MTSU Printing Services

The purpose of this page is to offer tips that you, our customers can use to make your life and ours easier by helping you better utilize our service. Basically, our main objective is to do as much as we can, as fast as we can, for as little as we can. We are here to serve you. If tips on this page seem rather elementary, it is simply because over the years we have found that many times, customers simply don't have the time to think about all of this stuff. If you have a question or idea which you think will benefit others, please let us know and if we think your idea or question will help others, we'll post it.

Team work works. When you are planning a printed piece, it is best to work with us from the very beginning. Too often customers wait until the day they need their project completed to contact the printer only to find that it cannot be completed within their time frame. At MTSU, Publications and Graphics does all prepress work and is responsible for insuring that publications meet certain minimum guidelines as required by University policy and the Tennessee Board of Regents. If your project requires typesetting, artwork, editing, or a publication number, your primary contact will be Publications and Graphics. We work as a unit with Publications and Graphics. They will take your project, do their part, then pass it along to Printing Services. If your project is a reprint of something we have printed previously and there are no changes, or if your request is for copying or quick printing, you may bring your request directly to Printing Services.

Order enough. When placing an order, order enough the first time. There is a big difference between running a few sets on a copier and actually printing a job on a press. A large portion of the cost of printing a job is setup. If you order fewer copies than you need then order more a few days later, you will pay for two setups. The cost of setting up a typical printing job can range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. There is also the scheduling factor. Most printers keep a backlog of work that can be as short as a day or two to several weeks. I know one large commercial printer that tries to keep enough work lined up to keep a six month backlog. Simply put, you will receive much more cost effective service if you order enough the first time.

WYSIWYG is not necessarily WYSIWYG. Many times, customers compose their projects using a desktop publishing program then are not happy when colors are not brighter and everything is not where it was on the screen. Ink on paper will not look the same as lighted pixels on a computer screen. If you work with P&G and Printing Services from the beginning, you will be less likely to be surprised with the final result. Another thing that happens many times is that a customer sets up a project on his or her computer and the piece is composed for a certain desktop printer. When you take your project to P&G or Printing Services "ready to go" it may require other work like recomposing for a different printer or output device. The best thing to do is work with P&G from the beginning. They can advise you as to how to set up your piece.

What's the purpose and is it worth it? Printing is one of two things, it's information and/or image. Many times, customers want a piece printed on fancy paper with multiple colors of inks and costly finishing. If your project is for information purposes like a form or memo, it's probably not a good idea to print it on high gloss paper and colored ink. Forms that have to be written on don't work good on high gloss paper or soft felt finishes. On the other hand if you need a brochure or other piece to promote an event or to enhance your department's image, you will probably not achieve your goal if the piece is copied on plain white bond paper in black ink only. We are always happy to assist you in choosing appropriate papers and colors for your project so you will achieve the desired result and get the best bang for your buck.

Printers speak a different language. If you're totally confused as to what all of this stuff like the difference between 70 pound and 20 pound paper is and what's the difference between points and picas, and what does the 10 mean in number 10 envelope, go back to our links and check out the glossary.

The two second rule. If the purpose of a printed piece is to inform someone about something, the first thing you have to do is get their attention. Every printing project begins with an idea. Too often we have a good idea then spoil it by looking at it too much. The two second rule is this: Look at a proof of our piece for about two seconds then lay it aside. Think about it. Does it stimulate your curiosity? Does it make you want to look further? If it doesn't, change it. If it makes you want to stop and look deeper, leave it alone. You have to get someones attention first and you have about two seconds to do it.

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