frequently asked questions

Are you the same MJ Printing that used to be in Richmond?

That’s us! We outgrew our Richmond (Cremorne) premises, and moved to Oakleigh South in February 2017 as part of our plan for expansion.

Do you have a pricelist?

Short answer, no. As there are often so many variables we quote on a bespoke basis. Please see this post for more info about getting a quote!

Will you match my sample?

Sure! It’s best for us to see this at quoting stage, if you need to match a previous print. We will do our best to match your sample as closely as possible based on your specifications. E.g. if your sample is on coated stock, and the new job is on uncoated stock, there is likely to be some difference.

Can you meet my deadline?

Let us know at the quoting stage when your deadline is, and we can make sure to meet it.

How long will my print job take?

If you have a deadline, let us know that info first and we can work around that for you!

Otherwise, most standard orders can be filled within 2-5 working days, depending on what is required. If your job is more involved, e.g. with embellishments such as formecutting, then it may take longer.

That said, we can also provide same-day printing in some cases!

Do you do digital or offset printing?

Yes! We do both. If you’re not sure which to use, we will suggest the best method for your requirements.

What’s the difference between digital and offset printing?

Generally offset is higher quality, but tends to cost more up to a certain quantity due to set up costs, so it’s best for large volumes. Digital is most cost effective for small quantities. In many cases you can barely tell the difference, but sometimes it is more obvious, such as when printing photos on uncoated stocks.

offset vs digital printing — offset (left) vs digital (right) on uncoated stock

What is your minimum order quantity?

If your job would be printed digitally, there technically is no minimum quantity! You can have 50 business cards or 20 flyers, if that’s all you need. However, generally, the more are printed at a time, the better the value.

This is especially true for offset printing as there are more set up costs involved, so the minimum to be cost effective is usually about 250 SRA3 sheets.

How do I need to supply my artwork for print?

These are the three most important things we ask for:

Colour profile: Files must be in the correct colour profile, e.g. CMYK not RGB. RGB cannot be used for print, it must be converted to CMYK, which can produce some unexpected colour results. If you have nominated Pantone colours, these should be set in your artwork file.
Bleed & trim marks: If you have any images or backgrounds that you want to reach the very edge of the page, we require at least 3mm of bleed – this means the image must extend 3mm beyond where the sheet will be trimmed.
Resolution: For print we recommend 300dpi (300 dots per inch – that’s a lot of dots) or higher. If your supplied file is low resolution it may appear blurry when printed. Text and logos should be vector (lossless) where possible.

A PDF will almost always suffice, as long as it has been set up correctly based on the above points. Usually this will originate from InDesign or Illustrator.

Photoshop is fine for images, but text tends to come out a little blurry if it’s no longer vector.

If you’re using Word, that’s usually okay for something that does not need bleed. However, we strongly recommend converting it to a PDF first. Especially if you are using non-standard fonts. If you have used a font that we don’t have, it can literally change your entire document.

We know that not everyone is a graphic designer, and not every graphic designer works with print! If you have a different file format or just need a bit of help, feel free to contact us for a guide.

How can I send my files?

Files up to about 10mb can be emailed. Alternatively you can use Dropbox, WeTransfer, or a similar file sharing service, or send/bring it in on a disk or USB.

How do I impose my files for print?

Please don’t! You can just send us the 1 up file, and we will do the imposition. If you do impose your file, we may need to take it apart.

Do you do numbering/variable data?

Yes, we do standard numbering for docket books as well as personalisation for digital printing, e.g. numbered tickets, or names on invitations. You can even supply your own font!
Depending on the quantity, we may ask for the list of data in Excel format. Contact us for more info!

What does PMS mean?

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System, a global standard of colours with unique names/numbers. E.g. PMS 485 is a red. PMS 871 is a metallic gold. Some are basic colours that come ‘straight from the tin’, and others are specific mixes of those colours. The Pantone guide provides the “recipe” for each colour so the printer knows how to mix it, for example PMS 312 (blue) contains 40.6% Pantone Process Blue, 9.4% Pantone Green, and 50% Pantone Transparent White.

It’s important when choosing PMS colours to consider the paper it will be on. If you’re using an uncoated stock, make sure you are looking at PMS 312U, not PMS 312C. U is for uncoated, C is for coated. They can often look different. Even though the “recipe” to mix that ink is the same, regardless of paper stock, the CMYK values can be different.

Some colours are more affected by this than others. See this post for more info!

What does CMYK OR RGB mean?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key), the four colour process used for full colour printing, such as photos.

RGB – red, green, and blue – is only for use on screen, and cannot be used for print. RGB is an additive process which makes white, and CMYK is subtractive (is this a word? never mind, all words are made up) which makes black.

This often means CMYK will look a bit darker. It also means that the way a colour looks on your screen, will often look different when printed! If you create a file in RGB, it has to be converted to CMYK for printing, and this can produce some unexpected colour results.

Can I have a non-standard size?

Yes! You can have any size you like as long as it fits on our press. In some cases, we may recommend an alternative size if we can see it will be more economical.

Keep in mind that if you are after something like a greeting card that will go in the mail, there are standard sizes for envelopes and post regulations.

What paper do you provide?

We have most standard papers in stock, such as gloss and uncoated, but we can almost always easily order in any stock required from the major paper suppliers in Australia. We are happy to make recommendations, and can provide samples.

Can I provide my own paper?

Yes, but we may need to test it first depending on the process required. SRA3 (320 x 450mm) is generally the preferred size, but we can make accommodations if required! We’re always open to trying new things.

What does gsm mean?

GSM stands for grams per square meter, and is the most common measurement of paper thickness / weight in Australia. For context, standard office paper is usually around 80-90gsm, and a postcard is more like 300gsm.

Will you send me a proof?

Yeah buddy! We can send a PDF proof, for you to check details and layout. This is always done if we have set the artwork up for you, made changes to your supplied artwork, or if you requested a proof.

We can also provide a digitally printed hard copy proof, and in some cases a press printed proof. A printed proof may be necessary to check colours, as these can appear differently from screen to screen.

Do you print on tshirts/tote bags/fabrics?

No, we do not print onto fabrics – only paper and some paper-like substrates.

What kind of binding do you do?

Saddle-stitching (stapling), perfect binding, and wire binding are the most common methods that we do, but we are always open to creativity. Just contact us if you have something else in mind.

Do you deliver / can I collect?

Yes! We use a same-day courier service or Australia Post. You can also collect from us at 55 Cleeland Road, Oakleigh South, or use your own courier service to collect (please provide us with any labels required in this case).

Do you white-label?

Yes, we can white-label or use your labels to send goods to your clients without our branding.

What payment forms do you accept?

Direct transfer, Visa, and MasterCard.

What if something is wrong with my order?

Let us know straightaway! We want you to be 100% happy with your order, so if something is wrong please tell us so we can work out a way to rectify it as quickly as possible.

How can I order a reprint?

We will have your artwork files in our archive, so ordering a reprint is usually as simple as just calling or emailing and…asking for a reprint! (Unless changes are required). We can still send a proof for you to check prior to printing.