33-Point Print Check - What Makes Us Different

Quality . Precision . Experience
33 checkpoints for printing perfection. It’s part of what we do to help make your business brilliant!

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Before we print

Before we print, we review the details about your job, create the print-ready file and double-check for anything that might be a problem.

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How we
print & finish

During printing, we pull printed examples to review for color alignment, ink density and other quality-ensuring measures. Depending on the product, we then wait for the ink to dry before final cutting.

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Before we ship

Before we ship, we review the details of your job again for accuracy prior to packing it, sealing it and sending it along to you.

Before we print

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Artwork

Verify artwork resolution
Confirm artwork size
Check bleed and safety zones
Check and convert color mode
Make sure there is no unintentional color overlap

Output

Ensure the right ink density
Check the order plating process
Inspect order output

Specs and requirements

Verify that the artwork matches the order specs
Double-check order specifications.
Check for after-printing requirements

Errors and Issues

Manually check the design for errors
Electronic checking

Verify artwork resolution

We see to it that the artwork meets the recommended resolution of at least 300 dpi. Low-resolution files will display obvious pixelation. However, uploading artwork with resolutions higher than 300 dpi will not improve print quality. It will only make the file size larger to process.

Confirm the artwork size

Uploaded artwork should have the same size as the order specs. If there is a difference, we will notify you so you can upload a new file with the same specs as your order.

Check bleed and safety zones

Important design elements should be within the safety zone to prevent them from being cut off after printing. If your artwork has a background, it should extend beyond the bleed to avoid the appearance of unwanted gaps after printing.

Verify that the artwork matches the order specs

This is a quick check to see if the artwork specifications are the same as the ones in your invoice.

Check and convert color mode

Images should be created in CMYK for accurate color printing. However, some files are created in RGB. In this case, we will convert the color mode for free to CMYK and check for major color shifts after conversion.

Make sure there is no unintentional color overlap

Overprinting is the process of printing one color over another. This makes the printed artwork look different from the one you designed. Checking for overprints ensures that the colors in your artwork do not mix with another color by mistake.

Check for after-printing requirements

If your order includes finishing (e.g., scoring, foiling, lamination, spot UV, or folding), our team will check your file to see if is included in the design.

Manually check the design for errors

Our team will make sure that your file is print-ready before it goes to printing. We will check colors, text placement, images, and transparencies. Spelling checks are excluded in this inspection.

Electronic checking

Our team will run another series of checks to fix any issue that may have been missed during the human inspection. Using preflight software, we can flag artwork issues and fix them. If the problem requires action, we will send the file back to you with our recommendations.

Ensure the right ink density

Laying too much ink on paper could lead to smudging. Using the right ink density allows printed designs to dry faster and prevent smearing.

Double-check order specifications

We will do a final human-led inspection to see if your order matches your file.

Check the order plating process

We will check that all marks (e.g., trim lines, color bars, etc.) are included before printing begins.

Inspect order output

We will print a small batch to check if the printed artwork quality is acceptable. This allows us to spot check errors before printing a large batch.

Perfecting the Printing Process

Next: How we print & finish

Pro tips #1

Preparing your file for printing

Match the page size in your document with the paper size on which it will be printed. If you have color backgrounds or images that extend to the edges, make sure you have a 1/8” (.125) bleed around all edges.

Check that images and graphics have a high resolution: about 300dpi.

Check color settings: make sure your document and images are set to CMYK (not RGB).

Export / Save As a PDF: choose “High Quality, Print”, no image compression, uncheck “optimize for fast web preview” and embed all fonts.

How we print & finish

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Color

Ensure all color levels are correct
Ensure proper color registration
Examine color density
Compare the printed product to the original artwork for color fidelity

Paper and Printing

Check proper bleed
Verify paper stock
Check the press sheet for inconsistencies
Review the printed proof to confirm that the artwork is printed correctly
Continuously inspect the product during printing
Check the quantities to prin
Verify all sheets are cut accurately

Errors

Look for any imperfection and error in the printed sheet
Check product quality
Double-check the correct positioning of elements

Ensure all color levels are correct

As your project is printing, our team scans the printed artwork for color consistency. Using the closed-loop color system, we can make automatic adjustments to the colors and ensure that is true to your design.

Continuously inspect the product during printing

This helps ensures consistent quality and allows us to fix errors as we go.

Examine color density

We check each printed sheet for proper ink trapping, correct color breaks, and color consistency.

Compare the printed product to the original artwork for color fidelity

This ensures that colors are printed in the same hue and that all design elements are printed exactly the way you want them.

Ensure proper color registration

We check each color to ensure that they overlap precisely. This prevents images from looking blurred and having white spaces in areas where there should be color.

Double-check the correct positioning of elements

We make sure that all images, cuts, and scores are included in the printed product.

Check proper bleed

Before we print your project, we will run another check to see if there are any text or images that might be trimmed off.

Verify paper stock

Our team will check the weight, color, brightness, and texture to ensure that it is the same stock that you specified in your order.

Check the press sheet for inconsistencies.

Our team will look at each image, text, and other design elements to make sure they are consistent with your design.

Review the printed proof to confirm that the artwork is printed correctly

We check for inconsistencies in pagination, text placement, font conversion, and other possible issues. We also inspect the printed product for missing elements and unintentional copy changes.

Check the quantities to print

We will compare order specifications against the actual copies printed.

Look for any imperfection and error in the printed sheet

Before we trim your product to its actual size, we will check the printed sheets for any blemishes, mottling, pinholes, and other flaws.

