Category: IC Laser Printing

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.

Business Cards in a Box

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″.

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

Saddle-Stitch Booklets

Stuff You Should Know

A saddle-stitched bind is among the cheapest and most common methods of bookbinding. Folded sheets are nested by the printer, one inside the other, and stapled through the fold line.

The Imaging Center can print saddle-stitch booklets that are 100 pages or less. The more pages you have, the thicker the book will be. Ideally, this process is most effective with booklets of 64 pages or less. Books with more pages will become bulky once folded and will not lie flat.

A saddle-stitched booklet needs to have pages in multiples of four. This means that your book should have a number of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 40, etc. pages.

If your book is not in multiples of four, the RIP software will add a blank page to the end of your document, causing your book to print incorrectly.

There are two ways to submit files for printing saddle-stitch booklets. If you don’t require a full bleed, jump to the section: Printing Saddle Stitch Booklets (the Easy Way). If you do require a  full bleed, this requires extra planning; jump to the section: Printing Saddle Stitch Booklets with Crops and Bleeds (also known as the more thought-out way).

Remember, none of our printers can print to the edge of the paper. There will always be approximately a 1/8” white margin around the entire document.

The minimum height for a saddle-stitch booklet is 5.5”.

Students can designate a thicker stock for the cover and a thinner stock for the insides. If there is nothing specified, the booklet will be printed on the same media.

Printing Saddle Stitch Booklets (the Easy Way)

The size of your document will depend on the size of your folded, final booklet.

Since saddle-stitch booklets are folded sheets of paper, you should determine your document size by using standard paper sizes.

There are two standard options when printing without a full bleed in the IC. 

  • 5.5” × 8.5” (letter/8.5” × 11” folded in half)
  • 8.5” × 11” (tabloid/11” × 17” folded in half)

Your booklet will have a thin white border.

To utilize this method, export your final document to PDF as single pages with no crop or bleed marks.

File > Export > Adobe PDF (Print)

Adobe PDF Preset > PDF/X-1a or PDF/X4 

Export As > Pages
Confirm that the Pages option is selected. You want single pages when exporting this way. 

Marks & Bleeds > Make sure all marks & bleed options are unchecked.

Export.

Open your file to make sure that all the pages are in the correct order

Printing Saddle Stitch Booklets with Crops and Bleeds 

There are a few different ways to properly prep your saddle-stitch booklet document to print with crop and bleed marks. This will help achieve a clean and accurate cut after printing.

You will need access to Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Distiller. These programs are available in all computer labs on campus.

You will also need to export your document using InDesign’s Print Booklet feature. This process will help you create an imposed file.

Step One – Creating a PostScript file using InDesign

File > Print Booklet

Select Print Settings 

  • Printer > PostScript File
  • PPD > Device Independent
  • Print Blank Pages > Checked

Select the Marks and Bleeds tab in the Print Booklet dialog

  • Crop Marks > Checked On
  • Bleed Marks > Checked On
  • Offset > 0.0833”
  • Use Document Bleed Settings > Checked On

Click OK. This will return you to the Print Booklet dialog window.

Select the Setup tab in the Print Booklet dialog

  • Pages > All 
  • Booklet Type > 2-up Saddle Stitch
  • Margins > Auto
  • Print Blank Printer Spreads > Checked On

Select the Preview tab. Make sure your file looks correct.

Click Print.

Your file will now be saved as a .ps file (PostScript file)

Step Two – Creating a PDF file using Acrobat Distiller

Open Acrobat Distiller

Default Settings > PDF X-1a:2001

Settings Menu > Edit Adobe PDF Settings

You will have to know what your exact document size is. This example is for an 11” × 17” booklet exported with crop marks, using document bleed settings.

Enter the exact width and height of the document.  

Select Save As. 

Save the .joboptions file with the image size and brief description of the PDF settings.

Click Save.

With Acrobat Distiller Open, you should now see your newly saved setting.

File > Open

Select and open the .ps file.

