FAQ – Media Rollout

Thanks for considering us to help you with your project. We know there are many choices out there! Sure we offer great quality, competitive pricing, expert service and guaranteed turnaround times. But the most important part of NationWide is our people and our process. Our staff is eager to help and they have the professional expertise to handle your project. You will not be dealing with just a sales person. Your Project Specialist is teamed with a professional staff that will deal with you directly while producing your project. Our professional staff handles all aspects of your project because we understand what you want and they have the experience to get it for you. On top of all that, Media Rollout has been in business for 15 years!

Will I be charged before I approve my project?

No. Once the order is placed you may upload and approve your artwork, however, your order will not move into production until it is paid for. A full refund is available prior to the time you approve any of the artwork on your project, after that we do not offer refunds of any kind.

What are the most common problems with client designed jobs?

There are several small things that happen when submitting a project that can really slow the process down. We have listed the most common problems below. Of course you can always contact your Project Specialist for help if you do not understand how to deal with any of these issues. Improper trim size and no allowance for bleed. See our templates page for the proper sizing of your project. Also see our note in FAQ concerning bleed. These should be reviewed before starting your design process. Image format. Files, artwork, or images that are sent to us in a format other than CMYK. The most common incorrect format we see is RGB. Verify that all elements you are including in your project are CMYK. Please see our note in FAQ concerning CMYK and RGB. Another common error is to size images too small or low resolution. All images should be 300 dpi at 100% of the size they will be used in the project. Wrong project file format or fonts not included. We accept file formats that include PDF, TIFF, PSD, AI, JPEG, and EPS. Please do not send us original program files such as Quark, InDesign, Publisher, etc. Convert these files to a PDF or TIFF format and be certain to include fonts. We are there to help if you have questions.

PROOFING

Does Media Rollout offer hard copy proofs?

Yes we do. Our hard copy proofs are digital proofs with the printer calibrated to our actual printing press.. This kind of proofing does cost more than a PDF proof and it does increase the amount of time it takes to produce your project. If your project is color critical then we recommend a press proof. Otherwise, save the money and time and go with the PDF proof, about 98% of our clients choose PDF proofs for that reason. Contact your Project Specialist for more information and pricing for press proofs.

What is a PDF proof?

A PDF proof is a medium resolution image displayed on your computer screen. Since all computer screens are different you cannot rely on a PDF proof to represent accurate color. A PDF will show content such as type and trapping issues. It also shows trim and bleed. The color of your final printed project will not match the PDF you receive from us for proofing. Your Project Specialist will discuss any concerns you may have about this process and help you make the right decision for your project. Your PDF proof is created automatically by sending your original uploaded artwork to our press.

Will the color on my proof match the final printed piece?

If you choose a press proof the color is mostly accurate, but may not match exactly. If you choose a PDF, it will not match. Of course blues should be blue and reds will be red. Your Project Specialist can help you with this if you have any questions.

DESIGNING

Do I need to be an expert designer to use this website?

No, you do not need to be an expert designer. If you have a question about your design or specifications, just ask! We are here to answer your questions. Let us help.

What if I want an expert design, can Media Rollout do the work?

Yes. We have a complete design staff that will work with you to create just the look you want. Contact your Project Specialist with any questions.

What about the cost to have something designed?

Please refer to our design page on the website. Prices are shown there. If you do not see what you want then your Project Specialist and tell them what you need.

What is bleed and is there a safety margin around the trim on printed material?

Bleed is extending any color, photo, or design elements past the trim line. Our plant trims printed pieces in stacks of hundreds of sheets at a time. This is much faster than trimming individual pieces, at the cost of a little accuracy. Bleed gives the print shop a margin of error when trimming, so that if the cut is a little off, the white of the paper won’t show along the edge. We request you add 1/8-inch of bleed to your layouts. For example if you have an item that will be trimmed to 4.75 x 4.75 then you would want to add 1/8 to all sides for bleed, making the final art size 5.0 x 5.0. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much bleed you need to add to your layouts. These are generally the outermost guides. Safety margin is the opposite of bleed. If you put important information such as a song title or an important part of a photo right up against the crop line, some of it may get cut off. We recommend that you keep your type and other important elements 1/8 inside the trim line. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much safety margin to allow. These are generally the innermost guides. In the example of an item trimmed to 4.75 x 4.75 the safety margin would be 4.5 x 4.5.

