FAQ Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Jump to the Glossary
How do I make a PDF?
How do I submit a file to Duplicating?
I don't have any of those programs you use. Can I submit my file in a different format?
Why can't you accept Microsoft Word, Publisher, or Powerpoint files?
What is the most inexpensive way to order signs and banners?
Does it cost more to print signs and banners in color?
Who puts Parking signs up, and who puts them on wooden stakes?
What information do I need to have ready when I call the Duplicating Center regarding requested jobs?
How should I control the Job Numbering system? Do I need to change it at the end of the Fiscal Year? What are the restrictions?
How do I order a three-digit department chargeback code?
How do I make a PDF?
Read our PDF guide or visit Adobe Acrobat's website.
How do I submit a file to Duplicating?
Read our File Requirements page, and then see our Submit Job page.
I don't have any of those programs you use. Can I submit my file in a different format?
Usually, no. We need these programs to maintain consistency. On occasion, we can take a different format if it is necessary for the correct output of the job, but we can not guarantee outcome.
Why can't you accept Microsoft Word, Publisher, or Powerpoint files?
The fonts, graphics, and margins do not transfer to other workstations accurately from these programs. We can accept PDF files created from your work station from these programs.
What is the most inexpensive way to order signs and banners?
Take into account how we lay out signs, and page width. For most signs, we use 60" wide paper, and a printer that requires slightly less that .5" on each side of space. That means, to get the most out of the paper, we usually rotate your signs, and print them out sideways. This allows for Parking signs (32"x16") to come out in sets of 3, General Info signs (24"x12") to come out in sets of 4, and Large Banners (59"x24") to take up the full width of the paper. The coloplast sheets (used for mounting) also get cut at these same sets, with 2 Large Banners fitting inside one 5' segment. Since we charge for both by the linear foot, the least expensive way to order is in those sets. (For example, the charge for paper and coloplast is the same for 5 General Info signs as it is for 8. The only cost increase is the price of lamination, which is $1.00 per linear foot used.)
Does it cost more to print signs and banners in color?
No, it costs the same. Our Large Format system is designed for color output, and there is no cost reduction for just using black ink.
Who puts Parking signs up, and who puts them on wooden stakes?
Parking services is responsible for taking our mounted signs and putting them in the 9 sign holders around campus. By properly filling out a form on this site parking will be notified of your request. No one on campus provides wooden stakes. If you need to install a sign elsewhere, you should contact either Parking Services or Facilities Services first.
What information do I need to have ready when I call the Duplicating Center regarding requested jobs?
When you contact us, a few items of information are essential for us to process your request.
- First we need the job number, along with the title of your job.
- Next, we will need your three-digit account code. This tells us who you are and to which account we need to look.
- Finally, we need to know when your job was due, along with when the request was sent.
Since we can process upwards of hundreds of jobs a week, this information is very helpful. Please have it ready when you call. Thank you!
How should I control the Job Numbering system? Do I need to change it at the end of the Fiscal Year? What are the restrictions?
Each department can start their job number sequence with their own preference. It is helpful in tracking jobs when calling for the status of a job.
Suggestions: starting with 1, or HOU-001, or 001, and continuing until the end of the fiscal year.
How do I order a three-digit department chargeback code?
To order a three-digit department chargeback code please contact Duplicating at x75148 with the following:
- Your PeopleSoft # (assigned by the Budget Office)
- A title for your account
- Your contact information (name, phone, room number)
Glossary
Bindery
The term bindery refers to the post-production section of our department that deals with stapling, cutting, folding, numbering, coil binding, comb binding, fastbacking (tape style bind), perfect binding (glued-on cover style bind), unibinding (metal bracket style bind), drilling (holes), saddle stitching (stapled at center and folded), padding (pads with a glued edge), laminating, and all other forms of finishing your job.
Bleed
A bleed on a finished print refers to the ink/toner extending to the cut edge of the paper. In normal printing, that means the original must be designed with the bleed element extending past the crop marks (usually by .25" to .5"), then printed on oversized paper, and finnally cut down to size.
Coloplast Mounting
Coloplast in a corrugated plastic board that is waterproof and resists bending against the corrugation. We mount paper and laminated paper items to this using a double-sided tape. All parking signs are finished in this way to add strength and durability. Laminated items typically have excess flaps of lamination wrapped around to the back and are taped down for added wind resistance. This is meant as a durable outdoor finish and is not sutable for fine finishing, as the mounted item tends to not lie completely flat.
Crop Marks
Crop marks are short, small lines denoting where a page should be cut to final size. They are typically about .25" to .5" in length, and are offset from the page by .25" to .5" to prevent them from showing after the cuts have been made.
Gloss and Matte
These terms refer to the finish of the paper. A glossy finish is similar to a shiny photograph, reflecting light like a mirror. Matte has no shine to it, giving a flat appearence.
NCR
Standing for "No Carbon Required" (also known as "Carbonless Copy Paper"), NCR is a popular stock for making forms. Once printed, it allows a user to fill out a form and automatically copy what they write to the copies below simultaneously. The forms are printed in 2-6 sheet sets, and are then padded together into seperate sets for ease of use.
Trim Box
On large format prints (larger than 12"x18" and not produced on the press) crop marks become less useful as it is more difficult to line up long cuts (which are done by hand). In these cases a trim box is recommended. A trim box is a hairlne box that is placed so that once the job has been printed, it is cut off. Multiple peices can be layed up so that the trim boxes touch to save room. With trim boxes, the bleeds only need to reach the box, not extend beyond it. Trim boxes can be ommitted where the bleed extends clearly to the edge to be cut (and can not be confused with another item), or where the final print will include the raw edges of the paper (such as a 60" x 24" banner with white edges, in which case only trim lines on the long edges would be needed).
