FAQs / Printing

Understanding the difference helps you make smarter decisions for every project, and we will guide you through this process. Digital printing deposits toner directly onto the substrate using laser technology with no plates required. It is the best option for small quantities, fast turnarounds, and personalized content. Offset printing transfers ink from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the paper, delivering superb color consistency and accuracy over large quantities. Offset printing also tends to hold a better registration (alignment) of your artwork, whereas digital printing may drift up to a 1 mm. Both methods produce excellent results, and the right choice depends on your quantity, timeline, and color requirements. We'll always recommend the approach that serves your project best.

This is exactly the kind of question we're here to help answer. Digital is typically the better fit for quantities under 2,500, jobs with variable or personalized content, quick-turn projects, or multiple versions of the same piece. Offset is the stronger choice for runs of 5,000 or more, color-critical work requiring Pantone matching, specialty inks or coatings, and substrates that don't run well on digital equipment. When you request a quote, our team will assess your specs and recommend the method, or combination of methods, achieving the best result for your investment.

Not necessarily, and this is a misconception worth clarifying. Today's digital presses produce exceptional results the most clients genuinely cannot distinguish from offset at normal viewing distances. The differences become apparent in highly color-critical work, such as precise brand color matching, subtle skin tones, or photography-heavy pieces where a trained eye is evaluating fidelity up close. For everyday commercial print projects (brochures, postcards, flyers, direct mail) digital quality is entirely appropriate and the faster turnaround and lower short-run cost are meaningful advantages. Our team will tell you honestly when offset is worth the difference.

Variable data printing (VDP) is one of the most powerful tools in modern direct marketing, and it's something we're excited to help clients take advantage of. It allows individual elements on each piece (names, addresses, personalized offers, QR codes, even images) to change from piece to piece within a single production run, without slowing down output. Most common in direct mail production, VDP also delivers real value for event badges, loyalty programs, certificates, and targeted campaigns. Personalized pieces consistently outperform generic versions in response rate. Tell us about your campaign goals and we'll help you design a VDP approach that works.

Absolutely, and this flexibility is one of the real advantages of our full-service facility. Our digital presses handle short runs efficiently, all the way down to a single copy for proofing purposes. Our offset equipment handles high-volume commercial work with consistent, production-grade quality. There's no minimum order quantity for digital printing, and our minimum order amount is $25. Offset jobs typically become cost-effective around 2,500 to 5,000 pieces, where the setup investment is justified by the lower per-unit cost. Whatever your quantity, we'll make sure you're on the right press for the job.

We carry a wide range of coated and uncoated sheets in weights and finishes suited to virtually any application. Standard options include 60–100 lb. uncoated text, 80–100 lb. gloss or matte coated text, 80–100 lb. coated cover, and 14 pt. and 16 pt. coated cover. We also carry specialty stocks: recycled content papers, linen and laid uncoated sheets, and synthetic substrates for waterproof or tear-resistant applications. If you have a specific stock in mind or need guidance on what's right for your piece, our team will walk you through the options. Choosing the right paper is one of those decisions that shapes how your finished piece feels in someone's hands, and we take it seriously.

Coated paper has a smooth surface treatment (gloss, matte, dull, or satin) that keeps ink on the surface rather than absorbing into the fibers. The result is sharper detail, more vibrant color, stronger image reproduction. It's ideal for photography, catalogs, and marketing pieces designed to make an impression. Uncoated paper has a natural, slightly porous surface that produces a softer, warmer appearance and preferred for text-heavy documents, stationery, and anything recipients will write on. Neither is better universally as the right choice depends on your purpose and your audience.

Paper weight affects how your piece feels and how it's perceived. In the US, weight is expressed in pounds (lb.) based on 500 sheets of the paper's base sheet size, which makes cross-type comparisons tricky. As a practical reference: 20 lb. bond is standard copy paper, 60–70 lb. text is a lightweight brochure stock, 80–100 lb. text is the most common range for brochures and flyers, 80 lb. cover and above is used for business cards, postcards, and covers. Heavier stocks feel more substantial and communicate quality. Our team is glad to provide samples so you can feel the difference before you commit.