Verify all sheets are cut accurately

We will check and trim the bleeds before cutting your project to its final size

Check product quality

Before moving to the next stage, your artwork will go through a human-led inspection to manually spot and fix errors, if there are any.

Printing and Finishing Excellence

Next: Before we ship

Pro tips #2

Avoiding the “Size” mistake

Here are some simple, yet often overlooked, steps to make sure you’re making the correct product-size decisions:

When designing--especially for smaller products like 1” stickers or smaller labels--always make sure you review your work at actual size (or 100%) instead of always zoomed in.

After opening your PDF proof, it’s important to double-check that you are viewing at 100%.

When printing your PDF proof at home, here again, double-check you are printing at actual size (do not “fit to page” or “fit width” or “fit height”).

Before we ship

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Quality Assurance

Run quality checks at every stage in production
Conduct final inspection before we ship your product

Packaging

Find the right packaging for the order
Verify the delivery address and shipping mode

Specs and requirements

The shipping clerk will check the orders and sign shipping documents
Provide real-time tracking

Run quality checks at every stage in production

Our trained Quality Assurance specialist will run several checks—from prepress to printing—to ensure that all products are up to standard.

Conduct final inspection before we ship your product

The final inspection will help us identify issues and allow us to fix them before we ship out the order.

Find the right packaging for the order

The boxes we use for delivery will depend on the number of products to ship. As an eco-friendly printing company, we use mostly recycled boxes to ship our products. This helps us pass on our savings from manufacturing and printing to our customers.

Verify the delivery address and shipping mode

We will double-check customer’s information and order specifications to ensure that the orders are correct and that they will arrive on time.

The shipping clerk will check the orders and sign shipping documents

To ensure accuracy, all shipping documents will be checked and signed off before shipping.

Provide real-time tracking

Customers will know when their order ships without going to different shipping websites.

Quality Assurance for Shipping Success

Next: Let's Get Started

Pro tips #3

Your personal or business printer might not be accurate!

Many home & business printers have additional ink cartridges that are designed for printing incredibly vibrant photographs using highly-specialized papers. These types of processes and papers do not really exist in professional printing.

What can you do?

Paper has a lot to do with how ink dries or is absorbed. For brighter, more vibrant color, choose a gloss paper and for more muted, subtle color, choose a matte paper. If color accuracy is vital, as an additional service, we can ship a physical “hard-proof” that best represents the expected color of the final printing.

1,000,000+ business professionals trust us with their printing.

Kevin Brutacro, Ho

Hopland, CA

“Great quality, I know what to expect when item is printed and shipped. Easy to use interface, I love the custom product builder tool. Work was immaculate, meticulous and delivered on time. We have never gone to any other printer.”

Ryan De La Cruz

Yorba Linda, CA

"UPrinting has become our go-to printer. Their prices are competitive, and have helped us meet important deadlines. Even better, UPrinting offers custom printing dimensions ."

Mary Halstead

Graphic Designer Chester, SC

“The quality was always perfect. Working with the technical team always provided the best possible, crisp, clean printing.(The) Work was immaculate, meticulous and delivered on time.

Our 33 + your 3...the equation for achieving brilliance

While it doesn’t take a whole village to raise a retail box, print a poster, build a banner or create a business card, it does require a few things on your end to make sure your work comes out, you know, Brilliantly! We have our checklist...here’s yours:

Typo’s and grammar

Nowadays, spell check and real-time grammar suggestions are built into most applications. There are also many free, third-party apps and browser plugins to choose from as well. And hey, there are also coworkers, friends and family members too!

Double- and triple-check your files
Don’t forget to review phone numbers, email addresses and social links as well.

Know the difference: RGB & CMYK

Most of us non-pro photographers take photographs in RGB mode. Images in RGB are bright and vibrant on digital screens (like our phones) but can sometimes slightly lose a bit of the luster when converted to CMYK for printing. If you’re new to printing, you should definitely read the article we link to below.

What is RGB-to-CMYK color conversion?
If you’re not familiar with it--or not sure why you can’t print in RGB--this article will help explain.

Image resolution: how to be print-ready

Images require a higher resolution to look great when printed. But what if you don’t have a large image? Image Upscaling to the rescue. There are plenty of free, resolution-enhancing tools you can search for and use online. Unfortunately, we can’t upscale images for you.

Getting printable images: what is image upscaling?
Check out our article to learn more about what it is, how it works & where you can go to use it.

We’ve expanded into Custom Packaging

To support the incredible shift of small businesses selling products online, we expanded our offerings to include a the robust Boxes & Packaging category.

You can customize mailer boxes, product boxes, shipping boxes, pouches, packaging tape, sleeves, shipping labels, tissue paper, and gift bags with more products and features coming to help you deliver your products in brilliant style.

We built an online 3D packaging Design Studio

Click, drag, open, close, flip, rotate and zoom...all the easy 3D-preview features you’ll need to brilliantly design and build your custom mailer, product boxes and shipping boxes.

Cool pro tip: in the Design Studio, add ‘Inside Printing’ and print a bright color or pattern (or both) on the inside of the box for a punchy product reveal!

Introducing Apparel & Promo: Calling all logos!

Need a swag box? Branded sweatshirts or jackets with your logo for your office? How about a branded totebag for your next tradeshow takeaway? If you have a logo, we have the products to put it on!

From tumblers to trucker hats to notepads to Nike and The North Face jackets, we expanded even further into Apparel & Promo.

Brilliant branding from the office to the outdoors!

Check out this article for more information on our eco-friendly and sustainable printing practices.