The .ps file will process and then be replaced with a PDF file with the same name. If saved correctly, the progress bar should say Status: Ready.

Open the file in Acrobat to double-check that your file has been saved properly, in the correct page order, and in the center of the page. 

For More Information

Copier & Scanner Functions

General Information

All copy and scan requests must be submitted in hard copy form. The Imaging Center will not copy from books, magazines, or other published materials due to copyright reasons.

Original copies should neatly be assembled in the correct order with no tears or damaged pages. Staples or tape should be removed prior to submitting copy/scan requests.

The IC can make high-quality scans up to 11” × 17” from an original document and send them directly to your CCS email. Scanning Request forms can be requested from an IC Tech.

The Canon 750/850 can attach your document as a PDF or JPG. If your scan is larger than 10mb, it will automatically break up the file into several attachments. The IC will scan your document at the standard resolution (300 × 300).

Standard turnaround time for the scanning process is between 1-2 hours. Please be aware during midterms and finals, turnaround times will increase up to 24 hours.

The Canon 750/850 has the ability to corner staple and double staple.

Scan-to-Email Pricing

The cost to scan documents to email is $0.05/sheet. Make sure that you know the actual page count prior to submitting the scan job. If interested, please see an IC technician for details.

Bringing Your Own Paper

General Information

The Imaging Center accepts student-supplied paper to be printed on our Canon 810/910 laser printer. All paper must be for LASER printers and not inkjet printers.

Students should still submit their files for print using our laser print forms, found HERE. You will be prompted to include important information about the paper that you plan to print on. If accepted, you will be sent an appointment link to drop off your paper at the IC.

All paper must be brought into the Imaging Center in its original packaging with the weight and g/m2 clearly marked. If the original packaging is not supplied, the IC will not print using the supplied media. The original packaging or a spec sheet must be brought in each and every time that a print job is submitted.

The paper must be cut to a specific standard size (8.5″ × 11″, 11″ × 17″, 12″ × 18″, 13″ × 19″, etc.). If you submit the paper that is sized 12.5” × 19”, the IC can cut it to size for you at a cost of $1.00/cut.

When submitting a print job, please supply between 5-15 sheets of the same paper type for testing purposes. For example, if you submit a textured sheet of paper, settings must be modified slightly so that the toner adheres properly on the page.

Turnaround Times & Proofing

The standard turnaround time for bringing in your own media to use on the Canon 750/850 is 24 hours (one business day). During midterms and finals, turnaround times may increase.

If you are running a large job and want to see a proof copy, turn in a print submission for only one or two pages of your document. This will be completed within 24 hours. Once you are satisfied and “approve” your print, you may then turn in the final order for the full amount of pages & copies that you want. 

A sample page or proof page is highly recommended because it allows you to see exactly what the final print will look like. Students will still be responsible for the price of any additional sample pages once changes are made.   

Accepted Paper Types

The Canon 810/910 can handle a variety of media weights and types up to 13” × 19” in size and 16# bond (60gsm) to 120# cover (298gsm) in weight.

Some 120# cover papers with a texture may not process through the printer.

The IC recommends the majority of digital printer paper from Neenah or French Paper. When ordering from Neenah, make sure you are purchasing digital paper. They often sell similar papers in large sheets that must be cut. That paper is not meant to run through a digital press.

Unaccepted Paper Types

The Imaging Center will not accept the following media at this time: vellum, newsprint, Canson, metallic, transparency, or watercolor papers, in addition to most adhesive labels or stickers.

The Imaging Center does reserve the right to deny submitted paper types at any time.

Laser Paper | Resource List

This resource list is updated regularly. If you do not see one of these options in the drop-down menu while submitting a job, please write in the paper option on the form. Imaging Center staff will connect with you if that paper is no longer in stock.

Standard Paper

Hammermill Paper
Sterling Laser Gloss
French Paper
Sticker Paper

French Paper (rotating)

Neenah Paper (rotating)

Printing Multiple Images on a Sheet

The Imaging Center can “impose” or “gang up” specific files via our Canon’s Fiery Imposition software. The IC will impose business cards, takeaways, postcards, resumes, etc.

