Getting Started With ProDPI
Roes
Shipping
Photographic Printing
Press Printing
Books
Canvas and Wall Clings
Mounting
Turnaround Times
Getting Started with ProDPI:
Q. How do I set up an account?
A. Our homepage has a link called “Sign Up!” which will take you to a page with simple instructions/links to sign up to be a ProDPI customer.
Q. Why do you require a credit card to create an account?
A. We request a credit card to put on file during the sign up process because many customers will begin place orders immediately after signing up and without a valid credit card on file, we are unable to ship out your product!
Q. Is there a fee to have an account with ProDPI?
A. Not at all!
Q. How can I see your papers before I start ordering?
A. As soon we receive confirmation of your account we ship you a complimentary sample pack! This will include a swatchbook of our paper types as well as a small collection of our press printed products.
Q. What color spaces may I use?
A. ProDPI accepts all RGB color profiles so long as they are embedded in your file. We do not accept CMYK files.
Q. Do you offer web cart services?
A. ProDPI currently does print fulfillment for two webcart services, Digiproofs and Nextproof. You can contact either of these companies to obtain more information on the products and services they offer.
Q. How can I change my information on file – address, email, phone number, credit card?
A. You can update your account information by logging into www.prodpiconnect.com. If you would prefer to contact us by email you can send your request to support@prodpi.com or contact us by phone at (855)ProDPI-5, or (855)776-3745.
Roes:
Q. Where can I download the ProDPI Roes Ordering program?
A. In the downloads section of our website! The link is here: Downloads
Q. How do I import files into the Roes program so that I can place my order?
A. Once you have Roes open you will click on the “Folder” button on the bottom right of the screen and choose the folder of files that you would like to use. On most computers you will have to select the folder itself to import its contents, as Roes wont always let you grab the individual files from within the folder.
Q. How do I remove the images that I have currently in Roes if Im finished using them?
A. You will just import your next folder!
Q. Why wont Roes recognize the files in my folder?
A. If Roes is not importing all the files from your folder you may have a couple of images that are not properly saved. It is important to remember that Roes only identifies JPG files that have been embedded with an RGB colorspace.
Q. If I cant see the ‘Get Started Here’ catalog in Roes, how do I order my sample prints?
A. If the ‘Get Started Here’ catalog is not visible in your Roes menu, you can click “Sizes”, then the ‘Show SIzes Pallet’ option so that the menu opens in a new screen. Then you can use the drop down menu on the bottom of that new screen to scroll all the way to the bottom and select the ‘Get Started Here’ catalog.
Q. How do I change the quantity on my Press order? Roes wont accept it!?
A. At this time there is really only one place to update your quantity when placing a press order, in the Options pallet. You want to make sure that you are updating the quantity in the same place that you are selecting your paper type, and not in the ‘Quantity’ field next to the ‘Add To Order’ button. We understand that its a little confusing but you are on the right track if your quantity is right next to your paper selection and looks something like this: Smooth Matte (2)
Shipping:
Q: What is standard shipping?
A: Its free! Standard shipping to your studio is sent via UPS with tracking and is guaranteed in 1-3 business days after initial shipment!
Q: Do you ship to PO Boxes?
A: At this time the only option for shipping to PO Boxes is Postal Drop Shipping. We cannot ship to PO Boxes through UPS.
Q: If I need my order faster, what upgrades are available?
A: We have two types of shipping upgrades available, UPS 2-Day Air, and UPS Next Day Air. Prices are listed below:
-UPS 2-Day Air: $6.00
-UPS Next Day Air Saver: $12 + 15% of the cost of your order. This shipping method is guaranteed to be delivered by the end of the business day.
-UPS Next Day Air: $20 + 15% of the cost of your order. This shipping method is guaranteed to most destinations by 12pm.
-UPS Next Day Air + Saturday: $30 + 15% of the cost of your order. This shipping method is only available for orders that are completed and shipped out on Friday.
It is important to note that upgrading your shipping selection DOES NOT affect the turnaround time of your order in lab, only the time it takes during shipping.
Q. What is Drop Shipping?
A. Drop Shipping is a service we provide where you can select to have your order shipped directly to your customer via UPS Ground. Packages are shipped in unmarked brown boxes and do not contain any material related to our lab so you can maintain anonymity regarding your printer. Standard shipping upgrades are also available.
