When preparing your specifications, it is important to supply the most complete information about the job as possible, including your address and contact details.

For your conveniences, simply type the particular topic(s) or content(s) in the form below.

General

	Quantity
	If you are unsure about how many copies you require, we can provide you with prices for different quantities, as well as run-ons. The run-on price should only be calculated up or down for small quantity variations. Please renegotiate the price with us if the quantity is going to increase or decrease significantly.
	Size
	When specifying the finished size, please advise us if the item is in landscape or portrait format. Landscape is quite often more expensive because it needs a special set-up of the finishing equipment to produce it.
	Economical sizes
	B5 is a good size for books and is very economical because it fully utilises the image area of a 40" press when printing in 32 page sections. Where possible try and keep the page quantity divisible by 16 or 32 pages. This will enhance production flow and minimise cost.
	Page Content
	When specifying brochures, do not use the term "panels" which can be confusing. State the number of pages and also what the open flat and final folded size will be. If you are specifying for loose leaf sets or wire-o bound books, use the term "leaves" and specify if they are to be "one sided" or "two-sided" (printed on one side or both sides). For book work, specify the final number of pages including "prelims" - title page, bibliographical page, table of contents etc. (Note - in most cases the prelims are numbered as roman numerals, so take this into account when stating the final page count). State if self-covered or plus cover and specify if cover is printed one side or both sides. (See definitions above).

