-shirt printing
• Trade Show Booths
• Promotional Items
• Graphic Design Services

ColorCopiesUSA offers a number of very flexible options when it comes to the artwork required for any given job:

When purchasing any product, you will have the opportunity to choose one or more of the options listed below:

1. Custom Design: lets you customize the image in your own terms. Click it to open the Design Studio and use the multiple tools offered there 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, as created by your own artist or source.
    
3. Browse Design: Some products offer a good number of pre-designed templates that you can select and adapt to your required taste. As a matter of fact, there are undreds of pre-loaded templates available for different products. Our Design Studio has the tools for you to replace text, replace graphics and in some casesy it gives you the opportunity to add elements that were not there originally. The use of the Design Studio is free of charge.
    
4. Graphic Design Services: Should you want to have our team of expert graphic artists design a special piece of artwork for your project, you can hire our services for the purpose. On some of the products, you can hire us straight from the product calculator. If the option is not available, please contact us.

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.

Carboness paper to obtain multiple copies while writing with a pen is available in the following formats:

• Standard order for multiple copies 
  • sequences such as
    • white / yellow (2 parts)
    • white / yellow / pink (3 parts)
    • white / yellow / pink / canary (4 parts)
  • Upon custom request we can produce custom color sequences. Custom estimates are needed

ColorCopiesUSA offers a number of standard alternative stocks for use in offset and digital laser printing.

All of the paper that ColorCopiesUSA utilized for its production process is enviromentally friendly and manufactured or beyond the current standards. Be confident on the fact that we care about the environment . 

Please review some additional information published regarding paper

About the size of paper

Choose the right paper

The following are the categories of paper available in our website. Different products and different levels of service will allow to select just some of these. The intention set by this page is to provide a birds-eye of options:

Text Weight Papers - Uncoated  Options

• 20# equivalent to 50# uncoated: Finish is smooth. This one is an entry level paper recommended for one-side printing. The paper is not very dense. Lightweight
   
• Pastel / Bright colors: In the section to order "color copies", a number of pastel soft and bright-colors are offered. The following is a screen shot that comes out of our ordering page: https://www.colorcopiesusa.com/color-copies/
•  
   
• 24# equivalent to 60# uncoated white paper: This is a good option for double-sided printing. It is a thicker paper, smoother fibers and looks and feels perfect for most regular applications, especially if the user is expected to write on the paper.
   
• 28# equivalent to 70# uncoated white paper: This is higher quality paper. There is more body to it, less see-through and will make more elegant documents, especially when the documents are part of manuals, booklets or other projects
   
• 32# equivalent to 80# uncoated white paper: This category of paper is a premium quality. This paper feels important, because of the smoothness and high quality of manufacturing, it allows for very high quality of printing. 
  
   

Specialty Papers -Linen

• Linen textured finishing is offered in white and off-white or cream, often called Natural White. Linen is stylish, and is the perfect stock for higher-end letterhead, business cards, matching envelopes, invitations and other documents that denote a more upscale look and feel. 
   

Text Weight Papers - Coated Options
Coated papers, as opposed to uncoated paper, is only manufactured in white. The color in this paper comes from the pulp in the middle of the paper, and the external coating. 

Because the coating is applied with very smooth rollers, the ink, especially in offset printing, applies very smoothly, does not get absorbed by the fibers and the result is a sharper quality of print. 

• 80# Coated Paper: Available in gloss and matte/semigloss finish:  Used for handouts, data sheets, pamphlets, tri-fold brochures, restaurant menus, photobooks, inside pages of booklets, inside pages of coil, wire or perfect binding books
   
• 100# Coated Paper: Available in gloss and matte/semigloss finish: This is a thicker coated paper 

Cover Weight Stock - Coated Options
As on coated text weight paper, the cover stock has a coated finishing as well. In offset printing, the transparency of the ink produces a nice sharpness in the printing quality and the colors shine beautifully.

• 100# and 80# Cover: These can be both used for covers of booklets, stapled publications, posters, announcement cards, event invitations and more. 100# weight is thicker than 80% cover stock. These two can be used for personal cards, invitations, announcements, covers of books, covers of booklets and perfect bound pieces as well.

Extra Thick Cover Weight Stock - Coated Options

• 14Pt and 16Pt Cover: These can be both used for business cards, postcards, greeting cards, posters and diplomas. The coating on these is in between gloss/semigloss. Coatings such as UV will provide additional gloss to the finishing.

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).

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.

ColorCopiesUSA offers a number of standard alternative stocks for use in offset and digital laser printing.

All of the paper that ColorCopiesUSA utilized for its production process is enviromentally friendly and manufactured or beyond the current standards. Be confident on the fact that we care about the environment . 

