Michelle Peck – Imaging Center

Business Card Printing & Cutting

New in Fall 2022! The IC can now cut standard-sized business cards! Students can submit one business card (front and back), and let us know how many they need. The Imaging Center can gang them up on a larger sheet and cut them with a machine so they are exact.

The business card template is available for download under our template page. This template allows the IC to do the heavy lifting and cut the cards for you!

There is an added charge of $3 dollars (fall 2022 pricing) for this service. There is not currently a print minimum, subject to change. If you order more than 240 cards or more, we will box them up for you for no additional charge.

The Process

The IC has created a standard-sized business card template that allows us to cut your business cards. In order to have your order cut, we require your full cooperation to prepare the file correctly. The IC is not liable for reprints if you fail to follow any of these directions.

Our InDesign template is specific to the way that the IC process, prints, and applies the cutting to your order.

Using a template downloaded from another website will not work. This particular InDesign template is fine-tuned to the millimeter to work with our printing software and cutting machine.

Standard Card: 3.5″ x 2.0″
Final PDF size: 3.75″ x 2.25″

Bleed Area: 3.75″ x 2.25″
Trim Area: 3.5″ x 2.0″
Safe Area: 3.25″ x 1.75″

Your print & cutting job will be completed in the order it was received. The standard turnaround time for printing & cutting is 48 hours (two full business days). There are no “Rush” options. Please be aware that during midterms and finals, turnaround times can increase up to 2-3 business days.

For example, if you submit a business card request at 6:00 pm on a Monday, the earliest you will receive the finished cut business cards, will be approximately 10:00 am on a Wednesday.

Design/Artwork Guidelines

Make sure your text is inside the safe area.
The “safe area” is designated using margins in our InDesign template and is shown by the purple/pink line. By putting text or design elements past this “safe” line, you run the risk of it being cut off or appearing too close to the edge of your business card.

Make sure that your image is full bleed.
If you have design elements that extend to the cut line, be sure that you extend them past the black cut line and all the way to the purple/pink bleed line to ensure that there is absolutely no white border on your trimmed business card.

Make sure that your business card is the correct size & resolution.
Confirm that your design is the correct size. This template will have a final size that is 3.75″ x 2.25″.

Exporting your Perfect Bound Book as a PDF File

File > Export > Adobe PDF (print)

Body File
Export your body/inside file as Pages

Cover File
Export your cover file as Spreads

Marks & Bleeds
Check Crop Marks, Bleed Marks, and Use Document Bleed Settings.

Offset
0.125″

Viewing
Check Video PDF after Exporting to be sure that your PDF file looks correct.

Make sure to open your PDF in Acrobat.

File Examples

When you open your two files in Acrobat, this is what they should look like

If you want the inside of your cover to be something other than the paper color, make sure your cover file has two pages. The inside of the front cover is on the left and the inside of the back cover is on the right.

Need Extra Help?

If you have further questions about file setup, please contact us by email or by scheduling a consultation.

File Preparation for Perfect Binding

Booklet Sizes

8″ x 10″ (portrait) or smaller are standard book sizes.

Covers larger than 12″ x 18″ must be printed on our inkjet printers. This costs more (we charge our inkjet by the square foot of your image) and this will add up to 1-2 business days to your turnaround time. Keep in mind that our inkjet papers also cannot print double-sided and depending on the paper selection may have a watermark on the backside of the paper.

Spine Calculations

Below is an estimate of spine width calculations. Keep in mind this is just an estimate.

The dimensions of your spine will depend on the paper type you choose for your interior pages and the thickness of the paper stock.

We will do our best to adjust your cover file if needed. However, we may ask that you edit and resend your cover file once the binding process is underway. Please keep an eye on your CCS email.

File Preparation

You will need to create 2 InDesign files. There will be a Body/Insides file and a Cover file.

Body File

The interior pages must be laid out in InDesign, as facing pages, with a bleed included in the document.

Document Size is the dimensions of your final book in inches.
Bleed set to 0.125″ on all sides
Margins set to at least 0.25″ on all sides

Cover File

The interior pages must be laid out in File > New Document…

Height = Page Height
Width = Spine Width + (Page Width x 2)

Give your cover file 2 columns and set the column margin to be the spine width. You now have guides for your spine.

Set your Documents Margins & Bleeds to 0.125″ (to match your body file)

Gutter

Perfect bound books are glued at the spine which results in approximately a 1/4″- 3/8″ of the inside edge of your pages to be less visible since a perfect bound book cannot lay completely flat without the spine breaking.

There will be a portion of each inside page that will lose visibility (or be swallowed) into the spine. Be mindful of this while designing and adding an extra cushion to the binding-side margin of each page. We recommend approximately 1/2″ of a cushion.

For this reason, we highly recommend printing a proof copy before submission.

