litho & digital on-line
Greenhills Road
Walkinstown
Dublin
D12 A338
Ireland
Impress Printing Works - Frequently Asked Questions
We are one of Irelands top quality printing companies with over twenty years of expert experience in the print industry and multiple awards to our credit.....we stand over what we produce and it is our reputation for quality and service that keeps our customers returning.
What are the hours of business?
Office hours are from 9am - 5pm, production starts at 6.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Friday. We are open during summer holidays but close for Christmas week.
What printing methods does Impress offer?
A. Digital Printing is the easiest, most widely used consumer level printing for short run printing.
B. Offset Lithography is what most term as commercial printing, ideally suited for larger run orders.
Digital or Litho, still not sure which is right for you?
Summary
Litho; Better image quality and Pantone colour matching.
Digital: Quick turnarounds, consistent colour, personalisation, less waste.
Advantages of Digital
- Shorter turnaround.
- Every print is the same. More accurate counts, less waste and fewer variations due to not having to balance ink and water during press run. Printed image doesn't differ from coated to uncoated.
- Cheaper low volume printing. While the unit cost of each piece may be higher than with offset printing, when setup costs are included digital printing provides lower per unit costs for very small print runs.
- Variable Data Printing is a form of customizable digital printing. Using information from a database or external file, text and graphics can be changed on each piece without stopping or slowing down the press. For example, personalised letters can be printed with a different name and address on each letter. Variable data printing is used primarily for direct marketing, customer relationship development and advertising.
Advantages of Offset
- High image quality.
- Works on a wide range of papers from 45gsm to 600gsm
- The unit cost goes down as the quantity goes up.
- Quality and cost-effectiveness in high volume jobs. While today's digital presses are close to the cost/benefit ratio of offset for high quality work, they are not yet able to compete with the volume an offset press can produce.
- Impress use computer-to-plate systems as opposed to the older computer-to-film work flows, further increasing quality.
Digital or Litho, Still Not Sure Which is Right for You?
Use this checklist to help decide:
- Quantity. Offset printing has a front-end cost load. Short runs may have a high unit cost but as quantities increase the unit cost goes down with offset printing. Very short runs can be much more cost effective with digital printing; while larger quantities are likely to have a lower unit cost with offset printing.
- Printing medium. Do you need or want a special paper, finish or unusual printing surface, or unique size? The options are increasing continually for digital, but offset printing still offers the most flexibility.
- Colour. Digital presses use four-colour process printing. If you need only black ink or one or two ink colours, offset printing may offer a more cost-effective solution. If you need four-colour printing, digital may offer advantages in lower up-front costs.
- More on colour. If you're planning to print using the Pantone® Matching System, offset printing will give you the best match, since it uses actual Pantone® ink. Digital printing simulates the colour using a four-colour matching process, so some digital printers may offer less accurate colour matching on projects.
- Turnaround. If you need it fast, digital usually offers quicker delivery.
- Proofing. Digital offers accurate proofs since you see an actual sample of the printed piece. Accurate colour proofing for offset printing can be expensive.
- Customisation. Without question, digital printing offers the most affordable way to customise marketing materials, direct mail pieces, letters, etc.
What types of paper do you offer?
Coated gloss, coated silks and coated matt. All uncoated ranges from smooth to embossed and all papers are FSC certified, except where 100% cotton papers are being used.
How long does it take to complete my printing?
Allow 24 hours for digital printing, leaflets and flyers can be the same day service if we receive files by 8am. Litho printing is usually 1-3 days depending on the stock chosen, ink on uncoated paper takes longer to dry.
In order to meet tight delivery deadlines we use our own transport for Dublin deliveries and a guaranteed next day service for country runs. UK and mainland Europe deliveries are normally completed in 2-3 days.
What size files can you accept?
For files under 12MB you can email directly to your account manager or info@impress.ie but for larger files go to Client Services at the top of the web page and select Upload files.
What file types do you accept?
