General Printing Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer any discount for freelance designers and traders?
The prices on our website are the lowest we can offer, we supply an end user product and as such offer prices that are competitive for that market. Unfortunately the prices advertised are trade prices! However if your looking to place a bulk order you can request a total discount.
Do your prices include artwork?
Unless stated all products advertised are strictly for printing only. However we do offer a professional design service, so if you need help touching up an existing design or want something done from scratch we can definitely help! Our fees are competitive for the level of work we offer. All we need off you is a design brief and we’ll do the rest! To view our artwork rates click here Do you offer payment on account like a 30 day credit term?
Unfortunately we do not offer a credit term policy and full payment must be made on ordering. We will not process any design or print work until full payment has been made.
What payment methods do you accept?
Our checkout is powered by Paypal, which is a secure online payment terminal. You can pay with MasterCard, Visa, Switch, Maestro, Solo, Visa Electron, Delta. Contact us if you would like to pay by Online Bank Transfer.
Do you offer price match?
For most products we will offer to beat any genuine written like for like quote.
Is my information secure?
Absolutely, we only collect information and data for enquiries and order processing. We never share this information with any other company or third party.
What happens if I cancel my order?
All order cancellations must be put forward to us in writing. Any costs incurred for work already commenced up to the date of receiving notification will be chargeable. There will be an admin fee of £30 and a 5% charge for the total value of the original order before refund can be issued. For information on our refunds policy click here Artwork Informations
What artwork formats do you accept?
Files must be supplied as: PDF, CDR, EPS, AI, or PSD.
What do you mean by print ready artwork files?
Print ready artwork is files that have been optimised to suit commercial printing requirements using appropriate design programmes. This also means they require NO adjustments by our designers and can be sent straight to print.
Can I supply my own print ready design files?
We happily accept print ready artwork files. The general rule for supplying your own artwork files is as follows: ARTWORK PROVIDED BY YOU 1. Please download our bag template and design your artwork to correct size. 2. On our template please insert your company logo and preferred text in one solid colour only (no gradients). 3. Collect and convert your logo and text into outlines or flattened (click here to see how to do it) 4. Save this file in preferred PDF format and send it to our email address at sales@brandedtape.co.uk 5. We only accept Vector Formatted Artwork: PDF, CDR, PSD, AI, EPS. 6. Colour needs to be set as CMYK nor RGB Please note: we can not use low quality jpg files from website etc. If you need more information please check our ARTWORK GUIDE. Want us to prepare your artwork? No problem! Click here for more informations. Do you print in RGB, Pantone or CMYK?
All our print production is done using CMYK colours not RGB or Pantone with the exception of printed carrier bags as they are printed using solid pantone colours.
What are Pantones?
The Pantone Colour Matching System is a standardised colour reproduction system used around the World. Pantone is the name of the brand but can also be used to describe one of the colours within the system. An example of this would be Pantone 485 (which is the bright red used by Coca Cola & McDonalds) By standardising the colours, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colours match without direct contact with one another. This means that if you had some branded boomerangs printed in Australia and some super cool clogs printed in the Netherlands the colour will hopefully come out exactly the same.
Can you colour match?
Whilst we make every effort to match to your Pantone due to variations in material and printing processes used we cannot guarantee a perfect colour match. Where we feel the colours may not be well replicated we will let you know and advise any changes that could be made. Pantone colours will always look different from monitor to monitor depending on your settings
What is 'origination'?
Origination is the cost of setting up our printing process; it is a single fee that covers the transfer or your artwork and any other printing costs.
What is your minimum order quantity?
Our minimum order quantities are based on technical aspects of our production process’ and our attempts to keep unit prices down for consumer benefit. In some cases we can arrange an order of less than the stated minimum on our website but this is not always possible.
How should I supply my artwork?
For screen printing, screen print transfers, vinyl transfers, embossing, etching or engraving we’ll need a vector version of the logo. This could be an AI (Illustrator file), an EPS file or a PDF. It does however need to be a vectorised AI, EPS or PDF. If you have a bitmap image such as a JPG you will not be able to simply save that as a EPS/PDF/AI file as it will still be a bitmap image. Bitmap images are flat which means they are not easily editable and we cannot separate one colour from another. Vector files are fully editable and we can do what we want with them, drag things over here, make this bit white, convert it to 2 colours, scaled up without loss of quality and more. This makes them great for logos and illustrations.
We only have a JPG of our logo, is that going to work still?
