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Our Order Process

Company : Our Order Process

Those who are commissioning printing for the first time often find the process confusing. To help you know what to expect this page shows an outline of a typical transaction for printing.

Enquiry: Your first contact will generally be to establish that you are talking to the right supplier. You will probably have a lot of questions. That's good. If you don't, don't worry! We'll guide you through the questions you should be asking.

Outline Specification: To start the ball rolling we will want to get an idea of what you are looking for: a basic description and a likely format. e.g. an eight page A5(size) colour brochure. From this we will work with you to refine the specification for paper type, colours, finish, timescales etc.

Agreement on data to be supplied: We can create everything for you from scratch. But most likely you will have already put together information, pictures etc. The more you do the quicker the turnaround and the less it will cost. It is vitally important before you start that you check you are working in a format we can accept and that pictures are scanned at the correct resolution.

Quotation, Terms of Trade and Account Opening: Once we have a clear picture of your requirements and the data you will supply we will be able to give you a quotation. You can print a copy of our Terms of Trade and an Account Opening Form from this site.

Click here to download credit application form (55kb PDF)

Click here to download conditions of contract (30kb PDF)

Download the latest version of Adobe Reader

(Credit facilities are subject to status and our discretion)

Order and Order Acknowledgement: Once you have your quotation and wish to proceed we ask for a written order in your usual business format. If requested, we will send an Order Acknowledgement. Timescales are subject to you providing the agreed data and promptly returning proofs.

Origination: As soon as we have the information you are to supply we will begin the origination processes of typesetting, data manipulation, scanning, drawing, layout etc

Proofing: Once we have created your document we will send you a proof in an agreed format (usually a digital colour print). A proof shows our understanding of your specification.

Proof Approval: Nothing can happen until you return the proof. We will correct any errors in our understanding. You may wish to make alterations, for these we may make additional charges. We will go through the proofing cycle until you are happy that the work is exactly as you wish. Proof checking is your responsibility and when you sign off the final proof you commit to the image specification.

Production: On receipt of the final approved proof we will begin production. We will contact you if there are any unforeseen events, such as our press operator spotting a chance spelling mistake or other inconsistency. Otherwise the next event will be the delivery of your work.

Delivery: Arrangements will be agreed at the outset. We use overnight carriers and our own transport.

Invoicing: An invoice will be raised soon after goods are despatched.

Payment: To conclude the transaction we are happy to recieve payment by cheque or by BACS within the agreed credit period.

Lead Times

Everyone would like to receive their work as soon as possible and on time. So that this can happen Kestrel Press have created Standard Lead Times. These are realistic target planning times based on our experience of typical turnaround times including proofing. However, they are open to negotiation and may vary depending on complexity and run length

• Litho printing: 5 - 7 working days
• DI printing: 3 - 5 working days
• Poster printing: 1 - 3 working days
• It must be stressed that these times are indicative only and will be confirmed for individual jobs.

Repro Guide

Electronic Media: Before creating extensive Digital Artwork we recommend that you supply a test file to verify system compatibility. Where possible electronic transfers should be accompanied by a hard copy print of the contents. At our option we will output and proof to you to confirm that there has been no displacement, omission or erroneous inclusion. Proofing may be by Portable Document Format (.PDF) file for which a free reader can be downloaded here.

Transfer Methods: You can transfer your electronic file to Kestrel Press using any of the following methods which suit your file size and location.

• Kestrel File Transfer System (click here to upload your file now)
• E-mail text and attachments up to 5 megabytes to action@kestrelpress.com
• Jazz Disc up to 2 gigabytes by courier / mail
• Optical Disc up to 640 megabytes by courier / mail
• Zip Disc up to 100 megabytes by courier / mail
• CD by courier / mail
• Download or copy text from your Web Site (by arrangement)

Digital Artwork: We prefer artwork produced on an Apple Macintosh platform using software from the following packages or earlier versions:

• Quark Xpress 6.5
• Freehand 10
• Adobe Photoshop 6.5
• Adobe Illustrator 10
• Adobe Pagemaker 10.0
• Adobe InDesign 2
• Corel Draw 10

Files should be saved in native format. Ensure all fonts are included / embedded or verify that we have the fonts required. Kestrel Press have built an extensive font library. However, we may have to purchase a font specifically for your work and additional charges may apply as font licences are not transferable.

Before compressing files please check that we have the appropriate decompression programs.

Remember that compressing files can cause loss of detail in graphics.

Digital Artwork supplied from a PC platform may not be transferable to the Apple Macintosh even where the source program is the same.

File Types for Pictures, Logos or Graphic: We prefer these to be supplied in ".EPS" or ".TIF" format but can accept ".GIF" and ".JPEG".

PC Microsoft Office 2003: We can receive and extract text data from Microsoft Office Professional 2003 including: Word 2003 , Excel 2003 , Access 2003 , PowerPoint 2003, Publisher 2003 and Front Page 2003.

We can view and output Microsoft files to a desktop printer for the purposes of redrawing or recreation. Contrary to the information contained with this software, commercial printers including Kestrel Press can print directly from these applications.