When submitting your files via the web form, please indicate how many total takeaways you would like in the Additional Comments section. For example 100 total postcards. The Imaging Center can then “impose” on the least amount of pages to save the student money. When printing 5” × 7” sized postcards, the IC can fit qty: 100 onto 25 sheets of 12” × 18” paper (4 postcards to a sheet).

For best results, please submit your file with a 1/8” (0.125”) bleed.

The Canon 810/910 has an overlap of between 1mm (0.04”) and 4mm (.16). This means that all double-sided prints will not line up perfectly; they will be off-center by up to 4mm (0.16”).

An example of how standard-sized business cards are laid out using our printer software. 

By default, the IC prints all takeaways with a 1/8” (0.125”) gutter (white space in between each card) and crop marks on the front side of the page only.

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. For information on this new & exciting service, please click HERE.

If you have a custom-sized card, rotary trimmers are available in the IC during open hours for students to use.

Templates

If you prefer to download a template for your business cards, you can access our templates by clicking HERE.

Tiling

Tiled print requests must be submitted to the Imaging Center as a high-resolution .jpg file. 

By default, the IC will print all tile jobs using the following specifications:

  • 12” x 18” Card Stock
  • Tile Scale 100%
  • 0.125” Overlap
  • Cut marks & Labels
  • Auto Rotate (in the Page Setup menu)

When tiling, the laser printer does have a slight but noticeable color shift. The Canon Fiery RIP processes each page of the tiled job as a separate page. Since each page has a different color composition, the RIP processes it as such.

Extremely large file sizes may not process correctly. For example, a .psb file is not meant for digital output and does not work with our Canon Fiery RIP software. The .psb file must be converted to a .tiff and then to a .jpg file. 

The IC cannot print an individual page out of the tile job. For example, if the tiled print is 24 pages, there is no way to print pages 1-4 again. The entire print job must be submitted. The student would then be held responsible for the entire cost of the tile job.

Double-Sided Printing

Files must be submitted as a single PDF in order to print double-sided correctly. Separate files will not be accepted for double-sided printing. Make sure to have all pages in the order that they should be printed.

Short Edge means the pages are flipped or bound along the short edge of the page. Long Edge means the pages are flipped or bound along the long edge of the page. This could change depending on your page orientation.

Do not save your InDesign file with “spreads”, unless you have properly put your pages in the correct order. The IC is not responsible for pages that are out of order or misaligned. 

The IC regularly maintains the registration on our regularly stocked papers. Unfortunately, the laser printer is not able to provide 100% accurate double-sided printing.

The Canon 750/850 has an overlap of between 1mm (0.04”) and 4mm (.16). This means that all double-sided prints will not line up perfectly; they will be off-center by up to 4mm (0.16”).

Quick Tip #2

What is a Bleed? 

A bleed is printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet after trimming. It is the portion of the background that will be trimmed off after the file is printed and cut down to the finished size. A bleed gives the printer a small amount of space to account for the movement of paper and design inconsistencies.

Artwork, background colors, and other non-critical design elements are often extended into the bleed area.

When a document does not have a bleed, there is a good chance that either:

  • there will be a small white gap between the edge of the printed area and the cut line OR
  • your image will be cut into; thus important design elements or text will be cut into

Bleeds are usually 1/8” from where the cut is to be made.

The Imaging Center has a cutting tolerance of 1/16”. Anything that comes within 1/16” of the cut line could potentially be cut off. Text or other design elements that you want to ensure are not cut off, must be placed more than 1/16” away from the expected edge of the design.

What is a Border? 

By default, the Imaging Center will print your image in the center of the sheet or roll of paper. If you want a white border surrounding the image, you need to build that into your file. Border thickness is important because if the border is too thin, it may look uneven after trimming. The thicker the border, the better the finished cut print will look. 

Note: The text that is near the “cut line” in the second image will be trimmed off.