Why does Media Rollout specify CMYK files and what does that mean?

CMYK and RGB are two different color models, and understanding the difference can mean producing a great-looking insert rather than a muddy, disappointing one. This has become more of an issue in recent years because the internet is used by so many people and it uses the RGB color model, not CMYK, The RGB color model is used by monitors, televisions, scanners, and digital cameras. A monitor uses very small bands of red, green, and blue light to generate color. RGB color is considered additive color because when you add all three colors together, you get white light; when you turn off all three lights, you get black. By mixing varying amounts of red, green, and blue light, you can create most other colors. The paper of a magazine, catalog, or CD booklet can’t generate light like a computer monitor. It has to rely on reflected light, and the subtractive color model CMYK. When you add cyan, magenta, and yellow together (CMY), you get a color close to black, and when you don’t lay down any ink, you get white that is, the white of the paper. A fourth color, black, is added for economical and practical reasons, and is referred to by “K” so as not to be confused with blue. By mixing varying amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, you can create most other colors, but CMYK does not have the same range of color that RGB does. All commercial, full-color printing uses CMYK inks.

So why is the difference important?

Many colors created on your RGB monitor can be duplicated using CMYK inks, but not all. Your RGB monitor is generating light, so it can create some bright colors that can’t be duplicated on any CMYK printing press. Paper can only reflect light, so if you print the some RGB colors in CMYK they get flat and dull. If you re designing artwork in an RGB color space, we ll have to convert it to CMYK to print.
Depending on your artwork, the colors might shift a little or a lot. If you are not certain about the whole color space issue, don’t worry. Just ask your personal Project Specialist to check it for you and make recommendations for corrective action if necessary.

How do I know if my disc face is only 3 colors?

For the most part it depends on the program you are using to design the disk face. Some programs cannot represent 3 colors. They work well with full color or grayscale (black and white type and images). Your Project Specialist can guide you in this area. If you need to send us files and don’t know if they are 3 colors or less, just write a note to the Project Specialist and have them contact you before producing your project. By the way, all replicated disks are silver when they are manufactured and if you want the disk to be white before printing your artwork on the face of the disk you will need to ask for a white base coat to be applied to the disk face. This does count as one of the three available colors but it can really enhance your artwork. If your disc face needs to be more than 3 colors, no problem. The extra cost to add full color to your disc face is only $50.

If I use the same artwork on my disc face as the printed insert will the color match?

The simple answer is no, they will not match. We do not recommend using the same artwork on the disk face as you are using on the printed insert that goes along with your disc. Disc faces are screen printed or offset printed depending on which method you choose. Inserts are offset printed on a state-of-the-art commercial printing press. Even if you choose offset print for your disk face it will not match the art from the insert because the machinery to produce the print is so different. It is best to change the artwork so that it is clear that you did not intend that they match. If you still want to use the same artwork for design reasons that’s fine. Just be aware that they will not match. Your Project Specialist is a good source of information on this issue.

UPLOADING

What resolution and file format is best for uploaded artwork?

For best results, save your pictures at 300 dpi (dots per inch) and your other artwork at the highest resolution available (600 dpi is OK but our equipment will utilize up to 2400 dpi). Do not save pictures at resolutions higher than 300 dpi because this just slows down the process and does not improve the image quality. We recommend the following formats for upload: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and EPS. Be certain to include all fonts in your files. All artwork should be CMYK not RGB or something else. Do not convert fonts to curves. This can severely limit the quality of the type and will not trap well. Please call our experienced staff with any questions.

DISC REPLICATION AND DUPLICATION

What is the difference between replication and duplication?

Duplication refers to the process of taking an existing blank CD-R or DVD-R disc and burning information onto that disk much the same way you copy CDs on your computer. At Media Rollout we use state of the art dedicated duplicating towers to manage the duplication process. These machines do a cursory evaluation of the disk to check for read and write errors and then make an exact duplicate of the disk you send us. This is the best option if you have small quantities (300 or less) or need quicker turnaround time to meet a deadline. Typical production time for duplication is 2-4 days. We can produce your project in 24 hours if needed.