Q. What is Postal Drop Shipping?
A. Postal Drop Shipping is a more economical version of our standard Drop Shipping. Postal Drop Ship orders are sent through the Postal Service rather than UPS and can take up to 14 business days to be delivered. Orders sent with Postal Drop Shipping may not contain any more than 50 prints and cannot contain prints any larger than 8×10. Orders are mailed in stiff tan Jiffy mailers.
*Executive Packaging is not available with Postal Drop Ship orders.
Q. What is Executive Packaging?
A. Executive Packaging is the best way for you to add a beautiful presentation to your studio or drop ship orders. We currently offer two types of packaging so that you can customize with ease. Our standard Executive Packaging includes black boxes with black tissue paper and a silver bow. Our Green Executive Packaging includes recycled brown craft boxes with cream tissue paper and a cream cotton bow. Both of these services include box sizes as small as 4×6 and as large as 11×14. For more details and images you can visit the packaging section of our Services page.
NOTE: Bamboo and Standout Mounted prints cannot be executive packaged.
Q. Is there an order minimum for shipping?
A. Drop Ship orders do not have any minimum, but to qualify for the Free 1-3 Day Studio shipping your order must be at least $12. If your studio order does not meet that $12 minimum we will round!
Q: Do you ship to Canada?
A: Yes! We do! We currently ship to Canada through UPS STANDARD. The fees are based on weight and destination of the package. We charge actual UPS rates + Duty and Taxes. Feel free to contact us directly for more information. Most Canadian Shipment fees will range between $25 – $50, depending on the final weight of the package.
NOTE: We do not offer drop shipping services to Canada at this time.
Photographic Printing:
Q. Do I really need to resize my images when sending an order via roes?
A. Photographic Album prints, and Express Proofs are the only products where specific file sizing is required. You can find the specifics for Express Proof sizing in our Price Guide and album prints should be sized according to the requirements of your album binding company.
Q. What should the resolution be for proof book thumbnail images?
A. When ordering 8×10 or 10×13 proofs books (or our new Eco Proofs Books) you should resize your images to have the longest dimension set to 1500 pixels. For more information on resizing images, refer to our price guide.
Q. How can I duplicate an order I placed previously?
A. ProDPI tries to have the fastest turn around times possible, and because of this we cannot guarantee that we have orders on file after they have gone to print due to our lab’s volume. To duplicate an order we require our customers to place a new order. You can find a quick ‘How To’ on this process in the Roes Help link on our website.
Q. What will be back printed on my prints?
A. The image’s file name, the order number, and a dated copyright to the studio name you have on file.
Example: 2 345695 sunset_red.jpg Sunshine Photography Inc. © 2011
Q. What is the difference between Fuji Pearl and Kodak Metallic?
A. Both papers are similar in the fact that they are high gloss, high contrast, and high saturation papers. Fuji Pearl has a softer pearl finish than Kodak’s Metallic. Fuji Pearl is also available up to 30×50, whereas Kodak Metallic is limited to 20×30 maximum size.
Q. What are the crop ratios of the 5×5/8×8 bordered proofbooks?
A. Roughly a 3:4 aspect ratio for both. However, we do have other options in Roes. Our “No Crop” border can be used for full frame images, or you may zoom in to create square images.
Q. Do you slightly enlarge my image files?
A. Our printers will automatically enlarge your images approximately ⅛” during the digital printing process to ensure that there are no white slivers on your final prints.
Q. Do you auto-sharpen files?
A. There is a minimal automatic sharpening applied to each image as they are printed.
Q. Why do my non-color corrected prints look different from my monitor?
A. It is most likely that your monitor is not correctly calibrated. Information about this can be found in our price guide. There are also numerous sources on digital photography forums and color management sites explaining and offering suggestions on monitor color calibration.
Q. Can I combine orders from different catalogs?
A. Yes and No. You are able to order any of our photographic papers in the same order , however other types of products are not always available for combination during the ordering process. For example, a Photographic print order cannot be combined in the same Roes order as a Canvas or a Wall Cling because each of those products have a different turnaround time and pathway through production.
Q. Do you offer any coating or texturing of photographic prints?
A.Yes we do! At this time we have both Linen and Pebble texture available on any of our four photographic papers. We also offer Lustre coating for your Fuji Lustre prints up to size 12×18!