How to design for images & text across a two-page spread

The gutter can be problematic when you are placing an image across the center spine.

When an image or text covers a two-page spread, the inside 1/4″ on both pages will be obscured. This amounts to approximately 1/2″ in the center of the image or book. Text and images may not line up correctly across the spine. This is a natural occurrence with a perfect-bound booklet.

Generally speaking, 1/2″ for your gutter margin is the best recommendation for most books.

Need Extra Help?

If you have further questions about file setup, please contact us by email or by scheduling a consultation.

Pricing & Paper Information

The Imaging Center offers a bulk discount on select “body” papers for perfect-bound books.

The Imaging Center offers a variety of papers for discounted perfect-bound books. If you intend on using a paper not included in the available paper list, the cost per sheet will be outside of the discounted pricing we offer for perfect binding. This can increase the cost of your job considerably.

Pricing chart for Imaging Center supplied paper

We encourage students to provide their own paper. Students can supply their own paper or work already printed, but some papers won’t work in our printers or perfect binder, so check with an Imaging Center Technician before submitting your job.

Pricing chart for student supplied paper (BYOP)

Please make an appointment via Calendly to drop off the paper or to chat with an IC staff member about what would work best for your project.

Perfect Binding

Perfect Binding is a form of bookbinding in which the book pages are bound by gluing together single sheets. With this binding method, the pages and cover are glued together at the spine with a strong yet flexible glue. The other three sides of the book are trimmed as needed to give them clean “perfect” edges. Because of this gluing process, creating the square spine, the pages do not lay flat while you are flipping through them.

Perfect bound books look clean and professional. They are ideal for catalogs, portfolios, photo albums, small-run comics, and self-published artists’ books.

Perfect binding works best for books that are 20+ printed pages. If less, it might be cheaper and more ideal to either saddle-stitch or wire/plastic bind your booklet.

Turnaround Times & Proofing

The standard turnaround time for the entire perfect binding process is 8 business days, not including weekends. The IC can have a proof copy ready in three (3) days, and the finished book(s) (5) five days after the proof is approved. This does not include weekends.

If you do not want a proof copy, your final book(s) will still take 5 business days.

We highly recommend getting a proof of your book. Proof copies are printed on the papers that you have selected at the sizes you submit. If you are supplying your own media, make sure to supply the IC enough paper for the proof & final copies.

Proofs are 1/2 price if you approve the order. If you decide to cancel the order, the proof copy will remain at full price.

Proofs are labeled with a sticker on the inside cover.

The perfect binding process at the Imaging Center is done all by hand and takes a considerable amount of production time which pulls trained staff & management away from their other duties. For this reason, the IC does reserve the right to deny certain amounts of perfect binding requests. We may recommend other options for booklet binding (saddle-stitch or wire/plastic coil)

Having Trouble Uploading?

The upload limit is 96MB on all of our forms. Try some of these helpful tips and tricks to get your file prepared to upload.

Select the “Google Drive Link” option

Submit your files as a Google Drive Link instead. Make sure that you have shared access to your files with us!

Check your Internet Connection

Make sure that your wireless internet connection is strong. Often times students have issues when their connection has dropped in the middle of an upload.

Are you working in Adobe Illustrator?

If you are working in Illustrator make sure that you are saving your PDF correctly. By default, Illustrator saves PDFs with full capacity editing capabilities. You should only use Illustrator Default when you plan on editing the file again in Illustrator, or when you need to place it in a layout application such as InDesign.

However, when you are ready to save your file to print in the Imaging Center (and other print shops), you should export your file as a PDF/X-1a. This eliminates the option to preserve editing capabilities and flattens your file.

A common misconception is that by saving your file as a PDF that you are protecting yourself from others editing your file. If you save your file as an Illustrator Default PDF, we are able to open your file in Illustrator, move and even delete elements of your file. We have more information on saving PDF files HERE.

Are you still having issues? Do not panic! Reach out to the Imaging Center (ic@collegeforcreativestudies.edu) for further instructions! Thank you 🙂

Quick Tip #3

PDF Export Preset & Settings

PDF documents can be exported using many different settings depending on the desired output destination (print, web, working file, etc.).

PDF Tips

There are many ways to create a PDF file, but not all of them work well for professional printing and/or file sharing. The way in which you create a PDF can dramatically alter the quality of your printing.

The Imaging Center recommends using PDF/X-1a for most print submissions.

PDF/X-1a

All transparency and layers are flattened
Spot colors are maintained
RGB content is converted to CMYK

PDF/X-4

This is a newer PDF standard that takes advantage of modern prepress processes.
Retains live transparency & layers
Retains CMYK, RGB, LAB, and spot colors
Intended for workflows that support live transparencies
Definitely worth trying to use!