Replication refers to the manufacturing process that starts with raw material to manufacture your discs from scratch. We evaluate your original disc for read and write errors and then make a glass master of your disc. This glass master is then used to creating a stamper. The stamper is mounted on the machine that uses heat and pressure to mold your discs one at a time. This is the highest quality of disk manufacturing. The cost of creating both the glass master and stamper are already included in your quote. This is the best option if you want larger quantities (500 units or more) and you have time (an average of 10 business days) to produce your project.

What is a glass master?

The glass master refers to the replication process, not duplication. The glass master is created by Media Rollout as an exact copy of your disc. It is then used to create a stamper Glass mastering includes a review of the integrity of your original disk and a verification of copyright ownership. Glass mastering is included with all of our replication projects. No extra charge.

Do you copy my disc exactly as I send it?

Yes. Take extra care to insure that your disk is exactly as you want it to be. We do not alter your disk in any way before we duplicate or replicate it. Please take care to insure that the content on your disc is correct, we do not inspect your content for accuracy, errors, missing tracks, quality of recording, or a large number of other problems that can occur when master discs are not properly created. You are fully responsible for all content on your master disc, we only copy what you give us.

How many master disc copies should I send with my project to Media Rollout?

If you mail them in, we recommend that you send two original masters with any project submitted for replication or duplication. Often one master can be flawed in some way (scratch, etc) and this gives us a backup disc to use. Otherwise the production process stops while we wait on you to send us another disc. This of course can delay the production process and you might miss your deadline.

What do I need to send with a disc duplication/replication project?

We need to receive your IPR form for all replication jobs, your Artwork and your Audio Master.

Does Media Rollout charge for barcodes?

Our barcodes are free for all “Replication” jobs. We will send a barcode to you or your graphic artist so they can place it on your layout. If you need us to add it to your layout we charge $25. Also, if you need a barcode for your “Duplication” project we charge $25.

Do I need a barcode on my project?

That depends on how you intend to sell your item. For example if you are producing a music CD and intend to sell the CD through retail distribution then you might want to consider adding a barcode. Some retailers and other distributors will not accept a CD without a barcode. On the other hand if you have no intention of selling through distribution then probably don’t need a barcode.

How much space should I leave for a barcode?

You should leave a space that is 1.25 wide and .5 all for the barcode. Most people place the barcode on the back of the printed piece. For jewelcases that would be on the traycard.

Is there a font size limitation for printing on the face of the disc?

We recommend 8 point type or larger on disc faces. You should also try to use readable type that does not have tiny lines or curls on the font face. These can be difficult to read. Another thing to remember is to keep the type at lease 3/16 away from the edge of the disc. Otherwise it may be cut off as the disc shifts slightly when manufactured.

Will my DVD play in all DVD players?

No. DVDs are the hardest to standardize. There are several formats that exist and some of the older DVD players will not be compatible with more recent formatting styles. Do not let this scare you away from producing a DVD. Just remember that not all players will work. To make the disc compatible with the most equipment we recommend you have a professional studio create your master for you. Another thing you can do is try your disc in a number of different DVD players, if the disc plays then you will be alright with most machines. Remember, no matter what anyone tells you, there is no such thing as a DVD that will play in all DVD machines.

What is the time limit on CDs and DVDs?

CDs have a time limit of 74:30 minutes if you want them to be compatible with most playback equipment. However, you can push it to close to 80 minutes…but this is not recommended. If you wish to have your content go past 74:30 you will need to sign a waiver. DVDs don’t have a time limit. Instead they have a capacity limit of 4.7 gigs for a DVD-5 and 8.5 gigs for a DVD-9. Compression will determine how much data you can get on a DVD, but be careful not to compress your images so much that they do not look good when played back. It is a good idea to play a DVD on several different sizes of screen to see if the video quality meets your expectations.

What disk face printing options are available for disk replication?

Replicated disks can be 1, 2 or 3 color without any additional cost. Full color or 4 color with a white flood coat is available for a small flat charge ($50) if needed.

PRINT FEATURES

Can I choose specific paper types for my print products?