Please review some additional information published regarding paper

About the size of paper

Choose the right paper

The following are the synthetic stocks that are available for humidity resistance and tear resistance.:

To increase rigidity, some synthetic stocks can be laminated. Please check with us about  the specifics in your application, since there are numerous materials that we can customly use to satisfy your needs. 

Polyester - Polipropilene stocks

• 8Pt synthetic cover. This makes a great stock for sheets in weather-resistant coil or wire-bound catalogs
   
• 10Pt synthetic cover. This makes a great stock for sheets in weather-resistant coil or wire-bound catalogs
   
• 14Pt synthetic cover. This makes a great stock for covers in weather-resistant coil or wire-bound catalogs
   

Large format printing encompases mostly all products out of which the number of pieces required is very low, and the size goes beyond what can be produced with digital production equipment. 

Large format printing utilizes different printing technologies which in turn need different media, or substrates: 

• Latex-based inkjet methods,
• UV curable inks via injet
• Solvent based printing  inks
• Water based materials.
• Sublimation inks

Some of the media that we use:

• 8pt Photo paper - Semi-Gloss for indoor posters
• 8pt Photo paper - Gloss for indoor posters
• Adhesive vinyl in different thicknesses and finishings
  • from 3mil thick to 6mil thick
  • matte or gloss finish
• Transluscent film for back-illuminated signs
• Polypropilene and/or Polyester smooth films with see-trough blocking technology for trade show signs, retractable banners.
• Polyester-sublimated fabrics for flags
•  Polyester fabrics for table covers, stretchable signs and booths
• 13oz and 15oz scrim banner materials for inexpensive banners, usually with grommets and hems
• Floor graphic anti-slip materials
• Canvas

It is often the case that the media gets mounted on top of one of the following substrates:

• Foamboard in different thicknesses and densities. Borad colors are either white or black.
  • 1/8"
  • 3/16"
  • 1/2"
• PVC boards 1/8" 
• Aluminum substrates for outdoor signage, with/withoug pre-preforated mounting holes

We offer products that print digitally, other on offset presses, and large format.

The most popular color systems are CMYK and RGB

CMYK is the system that creates color by adding ink to create color. Each time you add ink, the less light  gets reflected to the extreme where saturation of ink produces black. By combining specific percentages of dots of one ink or another, our human eye sees color.  It is also known as the four-color-process system

RGB is a color system mainly used in the digital world (screens, projections, etc). It is an additive system where the 3 main light components, Red, Green and Blue get mixed and produce new colors. Because the system deals with light the more light that is combined, the "whiter" the color is.

For Offset Printing we require CMYK files. We might be able to transform  RGB into CMYK but there is always a risk of accidental color shifts, or even the risk of parts and pieces moving. We will send you proofs when in that situation.

For Offset Printing: Design in CMYK, especially for black copy to be sharp (Use k=100 for copy in black)

Posters, and other large format: RGB is acceptable

Sublimated Fabrics: CMYK

Our system support 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.

Different production methods will require different resolutions.

The product description for each product will probably address the requirements, so this is a general guidance:

For Offset Printing: Native CMYK files with a native resolution of 300 dpi (not enlarged files, but original native sizes). PDF files coming out of vecto/raster software such as illustrator, Indesign or Photoshop, making sure that the design is done natively in CMYK

For Large Format Posters: High resolution files, 300dpi or more are preferred. Most of the time, even resolutions of 150dpi might be acceptable for certain use of the large format pieces. Large format posters are viewed from a distance, so the tolerance to resolution varies. Photo quality requires 600 dpi images.

Screen Printing on Shirts and other promo items: Vector files CMYK for full color printing or Pantone colors for one or five-color prints are required since we are all sure that what is called "background noise", which is expressed in printing as tiny patches of color that can hardly be seen on the screen but will affect the real output, are gone.

We use offset printing, which provides the highest quality of print material for both text and images.

The calculators on  our ColorCopiesUSA platform are set to be as accurate as humanly possible. Errors in our platform,  like in any other platform, can always occur, but based on our experience, the prices are very accurate and you can rely on the tool.
Shipping: The shipping charges that the system provides are quite accurate as well. As you well know, the cost of delivery to residential areas (even if you are conducting business in a residence) are higher so be sure to input accurate information on your end.

If you feel that there is an incongruency or if you noticed something very unrealistic, we kindly ask you to let us know by sending an email or by calling us. We thank you ahead of time for taking the time to do so!

The way to know your full price is to  choose a product, add the product to the shopping cart, login (or open a free account) and get to the final stage where you would have to make a decision regarding the delivery service. 

Keep in mind that the pricing reflects setup charges, production time, cost of goods, rush services when requested and arwork revisions when requested.