Absolutely. Our capabilities extend well beyond standard paper to a wide range of specialty substrates including synthetic papers (tear-resistant and waterproof), polyester films, vinyl, canvas, rigid boards (foam core, gatorboard, corrugated), and fabric for banners and displays. Substrate availability varies by printing method, so the best first step is to share your project details and we'll confirm what's possible and what we'd recommend. Part of what we love about our work is finding the right material for an unusual application. Bring us your ideas and we'll help solve it.

Paper finish shapes the visual personality of your piece. Gloss has a high-sheen, reflective surface that makes colors pop and images look vivid and is ideal for photography-driven marketing materials. Matte and Dull are flat and non-reflective and convey sophistication and read beautifully for text-heavy pieces. Satin (or silk) sits between the two, reproducing good color without the glare of gloss. For most commercial marketing pieces, gloss or satin coated stocks are the most common choice. When in doubt, we can pull samples of all options so you can see and feel the difference firsthand.

Four-color process, also called CMYK or full-color printing, uses four ink colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) applied in precise dot patterns to simulate virtually the entire visible color spectrum. Nearly all commercial printing is 4-color process. The term refers to the number of ink stations on the press, not the number of colors you see in your design. Understanding this helps set the right expectations for color results. Our prepress team is always available to walk you through how your specific design will translate to the press.

A spot color is a pre-mixed ink, most commonly a Pantone (PMS) color, applied as its own dedicated ink layer rather than being simulated by CMYK dots. Spot colors are the standard for brand logos, corporate identity materials, and safety or compliance colors where absolute consistency across print runs and vendors is non-negotiable. They're available on our offset presses. If your brand has defined PMS colors, specifying them on offset jobs is the surest way to protect your brand integrity across every piece we produce for you.

Brand color consistency matters and we take it seriously as your production partner. On our offset presses, we match Pantone spot colors with a high degree of accuracy using standard PMS inks. On digital presses, we closely approximate PMS values in CMYK, but an exact match isn't guaranteed given how digital color reproduction works. For brand-critical projects where color accuracy is non-negotiable, we recommend an offset run with specified PMS inks and a hard proof approval before the full run. Our team will always give you an honest assessment of what's achievable for your specific project.

Aqueous and varnish coatings are protective finishes applied in-line on press immediately after offset printing. It protects the ink surface from fingerprints, scuffing, and moisture and gives the piece a polished, finished look that clients and recipients notice. Gloss finishes add sheen, and matte finishes produce a soft, refined finish. We recommend a protective aqueous or varnish for any high-handling piece, such as postcards, business cards, sell sheets, and direct mail. The cost addition is minimal, and the protection it provides meaningfully extends the life and impression quality of your printed piece. It's one of those small investments that makes a real difference.

Our finishing capabilities are extensive, and some of the most memorable pieces we produce are made by pairing great printing with the right finish. Options include UV coating (high-gloss or matte), soft-touch lamination, gloss and matte lamination, spot UV, embossing and debossing, foil stamping, die cutting, scoring and folding, saddle stitching, perfect binding, and padding. Not every finish suits every substrate or run size, which is why we encourage you to talk to us early in the design process if you're planning something special. The right finishing choice can transform a good piece into an exceptional one and we love helping clients get there.

Standard turnaround for most digital printing jobs is 3-5 business days from approved file receipt. Offset jobs typically run 4–7 business days depending on quantity and finishing requirements. Jobs requiring specialty stocks, custom finishing, or bindery work may need additional time. It's important to know that your production clock starts after proof approval and successful preflight, not from the moment you place the order. When your deadline is firm, tell us upfront. We'll be honest about what's achievable and do everything we can to protect your timeline.

Rush production is available for many digital print jobs, depending on our current press schedule and your file readiness. Rush requests may carry an additional fee and are always subject to availability. The most important thing: contact us before placing a rush order so we can confirm feasibility and commit honestly to what we can deliver.