Media Rollout prints flyers, brochures, posters, CD and DVD inserts/traycards, stitched books, and promo flyers on a super high grade of 100# gloss text paper. CD and DVD sleeves, wallets, digipaks, etc are generally printed on 15 pt C1S (C1S means coated one side. Another way to think of this stock is that it is heavy duty card stock with a gloss finish on one side). We do reserve the right to change the paper stock brand, style, or weight without notice if we feel that it is necessary.

What type of finishing is offered for my print products?

We offer free gloss aqueous coating on many products. Some products do not get coated.

What is aqueous coating?

Aqueous gloss coating is a protective coating that we put on some of our printed pieces. The coating helps keep finger prints off of the print and it resists rubbing. It also makes the images pop off of the page more. Best of all it is always free at Media Rollout.

PLACING ORDERS

What type of information must I provide to place an order?

You need to provide billing and shipping addresses and you must choose a delivery method. Also, your order must be paid by credit card, check or cash (in person). Once all of the appropriate information is supplied and your project is uploaded or mailed to us we will begin production of your project and send PDF proofs.

Can I place an order from anywhere in the world?

Yes, you can place an order from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet access. Although, we only ship to the USA.

What methods of payment do you offer?

You may pay in full or at least 70% down when placing your order. You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit cards. We also accept checks, money orders, and cash (in person). If you pay with a company or personal check you must pay in full in order for us to begin production.

Can I use 2 separate addresses for shipping and billing?

Yes, you can use different addresses for shipping and billing. If we ship to more than 2 addresses there’s an additional $15 per additional address.

Do you provide an invoice for my purchase?

Yes. A copy of the invoice is available to you when you complete the purchasing process.

How does the quoted production time in days work?

Production time refers to the actual time it takes to produce your order once it has been approved. Please consider that there can be several days between an order being placed and the start of production. Here is an example:

1. Order is placed and paid for.

2. You submit and approve your IPR form, your Artwork and your Masters

3. The day after all of these materials are approved by you and processed by Media Rollout will be day 0 of your production schedule.

5. Your production time is based on the option you select when placing your order. Days include Monday-Friday and exclude holidays.

6. Shipping: Production time does not include shipping time.

Can I speed up the production time?

Yes. We offer options for expedited production of your project. This is a great option if you have a short time frame to complete your project. Please talk to your Project Specialist if you need a project Rushed. Please remember that while we do make most deadlines sometimes we miss the deadline. Please allow plenty of time for the production of your project. We cannot be responsible for missed deadlines. Additional charges will apply for changes in requested deadline after a project has been approved for production.

Can I send in part of my project to get the ball rolling and send the balance later?

Yes. In some cases it makes sense to send us something to review to make sure you are on the right track with your project, possibly avoiding a larger problem further down the line. Contact your personal Project Specialist for advice.

SHIPPING

What are you shipping costs?

Each project is different. We will contact you with shipping costs prior to processing your order for production.

What shipping options do you offer?

We offer several shipping options. UPS ground, UPS 3 day, UPS overnight, UPS overnight early delivery, and UPS overnight late next afternoon. We do not ship with client accounts. Please remember that all shipping time estimates are not guarantees of delivery time. Allow enough time in the production and delivery schedule for errors, equipment failures, or missed deliveries. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for missed shipping times or shipments that do not arrive when expected. Please allow enough time for potential production or shipping delays when placing your order. If your shipment is 2k units or more you may want to consider a private freight company. This is sometimes cheaper and a safer way to ship. Please contact your Project Specialist for more info.

Which countries do you ship to?

We presently offer shipping to the U.S.A only.

Does Media Rollout ship to P.O. Box addresses?

No, we do not ship to P.O. Box addresses.

TECHNICAL

What can I do if I experience technical difficulties while using Media Rollout?

Our technical support staff is standing by to assist you with any questions you might have. Click on Contact Us and either email us or call us directly at 800-811-7478 Toll Free

I get an error message and cannot upload my design?

Most probably there is a problem with the file containing the design that you are trying to upload. It is recommended that you save your design in another file format and try to upload the newly saved file.

Does a slow computer keep me from using this site?

A slow computer does not affect using this site. If your computer is fast enough to run a browser and to browse the internet, there should be no problem in using this site. Of course a faster computer will refresh faster.

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