Our "Q & A Forum" lists various printing questions, some quite common and others more obscure. If you have a question and cannot find the answer here email us a question and we will be happy to help you.

Q. What is the difference between four color process colors and PMS colors?
A. Four color process colors are created by mixing the four inks in order to create or approximate other colors. PMS colors are pre-mixed exact colors.

Q. Can the QMDI print PMS colors?
A. The QMDI can print PMS colors if we substitute the PMS ink with one of the four process colors.The QMDI only has four inkwells.

Q. What is the maximum sheet size that the QMDI can run? What is our standard heet size?
A. 13 1/2" x 18 1/8". 12 3/8" x 18 1/8".

Q. What is the maximum image area of the QMDI? Do all color bars and registration marks need to fall within this image area?
A. 12" x 17 3/4". All color bars and registration marks must fall within this area, or they will not be printed.

Q. What line screen (lpi) do we use on the QMDI? Is the QMDI capable of printing at other lpi?
A. 175. The QMDI is also capable of printing at 120, 133, and 150 lpi.

Q. What dpi do we use on the QMDI? Is the QMDI capable of printing at other dpi? If so, why is one dpi used more often?
A. 1270. The QMDI is also capable of printing at 2540 dpi. We use 1270 because
the untrained eye cannot tell the difference between the two, and the higher dpi results in longer file processing time.

Q. Can the QMDI directly accept hard copy? Can it accept negatives like the Quickmaster 46-2?
A. No. No.

Q. What options do we have for getting hard copy to the QMDI?
A. We can scan hard copy originals on the flatbed or drum scanner, depending on the final print quality desired by the customer.

Q. What is the difference between prepress and makeready?
A. Prepress is work done on a job before it is sent to the QMDI. Makeready is work done on a job on the QMDI itself before it goes to print.

Q. What primary ability must a software program have in order to send a job to the QMDI correctly?
A. Software programs must be able to handle color separations, specifically four color process (CMYK) separations.

Q. What software programs do not have this ability? What will happen if we attempt to send a job created in one of these programs to the QMDI?
A. Microsoft programs and low budget layout programs do not have this ability. Since these programs use a screen (RGB) color model, attempting to send these jobs to the press will result in incorrect color separations. Specifically, these jobs will not contain any black once separated.

Q. Is there a guaranteed workaround for printing these jobs on the QMDI? What issues may arise when attempting this workaround?
A. There is no guaranteed workaround, but we have had some success converting these jobs into another graphic format and changing the color model to CMYK. These files do not always convert correctly, though, and this may result in color shifting or lost information. Files like this are to be handled on a job-by-job basis and should only be accepted as a last resort.

Q. What qualities must all graphics have in order to be printed on the QMDI?
A. Graphics should be created or converted to a CMYK color model and must be high resolution. 150 dpi is the bare minimum. Graphics pulled from Web pages and converted to CMYK are not suitable since they will only be 72 dpi.

Q. What three desktop publishing programs (in order of preference) should be used for layout, and why? Why should graphics programs not be used for layout? What is the minimum amount of bleed required in a page layout?

A. QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, and Adobe InDesign, because we have QMDI-specific templates created for these three programs. Graphics programs should not be used for layout because no templates exist for these programs, so all graphics should be placed in one of the above three programs instead. Pages must contain a minimum 1/16" bleed (if they contain a bleed of any sort).

Q. Are PDF files suitable for printing on the QMDI?
A. Yes, if they have been created with a CMYK color model and contain the necessary bleeds and crop marks. PDFs created from Microsoft programs are not suitable.