Ideally high resolution print ready PDF's in single pages with 3mm bleed and offset cut marks. Our planning software will place the pages in the pagination we require. We also handle files from programmes including Quark, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher. We have up-to-date programmes for both Apple Macintosh and PC operating systems.
Firstly create an account in "Client Services" at the top of the website, then you have an option to create a credit account and responses will take 24 hours. First orders must be paid for in full before work commences.
Yes all major credit cards are accepted including American Express over the phone and through the website.
We really do care about the environment and we were one of the first printers in Ireland to invest in chemical free plate making, we also recycle all paper and board waste. We only use FSC certified paper and we see ourselves as an environmentally responsible company.
All of the paper options offered on this site are manufactured from responsibly managed and sustainable sources and are FSC certified.
Coated Papers
All silk and gloss coated papers are triple coated both sides
Perfect Binding (requires minimum spine of 3mm)
Perfect binding is a method of soft cover bookbinding using a hot melt EVA glue (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) which sets quickly.
Advantages: Sets quickly and books can be trimmed immediately. Relatively inexpensive form of binding.
Disadvantages: Spine can break if forced flat and pages will come away.
Ideally suited to weights up to 150gsm, heavier weights should be PUR bound or Thread sewn.
PUR Binding (requires minimum spine of 3mm)
Similar to Perfect binding PUR Stands for PolyUrethane Reactive binding. It is used on jobs that require greater binding strength.
Advantages: Stronger bind than conventional hot melt glues. Bound books open flatter than standard hot melt.
Disadvantages: It takes at least 24 hours to cure and text pages should be no more than 170gsm in weight. It costs more than standard hot melt glue.
Case Binding (Hard back books)
A book bound with a stiff 2mm cover that is covered by fabric or other material that can include a printed sheet.
Advantages: Books last longer and give a professional finish to your publication.
In case binding, most often used in book production, a minimum of 60 printed sheets are folded into 16 or 32-page signatures, which are collated and sewn by machine.
The sewn edges are coated with glue. Then a strip of gauze adheres to the document's spine. Finally, the book and its covers are placed in a casing-in machine, which pastes the endpapers and fits the cover.
Disadvantages: Expensive and time consuming.
The name comes from the device or saddle on which the folded signatures are placed for stitching - with the saddle in the fold.
Advantages; Books / booklets open flat; Most economical form of binding.
Disadvantages; Limited to number of pages from 48 to 60 depending on paper weight. Creep occurs on fore edge and is more noticeable in books with larger number of pages.
Binds a document firmly in place by a double-loop metal wire inserted through holes punched in the binding edge.
Advantages: All of the document's pages lie flat when opened and can turn easily through 360 degrees, ideal for manuals.
Disadvantages: Expensive for larger runs, the wire can look unsightly.
Plastic spiral binding (also known as or plastic coil binding) is available in up to 45 coil colours in any length and a range of diameters between 6mm and 33mm.
Plastic spiral binding is a single piece of plastic wound through holes punched at 4:1 (4 per inch). The end is bent over and locked in place. Spiral binding is a practical and durable way to bind 'heavy use' items such as road atlases, educational publications and children's books
Singer Sewing is sewing a block of loose sheets on one edge.
Advantages: Large choice of thread colours. Visually appealing.
Disadvantages: Limited to a maximum book thickness of 4mm. Thread can unravel over time, although a back stitch can prevent this. Expensive form of binding, the unit cost is the same for short and long runs.
Perfect Binding (minimum spine of 3.5mm)
Perfect binding is a method of soft cover bookbinding using a hot melt EVA glue (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) which sets quickly.
Advantages: Sets quickly and books can be trimmed immediately. Relatively inexpensive form of binding.
Disadvantages: Spine can break if forced flat and pages will come away.
More info:
Unlike some binding processes that require sewing the pages into the spine of the book, perfect binding requires no sewing at all. Instead, a water-resistant adhesive is used to hold the pages in place by attaching them to the cover of the document.