Recommended Changes to Settings

Marks & Bleed: Only include crop & bleed marks if the file set up for that item requires it. Click ‘Use Document Bleed Settings’ to include previously setup bleed, usually should be set to 0.125″(1/8″)

Output Color Conversion: Change to No Conversion & Include all Profiles

Favorite Printing Resources

There are many resources in Detroit and online that offer similar services as at the Imaging Center. Here is a selection of our favorite places:

Off-Campus & Local Resources

Fine Art Printing

Image Works: Fine Art and Photographic printing */**
Image Works specializes in archival pigment printing, also known as giclée or inkjet printing, for reproducing photographic and fine art imagery.

3726 Monroe St.
Dearborn, MI 48124

313-768-5020
info@imageworksfineart.com

Small Works Detroit */**
Resource for small print runs and printing advice, specializing in fundraiser printing and special projects.

Located in Detroit, temporarily an online-only storefront.

Cache Printing */**
Cache offers affordable, high-quality printing to artists, designers, and community organizers. Cache Printing also has a Risograph printer! Based in Detroit, MI

Laser Paper

French Paper *
Located in Niles, Michigan, French Paper offers uncoated papers, brightly colored card stock, and envelopes. Keep an eye out for ‘free shipping codes’ promoted on their Instagram

Millcraft Paper Store **
Wholesale paper and printing supplies. Often carries French, Neenah, and Domtar papers. Call for current inventory! Open 7:30am-5pm Monday-Friday

21118 Bridge St., Southfield, MI 48033
248-355-0310

Online Resources

Moo
Business cards, stationery, stickers, labels, marketing materials. Moo offers short-run & rush delivery options if you’re in a pinch!

Spoonflower
Upload and print your design on a variety of unique options, including wallpaper, fabric, decorative pillows, and more.

SmartPress
Online printing service including all types of book binding, booklets, card printing and signage.

Risograph Studios & Online Resources

Perfectly Acceptable
Offers Riso printing as a service as well as an online bookshop (which is really awesome!!)

Risolve Studio
Risograph printing and graphic design services, an online portfolio, and a small store. They also have an active YouTube channel with amazing tutorials. These tutorials can be incredibly helpful if you are struggling with file set up in Photoshop!

Issue Press
Issue Press is an independent publisher of artist publications and multiples and a Risograph printing service based in Grand Rapids, MI.

Stencil Wiki
Run by Issue Press, this site has lots of tutorials and an interactive map locating Risograph studios across the globe.

Apricot Press
Local Riso print shop that focuses on flyers, zines, and buttons. Owned and run by former Imaging Center work-study technician, April West.

Pindot Press
Risograph studio in the Greater Toronto area. They are also a wonderful resource that includes YouTube tutorials about Riso printing as well as information on their own workflow.

* Local / Michigan or regional business

** Brick and mortar business within 30 miles of Detroit proper

Do you have a suggestion of an awesome print shop or digital printing resource? If so, send the Imaging Center an email (ic@collegeforcreativestudies.edu) with their website and why you think we should add them to our list.

Buttons

The Imaging Center can make 1.25” buttons.

Each button costs: $0.35 with a maximum of 100 buttons/order.

Templates can be found on our Campus Office site on Blackboard.

Please keep in mind that each template is slightly different. There are specific application directions in each version. Pay attention if there are layers to be deleted.

Remember that because the buttons are small (1.25”), any text that you include on the edges may be difficult to read and/or folded over once the button is made.

By default, the IC prints all button orders on our Hammermill 28# color copy paper.

If you’d like something different, keep in mind that paper must be 28# bond (or 70# text) or less. We will not be able to print on card stock.

General turnaround times for button making is 4 business days.

CCS Pride Buttons for an event in June 2021

Stack Cutting

The Imaging Center can cut up to 3” in sheets of paper at one time.

The standard turnaround time for the cutting & binding processes is 24 hours (one business day). During midterms and finals, turnaround times may increase. Your job will be processed in the order that it was received.

Make sure to save your file with crop marks and bleed to ensure that your type or image isn’t trimmed off. The Imaging Center has a cutting tolerance of 1/16”. Anything that comes within 1/16” (0.063”) of the edge of the trim line could potentially be cut off. Be sure to place all elements more than 1/16” (0.063”) away from the edge of the design.

There is a minimum count of 15 sheets of paper in order to use this service.

The IC will not use the stack cutter to trim tiling jobs, business cards, or stickers.

The Imaging Center will not stack cut books printed off-site (blurb, lulu, etc.). The IC will also not stack cut-through mat board, foam core, cardboard. If off-site material is cut or bound incorrectly by an IC Tech, the IC will reprint materials on Imaging Center stock at no cost.

All pages must be the same length; the Imaging Center cannot guarantee that the binding machines can evenly punch through sketchbooks and/or tracing paper.

The IC does reserve the right to deny submitted collections of various papers and sizes.