Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I use 2,500 to 3,000 copies of my company’s handbook each year. How many copies should I order at one printing?
A. Because the price of printing must include setup or makeready charges, the cost per unit goes down as the quantity increases. The cost per unit is only one of the considerations, however.
The most economical number to orders is determined by a number of factors including your cost of inventory space, cost of being out-of-stock, even the cost of having your money tied up. We can help you analyze these costs and show you ways to reduce some of them.
The most difficult cost to determine is often the cost of obsolescence. If the other considerations are minor and your handbook won’t change for a year or two, a year’s supply is frequently used as a convenient order quantity.
Q. How long does it take to get a job printed?
A. Today’s technology makes almost anything possible, but we prefer to ask, "What is practical and what does the customer need?" We routinely produce jobs in five working days. Extra time should be allowed for a new customer to work through all the details that insure a smooth relationship. Extra time is also needed for proofs. If the customer needs the fastest possible delivery, three days is possible, but that requires prior planning.
Q. How can I estimate what a job should cost?
A. We can produce a quote for you in a couple of hours. There is no simple method, however, for a publisher to calculate what printing should cost. There are many different kinds of machinery used in the printing business. Many are capable of doing the same job, at different prices. The result is pricing that can vary by more that one hundred percent from one printer to another. Since we specialize in short run publications, we use the machinery that is most efficient for our work. Hence, lower prices.
Q. I just purchased a PC and Page Maker. Once I learn how the program works, will I need anything else?
A. There are many rules that guide good layout. Without an overall design, a publication can look like a bunch of "ransom notes". The number and selection of type faces is critical for a professional appearance. We’ll be happy to offer some guidance.
Q. Do you use recycled paper?
A. Yes, our "house sheet" is 20% recycled. If a customer requests a specific kind of paper, we can check the availability at several different suppliers. One will certainly be able to deliver the required stock.
Q. What kinds of original artwork can be used in publications?
A. We can accept color or black and white photographic prints or slides, digital photographs, original drawings or paintings. Original artwork can be created digitally by an application such as Illustrator or digital files can be created by scanning artwork.
Q. What application files can you use?
A. Our list of applications is continually being updated. A customer service representative can tell you if we can work directly with your application files. However, most applications allow files to be saved as postscript files with a .ps or .prn extension or as an Acrobat file with a .pdf extension. These files can be used by our systems without the application program that was used to create them.
Montrose Publishing Company, Inc.
10 South Main St.
Montrose, PA 18801
1-800-782-5474 (800 PUBLISH)
Phone 570-278-1141
Fax 570-278-3299