If you’re opting to screen print, screen print transfer, vinyl transfer, emboss, etch or engrave we won’t be able to use this in its current format. We’d need a vector version of the artwork. First of all it’s worth asking if anyone from your marketing or web design team might be able to help. Alternatively you could speak to the person who designed the logo originally. If that’s not possible there might have a PDF containing a vector version of the logo. This could be a presentation PDF that you use, a newsletter, an application form or any other PDF that features the logo. If you are still having no luck we do provide an artwork redrawing service although this does come with an artwork charge. This charge varies depending on the complexity of the logo but we can add this to the quote once we’ve had a look at what’s involved.
I emailed through some artwork and you replied saying that the fonts haven’t been converted to outline. What does that mean?
We have lots of fonts on our computers and some saved on our server but we don’t and can’t have them all. There are tens of thousands of fonts and more are created on a daily basis. If you are using a font which we don’t have it means when we open that on our computer the text doesn’t know what to do so it reverts to a default ordinary boring font instead.
How to convert my artwork into outlines/vectors?
However if you working in Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign you can convert this font to outline. This basically means they are transforming the artwork from text into image. Once the text has been converted to outline and sent to us it retains its shape and look’s exactly how it is intended to look. You can outline the font in one of the aforementioned programmes simply be selecting the artwork in question and pressing CTRL + SHIFT + the letter ‘O’ on their keyboard, resaving the file and emailing back to us.
I’ve purchased a product with artwork, when do I see a design proof?
You can expect to see a design proof within 1 – 3 working days of submitting a detailed design brief. The proof can either be emailed or viewed at our business premises. Design time will be longer for complex or large design projects, please get an estimate before ordering.
I want you to do the artwork but what if not I’m not happy with the design?
To avoid unnecessary hiccups it is important you provide a detailed brief including all content / images so we can do the design according to your specification. Our prices do not include multiple design concepts, we will only provide one concept. However we will happily provide unlimited minor revisions to the design concept until you are completely satisfied but not a complete redesign.
I need a logo, what are your rates and do your artwork charges include logo design?
All artwork rates exclude logo design unless it is a very simple text design using basic fonts. Our custom logo design rates start from £70, however to determine an exact quote please email sales@brandedtape.co.uk with exact design requirements. Alternatively you can fill in our custom online quote form by clicking here Will my print order match what I see on my computer monitor?
There will usually be close match between the final print and what’s viewed on your computer screen or printed from on own desktop printer. However, because of different technologies and wide variations in calibration used by each of these devices there may be some differences in colour.
I’m confused, what is the difference between Screen Print / Flexographic Printing?
Screen print technology allows files to be sent to print with making plates, making this option economical for short run orders (1 – 1000) that are required in a hurry. Flexo graphic printing not only involves making set up plates, the process also means the inks do not dry as quickly. This method of printing is suitable for large volume orders (3000 – 100,000) whereby colour consistency and long economy is to be achieved.
Do you archive all design files for future reprints?
Any design work done by us are safely stored for a period of 4 years for future edits and reprints. However design files supplied by customers are kept for a duration of 30 days after order completion.
Delivery informations
Do you offer express print?
We will always endeavour to complete your order as soon as possible, however production times provided have to take into consideration the printing, plates production, drying and finishing. Therefore, if a same day or 24 hour printing service is not mentioned we will not be able to offer it. If other suppliers are offering this service, do make sure you check the print quality as insufficient drying time may smudge and damage prints!
How long will my order take for printing?
Our lead times vary on all of our products and are quoted as being from your approval of artwork proofs. Lead times may also vary depending on the time of year as seasonal items become popular and we are forced to allocate all of our orders on a first come-first served basis. Estimated lead-times are provided with all products. If you need your order for a particular date do let us know prior to ordering. Usually we will produce your order within 14 working days.
When can I expect delivery?
Our delivery dates are estimated from artwork approval in the case of printed items and from receipt of payment on plain stock. Note that these are not from the date of your initial enquiry or order confirmation. If you have a specific date in mind for delivery then please let our sales team know before you place an order so that they can find out if we are able to make your date.
Will I see how my order is going to look prior to production?
Yes, we always send a PDF/JPG visual for your approval. This will show the position of your artwork, the colours, print areas and the dimensions of the product and artwork. We realise that sometimes a visual can turn out a little different than expected. All our visuals can of course always be amended if there are any alterations to be made to ensure everything is a-okay before going ahead.
Do you offer International shipping?
For some of our products we can offer International shipping, please contact us prior to ordering to find out the products that qualify. To determine the cost we will require the full postal address.
Do your prices include free delivery?
Free delivery is only applicable with those products advertised. Our delivery charges are competitive and for most products we do offer a free collect in-store service.
Can I change my delivery address after I’ve ordered?
For undue delays we strongly recommend that you check your delivery destination carefully as it is very difficult to change this once order has been placed. With the volume of orders we process each day, it is very costly and time consuming to adjust these details after confirmation. If you have made an error, you can put a request to amend but please be aware majority of the time your request may be declined.