Production time begins once three things are in place: your file has cleared preflight, any corrections have been made, and you've provided written approval of the resulting proof. For time-sensitive jobs, it is always best to submit a print-ready file and approve your proof as early as possible. We'll work with you to keep things moving.

Your Account Executive is your direct line for status updates on any active job. We proactively communicate all timelines at commencement of a new project. If a job is running ahead or behind of schedule, or if we need anything from you to keep it moving, we will communicate with you proactively and directly. We believe a good partnership means you're never left wondering where your project stands.

We deliver locally to the Portland, Vancouver and Salem metro areas. We also routinely ship via FedEx, UPS, USPS, or freight depending on the size and weight of the job. We also offer Will Call pick up services. For direct mail jobs, finished pieces go directly into the USPS bulk mail entry unit via our delivery team. For clients with warehousing and fulfillment programs, finished pieces can be delivered directly into your onsite inventory. Delivery costs are quoted separately based on quantity, destination, and timing. We'll always find the most practical and cost-effective delivery solution for your project.

The fastest path to an accurate quote is a direct conversation. Reach us by phone, email, or through our website with your project specs: product type, finished size, quantity, paper stock, color requirements, finishing, and your deadline. The more specific you can be upfront, the faster we can turn around a project quote and timeline you can rely on. For clients with recurring or high-volume needs, we can establish templated pricing for standard jobs so ordering becomes a simple, repeatable process.

Most of the cost in commercial printing is fixed, including press setup, platemaking for offset runs, makeready, and labor, and it doesn't change whether you print 100 or 10,000 pieces. Spreading those fixed costs across a larger quantity drives down the per-piece cost significantly. A jump from 500 to 1,000 pieces often adds relatively little to the total job cost while cutting the per-piece price nearly in half. Understanding this helps you plan smarter, and we're glad to model out quantities to help you find the right run size for your budget.

Soft PDF proofs are included at no charge on every job. Color accurate hard proofs are included in every full-color offset project price quote. Preflight review for print-ready files is built into our standard pricing. If your file needs correction, setup, or rebuilding, such as missing bleeds, RGB conversion, low-resolution artwork, font issues, our design team will assess the work and quote it before touching anything. We will never make billable corrections without your explicit approval first. We are committed to no surprises.

Yes. Some of our most valued client relationships are built around ongoing print programs and recurring orders. Volume pricing, standing order discounts, and preferred client agreements are all available depending on your print volume and needs. If you have predictable recurring print requirements, talk to your Account Executive about structuring a program that simplifies the process and reduces per-job cost. Building partnerships is exactly what we're here for.

New clients typically pay in advance or prior to delivery. Clients are encouraged to establish Net Terms by applying for a GISI credit account. Contact your Account Executive to discuss. We accept major credit cards, ACH bank transfer, and business checks. Credit card payments are subject to a nominal processing fee. For larger or custom jobs, a deposit may be required before production begins. We're transparent about payment expectations from the start and happy to discuss arrangements that work for your organization.

Yes. We offer FSC-certified papers (Forest Stewardship Council), recycled content stocks, and soy- or vegetable-based inks on select offset jobs. We also work to minimize waste throughout our production process. If environmental certifications or recycled content are important to your organization's purchasing standards or brand values, tell us when requesting your quote and we'll identify the available options that fit your project. Responsible printing doesn't have to mean compromising on quality.

Absolutely. We offer recycled content paper options including 30% and 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) stocks in both coated and uncoated finishes, available for most standard print products.

Yes, and maintaining that compliance is something our mailing team takes seriously on every job. We review every direct mail piece against current USPS Domestic Mail Manual requirements (size, weight, aspect ratio, addressing placement, barcode clear zones, and postage indicia positioning). Jobs that don't meet USPS standards are flagged before production begins, not discovered at the dock. We stay current on USPS regulation updates because getting your mail delivered on time and at the right postage rate is part of the result we're responsible for.