	Film
	If supplying film, state how it will be supplied, i.e. negative or positive one-up film or page negs. If the film is to be imposed, state how and supply a laysheet if possible. Our preference is for negative right reading, emulsion down.
	Camera Ready Copy (CRC)
	If supplying film, state how it will be supplied, i.e. negative or positive one-up film or page negs. If the film is to be imposed, state how and supply a laysheet if possible. Our preference is for negative right reading, emulsion down.
	Disks
	If a disk(s) is supplied, specify the hardware (e.g. IBM, Macintosh) and the software (e.g. Pagemaker Version 6), and whether the file(s) is TIFF or EPS. Specify the size of the disk, advise if a laser printout and specification sheet are supplied, and whether halftones, stipples and charts are embedded.
	Print from previous copy
	Note: Light blue or other light-coloured inks are difficult to reproduce and scanning may cost extra.
	Multicolour sections
	For multicolour sections (e.g. 4 colour sections within a 2 colour publication), specify the page numbers affected and the colour break-up (e.g. pp i-vi, 1-186, pages 120-144 print 4 colour process). This degree of detail can save you money and will enable us to provide a competitive quote because you have selected certain sections of the publication for 4-colour printing only, within a 5-colour job.
	Halftones, duotones and stipples
	State if halftones are to be reproduced and whether they are from black-and-white or colour photographs. If duotones are required, state the primary colour (usually black) and the secondary colour (usually a lighter colour) and the percentage. If halftones and stipples are required but you are unsure of their quantity, please request a separate price per stipple or halftone. If there are stipples throughout the text, let us know if they bleed or fit within keylines. State the varying stipple strengths and colours, and if keylines are to be printed or deleted. Special stipple work such as pie charts or graphs must be specified. Provide a sample diagram or photocopy so we can determine the complexity involved.
	Copy due date
	State when the copy and cover material will be available, and whether one will be available before the other.
	Dyelines, colour proofs etc.
	Specify whether you require dyelines as folded imposed proofs, colour proofs, imposed colour proofs, or scatter proofs of 4-colour process pics. Special PMS colours will attract an additional cost if you actually want to see them in colour correct form on proof. The less expensive alternative is to view the PMS component in one of the process colours to see where it will fall and how it will fit, while consulting the PMS book. Specify the date the proofs are required and alert the person responsible for checking them about the need for a fast turnaround, otherwise you may miss your turn on the press and delay the final delivery.
	Printing
	If specialised inks such as fluoro or metallics are to be used, make special mention of them. Metallic and fluoro inks need to be treated differently when printing and may require varnishing to minimise scuffing and assist drying.
	Solid black
	If solid black is used as a background (large ink coverage) on a 4-colour job, specify a 40-50% underprint to increase the density and enhance the production. An alternative is to use a special black (5th colour) which will provide the same solution but avoids having to juggle the 4 colour pics and solid black when printing. Both these options should be arranged at the colour separation stage.
	Large ink coverage
	For a cover with large ink coverage (50% or greater) on the outside, it is advisable to apply varnish or celloglaze to seal and protect the cover from scuffing during binding, transport, or from handling by the user.
	Critical line-ups
	Specify if images will cross over bound sections. Special precautions will be required to ensure that they line up properly.
	Bleeds
	Please specify whether cover or text bleeds. The use of bleeds will influence the cost of the quote, especially for B5 work, and can mean the difference between printing a 32 page section or a 16 page section. Specify whether the cover is to be printed inside and whether the colours are the same as on the outside.
	Stock
	Specify the weight in grams per square metre and the stock type. If possible, use generic terms such as A2 matt art, white offset, or one-sided bleach board. If a specific stock is required without exception, state that "no alternative will be accepted". If you will accept alternatives, there may be cost savings to be had. If specifying a specialty stock, it is a good idea to check with us or the paper merchant to ensure that it is not a discontinued line. This preliminary work can often save time and last minute panics.
	Coatings
	UV varnish or celloglaze can be used to enhance the final appearance of the printed product, to protect the material and prevent it from scuffing while it is being bound or transported. It is not generally applied to uncoated or recycled stocks which absorb the varnish and may not produce the desired result. Note: Covers printed with reflex blue or dark brown are sensitive to scuffing and should be protected with varnish or laminate. Additional time will be required for drying and varnishing. All-over UV varnishing is cheaper than celloglaze but is usually supplied in gloss form and used mainly on covers of magazines. Spot UV is used for enhancing text and is especially effective when combined with matt celloglazing. Celloglazing (film lamination) should be specified as gloss or matt. Note: matt is more expensive than gloss. Machine varnish is applied by a printing machine, either in dry trap or wet trap forms. Wet trap is when the varnish is applied along with the wet ink. Dry trap is when the printed article is put back through the press with the varnish being applied to the dry surface.
	Binding
	When specifying binding, keep in mind its suitability for the job and whether or not it can be done in the time frame allowed. The glossary of terms in this Guide describes several of the common binding styles in use today.
	Specialised items
	Specialised die-cut items such as presentation folders, covers with pockets, plastic binders and document wallets should be accompanied by a diagram which details cutting, scoring, gussets and pockets etc. When drilling is required, specify the number of holes and the measurements centre to centre as well as the measurement from the left-hand edge. Provide a sample binder if possible, or state the drilling sequence, e.g. 80 mm centre to centre for a standard A4-size 2-D ring binder.
	Packaging
	Packaging details must be clearly stated. The standard packaging weight per carton is 10 kg. If shrink wrapping is required, state the quantity of each shrink-wrapped parcel. If loose-leaf sets require packaging, specify whether coloured interleave sheets or paper banding should be used to separate the sets when they are packed into cartons.
	Delivery
	State if the delivery is to be FIS (free into store) or FOT (free on transport). A distribution list should be supplied with the quote specification. Alternatively, provide details about the number of destinations so that we can calculate the cost for packaging. Specify the date - this will help us in looking at production processes as well as schedules to achieve your required delivery. Take public holidays into account when we state the number of working days required to produce the job, in case one falls within the production period.
	Instructions for colour separations
	Colour separations can be a complex process. Printindo Utama can offer you full colour-separation facilities, but if you are using your own colour separator, there are a number of points which will make for a smoother running job. Specify the screen ruling - 140, 150, 175 or 200 lpi, and if negative or positive film (we always use negative right reading, emulsion down plate making film). We are happy to contact your positive film back to negative if necessary. If spot UV is to be used, a spot varnish mask in positive format will need to be output. Also ask for a dyeline proof to enable the placement of varnish to be checked. Specify if the job will be 4-colour process, printed on recycled or uncoated stock. If it is, it is important to ensure that the screen rulings are open enough when scanning and outputting the film. Specify the material that will be supplied: e.g. number of colour pics, transparencies, pieces of artwork, disks etc. State if colour mock-up/laser output will be supplied. State the level of complexity such as system work, deep etching, ghosting, mezzotint which we will be manipulating using Photo-Shop. Ask for our imposition laysheet if a colour separator is producing the film for you. State the programs you will be using, especially if they are not the industry norm (e.g. Quark Express and Pagemaker) such as Corel Draw, Freehand or Word for Windows, as these will require additional work to output to final film.