The actual process of perfect binding involves aligning the individual pages of the book so that they form a perfect stack. While the stack is held in a clamp the pages are then roughened and glued together along the binding side of the stack. Once the process of gluing the pages together is completed, a second application of glue is used to secure the cover to the collection of pages. When finished, perfect binding creates a clean look with a flat spine and text pages should be no more than 150gsm in weight. The lighter the paper weight the stronger the binding.
PUR Binding (minimum spine of 3.5mm)
Similar to Perfect binding PUR Stands for PolyUrethane Reactive binding. It is used on jobs that require greater binding strength.
Advantages: Stronger bind than conventional hot melt glues. Bound books open flatter than standard hot melt.
Disadvantages: It takes at least 24 hours to cure and text pages should be no more than 170gsm in weight. It costs more than standard hot melt glue.
More info:
PUR is a hot melt adhesive similar to EVA hot melts, but the adhesive is manufactured with polyurethane reactive material (PUR). As the adhesive product dries a natural chemical reaction occurs after the glue is exposed to moisture in the air. The result of the chemical reaction creates a superior bond within the fibres of the paper giving the product a greater pull and flex strength. In the past, PUR was used primarily for binding difficult products, such as highly coated stocks or products that would be exposed to extreme temperature ranges. Unlike other binding methods, it lies flat when open; crossover images are more accurate also.
Case Binding (Hard back books)
A book bound with a stiff 2mm cover that is covered by fabric or other material that can include a printed sheet.
Advantages: Books last longer and give a professional finish to your publication.
Disadvantages: Expensive and time consuming.
More info:
In case binding, most often used in book production, a minimum of 60 printed sheets are folded into 16 or 32-page signatures, which are collated and sewn by machine.
The sewn edges are coated with glue. Then a strip of gauze adheres to the document's spine. Finally, the book and its covers are placed in a casing-in machine, which pastes the endpapers and fits the cover.
Saddle Stitching (Staples)
The name comes from the device or saddle on which the folded signatures are placed for stitching - with the saddle in the fold.
Advantages; Books / booklets open flat; Most economical form of binding.
Disadvantages; Limited to number of pages from 48 to 60 depending on paper weight. Creep occurs on fore edge and is more noticeable in books with larger number of pages.
More info:
The number of pages that can be bound using saddle-stitching is limited by the bulk of the papers. The larger the number of pages, the greater the amount of creep (inner pages that extend or creep further out than the outer pages when folded) which occurs on the fore edge (the edge opposite the spine). Where using a large number of pages avoid page numbers and margins on fore edge.
Wire-O Binding
Binds a document firmly in place by a double-loop metal wire inserted through holes punched in the binding edge.
Advantages: All of the document's pages lie flat when opened and can turn easily through 360 degrees, ideal for manuals.
Disadvantages: Expensive for larger runs, the wire can look unsightly.
More info:
Wire is available in different colours. There are options to hide the wire of a finished book by binding to an extra flap on the cover, see http://blueskywirebinding.co.uk/wire_binding_styles.html
Spiral Binding
Plastic spiral binding (also known as or plastic coil binding) is available in up to 45 coil colours in any length and a range of diameters between 6mm and 33mm.
Plastic spiral binding is a single piece of plastic wound through holes punched at 4:1 (4 per inch). The end is bent over and locked in place. Spiral binding is a practical and durable way to bind 'heavy use' items such as road atlases, educational publications and children's books
Singer Sewing
Singer Sewing is sewing a block of loose sheets on one edge.
Advantages: Large choice of thread colours. Visually appealing.
Disadvantages: Limited to a maximum book thickness of 4mm. Thread can unravel over time, although a back stitch can prevent this. Expensive form of binding, the unit cost is the same for short and long runs.
More info;
Position of thread must be between 8mm and 10mm of binding edge. The thread must be Nylon Bonded 40 SLV.
We print Process (CMYK), Spot colours (Pantone), Metallics, Fluorescent inks. Special mixes are made to order.