Q. How do I order a custom size?
A. If you have a size that you need to order that isnt already listed in the Roes program you will need to specially prepare your file. You can find a video explaining how this is done here, but it can be broken down into three basic steps. Example: you need to order a 15×18 print.
1) crop your file to the exact size you need your final print to be.
2) Identify the closest available size in Roes, which would be a 16×20 in this case.
3) create a border on your 15×18 file to make the final canvas size 16×20 and submit your order as a 16×20 print with instructions requesting we trim off the border after printing.
Press Printing:
Q. How can I see the Press Papers before I start ordering?
A. Once you create an account with us we send out a sample package of some of our products and this always includes a Swatchbook! Our Swatchbook contains all 11 of our Press Printed paper options as well as photographic paper samples!
Q. Do I design my press files in CMYK?
A. Since we cater to a photographic market, ProDPI only accepts embedded RGB profiles for our photographic and press prints. Our press templates are in an SRGB color space by default. Designing in CMYK will NOT give you the most accurate color representation of your final print.
Q. Why doesn’t my sized (5×7, 4×5.5, etc.) press file fit your templates?
A. ProDPI always suggests using our design templates. At minimum we suggest taking your pre-designed graphic and placing it into our template, where our guides indicate areas that may or may not show up in your final product. Our press templates are not exactly 5×7, 4×5.5, etc. because they accommodate for areas where trimming and/or bleeds will occur. All our Press Templates are available for download from the “Downloads” page of our website!
Q. What does the Red area of the Press Templates represent?
A. The RED area of the template represents where the final trimming will occur. Our cutting equipment has a tolerance for the trimming process and the final cuts can shift around within the RED area of the template. If you have an image or design in your file that you want to bleed off the edges of your final product you MUST make sure that it extends all the way to the edge.
Q: What does the Blue line in the Press Templates represent?
A: The BLUE line is there to show you how far to bring your border in from the edges to ensure that it will be as even as possible on your final product. If you are using a border in your design we strongly suggest that you make it at least as large as the BLUE line in the guide.
Q. How do I order a custom product from the Press Printing catalog?
A. At this time we are not fulfilling custom orders in our Press Department. We do encourage you to email press@prodpi.com with the specifications for your custom product for review. This allows our Press Team to gather information about what our customers are looking for, and also to consider future product additions.
Q. Why can’t I order Promo Packs with envelopes?
A. Our promo packs serve a specific purpose: promotional items! By printing in bulk and removing the option of envelopes we are able to provide our promo products at a super discounted price!
Q. Why can’t I combine Press orders?
A. Each press order is unique in its path through our Press Department. Our ordering system for Press is designed to provide the quickest, most efficient process so that we can get your product to you in a timely manner. Because of this we are not able to accept multiple designs or sizes within the same order in Roes. We do our very best to combine your Studio shipping orders in the same box for shipment though!
Books:
Q. What is the best Book paper to use for guest books or sign in books?
A. Definitely our Layflat Felt! This option will lay completely flat once opened, much like a traditional photographic album, and the Felt paper is great for writing on!
Q. What is a Photo Cover?
A. Our Photo Covers are actually Fuji Lustre or Fuji Pearl photographic prints that are laminated and then made into a book cover. The laminating process makes the finish of the books very durable and smooth.
Q. What is a Fusion Cover?
A. Our Fusion Covers are amazing! They combine an eco press printed image with any of our standard, linen, silk or chrome fabrics! You can customize the fabric choice to match with a color in the images from the book! The Eco Press paper is laminated as well so it has the same luxurious feel as the Photo Cover option.
Q. How many fabrics do you have and how can I see them?
A. We have images available on our website of all the fabric and leather options and you are welcome to order a Book Fabric Swatch Kit from Roes which contains all of our fabric, leather and photo cover options!
Canvas and Wall Clings:
Q. What size should I make my file for a Gallery Wrapped Canvas?
A. We always recommend taking the time to prepare your file if you want to print it as a gallery wrapped canvas. If you are ordering an 8×10 you should prep your file as a 12×14 with the expectation that 2” of the image on every side will be wrapped around the sides and back of the canvas.
Q. What if I cant afford to lose 2” of my image on all four sides because too much will be cropped out?
A. This isnt a problem! All you need to do for an image like this is crop it to the exact size of the canvas you are ordering, for example, 8×10, and then add a 2” border on all sides so that your final product is 12”x14”. We can take care of the rest!
