Answers to frequently asked questions

We have included on this page, answers to frequently asked questions that will help you understand terminologies and design processes. Please click on links below to jump to specific subject.

• What are the different file formats?
• Should I print in spot colour or 4-colour process?
• Do you work with customers outside of Australia?
• Do you provide print and distribution services?
• Why should we work with ipog design?
• How long does it take for a job to be completed?

What are the different file formats?

There are many file formats out there, depending on what you are having designed we will provide you with the most appropriate files for your business and printing needs.

• EPS file (Encapsulated PostScript) – Can be generated by all drawing applications as well as most layout applications. The EPS file can contain any combination of text, graphics, and images. It is editable, able to be made as big or as small as you need without it pixelating and the best way to have your logo designed and supplied to your printer for printing.
• JPG file – Are non editable and once reduced in size, you cannot recover the original data (“lossy file format”). JPG’s are good for emailing small files and web but not good for anything like illustrations, cartoons, lettering, or any images that have very sharp edges as they tend to blur.
• GIF file –GIF is used for images with only a few distinct colours, such as illustrations, cartoons, and images with blocks of colour, and images for the web. GIF, like JPEG, is a "lossy" file format, so it is not good for any detailed pictures or artwork.
• TIFF file – TIFF is the leading commercial and professional image standard. They are flexible and high resolution and, unlike the GIF and JPG, are “lossless” files, meaning they can be edited and resaved without suffering a compression loss.
• PDF file (Portable Document Format) – PDF files look exactly like original documents you have created. PDF is used for many purposes including viewing and printing documents and artwork. Generally speaking, we will send you PDF’s during the approval process of your own design job.

Should I print in spot colour or 4-colour process?

• Spot colour (also known as PMS or Pantone colour) is recommended for 2 to 3 colour jobs. For example, if you are creating a logo using 3 or more spot colours, we would recommend that you print in CMYK, as it is more cost effective. Printing any document (without photos) that only have 1, 2 or 3 colours in it, we recommend printing in spot colour as it is a more vibrant ink. Remember that black is considered a colour, so if you have a job that is black and pink, it is considered a 2 colour job. The bonus of printing in spot colour is that you can create tints or shades of the spot colours that you are using. So, for your 2 colour black and pink job, you can create the illusion of printing in lots of pinks, but you are really only using percentages of that one spot colour.
• Four colour process (also known as CMYK – C=cyan, M=magenta, Y=yellow, K=black) are 4 colours mixed together using varying percentages to create thousands of colours. When you specify a process colour, you do it by specifying a percentage value for each of the four colours. When you are using lots of colours in your artwork, it is recommended that you print using CMYK, as it is more cost effective.

Do you work with customers outside of Australia?

Absolutely! We communicate with our clients via the Internet, using Email, Skype and MSN Messenger.

Do you provide print and distribution services?

No, while we can offer you most design services, we leave it up to you to choose your printer. We do, however, have links to printers on our useful links page and provide you with print ready artwork, so you’ll have no hassles.

Why should we work with ipog design?

First and foremost, ipog design offers professional, personalised service to its clients. To compliment this, we offer years of knowledge, skills and creativity to make your job the best it can be. Our overheads are low and we can pass the savings on to you!

How long does it take for a job to be completed?

This all depends on your brief, number of changes you will need and how long it takes you to respond to our proposed drafts. The quicker you respond to us, the quicker we get the ball rolling. A timeline will be discussed between both parties, and deadlines will be agreed from those discussions.