Q. What is a flat canvas?
A. A flat canvas is exactly that, a canvas print that is not stretched or mounted! We will print your image as flat canvas and add a 2” border on all sides, then roll and ship! You can frame these products or stretch them yourselves!
Q. What is a Wall Cling?
A. A wall cling is amazing! These are a specialty product where we print your beautiful images directly onto this super cool fabric-esque material that has adhesive on the opposite side. Once you receive your print you can peel back the wax paper and stick it directly on your wall! No mounting required! We can even cut these into amazing shapes!! Wall clings are an amazing and affordable way to shot off beautiful images!
NOTE: Because of the nature of this product we do not offer sizes smaller than 20×30, unless you count some of our shapes.
Mounting:
Q. Is your mounting undersized?
A. Yes it is! All of our mounting substrates are slightly undersized, but this varies depending on which one you have selected. We undersize our mounting so that your print can be adhered in the most efficient way possible. Your image will always be printed at the exact size that you order but your final product will be slightly smaller after mounting and trimming.
Specifics:Our Matboard, Foams and Styrene options are all ⅛” undersized. Our ¾” Standout mounts are ¼” undersized. The 1 ½” Standout mounts are ½” undersized and the Bamboo Panel mounts can vary between ¼” – ½” undersized.
Q. What is the best mounting to order for humid climates?
A. Our Black or White Styrene, ProDPI Black Foam, and Stand-outs are the most suitable mounting products for more humid climates.
Q. Can I hang my mounted print in direct sunlight?
A. Please dont! Any photographic print is best preserved in indirect sunlight and away from any heat or cooling source. When you mount a print, this is even more important. The adhesive layer in between your print and the mounting substrate can be altered by direct sunlight, moisture, heat or cold air and can result in bubbles underneath the surface of your print.
Q. Is there a fee for a custom mount size?
A. When you have a custom sized print with mounting, it will incur a small trimming fee. The trim fee for mounting is $1.00 per mounted print.
Q. How do I hang a print that has been mounted on foam, styrene, or matboard?
A. You have a few options when it comes to hanging foam, matboard, or styrene mounted prints. One method we do suggest is to use an adhesive to fasten a hinge or hook to the back of the print, which can then be connected to a screw or nail in the wall. Another option is to frame the print itself.
Q. What is the best mounting to order for framed images?
A. All of our mounting, (except Stand-outs or Bamboo Panels!), is highly suitable for framing. Things to consider when ordering are the thickness of the mount versus the space available in the frame. Our Standout Mounting is also a beautiful alternative to framing as it comes ready to hang on the wall.
Q. Why can’t I select Standout Mounting in Roes for my print?
A. If you are unable to select standout mounting for your print it may be due to the fact that it is not available in the size you desire. If you refer to our Price Guide you can see that our Standout mounting is not an item that can be customized. All of our Standout mounting comes pre-sized.
Q. How fast can I get a mounted print if I order with 100% Rush?
A. 100% Rush will cut the turn around time down from 2-4 to 1 day in lab. As long as your RUSH order is received here in our lab before 11AM MT your order will be shipping out with UPS the same day!
Turnaround Time:
Q. Do you have same day turnaround?
A. Only if you RUSH your order. We offer RUSH services on most of our products, as long as the order is received here in lab before 11am MT, M-F. RUSH services will guarantee that your order leaves that same day, but does not affect the shipping times. RUSH services incur a 100% cost increase.
Q. What is the turnaround time for Photographic printing?
A. 1 business day! Any order we receive before 3pm MT, M-F, will be completed the following business day!
Q. What is the turn around time for mounted prints?
A. Mounting services add an additional 2-3 business days in lab after printing. Any mounted order placed before 3 PM on one of our business days will be officially due for completion 2-4 business days later.
Q. What is the turn around time for Press Products?
A. The turn around time for our Press products is the same as our normal Fuji photographic printing, just one business day in lab!
Q: What is the turn around time for Book Products?
A: The turn around time for products from our Books department is currently 1-2 business days in lab.
Q. What is the turn around time for Canvas?
A. The turn around time for Canvases is 2-4 business days in lab. At this time there are no shipping upgrades available for our canvas products so all orders will ship UPS Ground. It is important to calculate that into your expected turnaround time.
Q. What is the turnaround time for Fabric Wall Clings?
A. The turn around time for Fabric Wall Clings is 1-2 business days in lab. All fabric wall cling prints will be rolled for shipment!