FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions in our industry.
This is a wealth of information for anyone considering ordering promotional
items or advertising specialties. Click on any heading in the
green box, and it will bring to the area on this page with that
information defined. |
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Artwork |
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Artwork Requirements |
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The
products that you purchase are a direct reflection
of your company or organization. We want to ensure
that your message or identity is crisp, clean, and
consistent. The final product will only look as good
as the artwork that we receive. For this reason, our
requirements for submitting artwork appear below.
The most
common obstacle in printing a logo on items is
artwork that has been created or submitted at low
resolutions. You can always make a large image
smaller without losing quality, rarely can you make
a small image larger, without losing quality or
causing pixilation (rough edges). Please read below
for specific requirements.
Image Programs In Order of Preference:
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Adobe Illustrator® (saved as vector art)
or Adobe Photoshop® (.eps format) (Adobe
Photoshop .eps files are not in vector form)
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Corel Draw® * IBM-PC only (all text converted to
"curves" and file exported to "Adobe Illustrator
EPS" format)
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Macromedia Freehand® (All text must be converted
to "curves" and file exported to "Adobe
Illustrator EPS" format)
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Other Programs - Save artwork as vector in .eps
format (please convert them to adobe compatible
formats).
Fonts:
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When using a special font, it is critical that
you include the font when sending your artwork,
you may select the font by finding it in your
font directory and saving it to your desktop,
then attach it with your artwork when sending.
If you use the Style palette to modify your
font, it must be converted to outlines, or saved
as a rasterized flat layer image.
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Unique Fonts:
We have many fonts installed in our system that
we are able to use upon request. If a specific
font is requested that we do not have on file
please have a copy of the font requested
emailed.
Common Problems - Listed below are the most common
challenges we have with customer artwork files.
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File Size: Images must be at least 600 dpi
to be run through the image printing process.
Small images must be recreated in order to be
accepted by the print process. Please send your
size requirements, and send the image in the
exact size you would like it printed.
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Color Separations: Some printing processes
require that the artwork have different layers
created with each color needed able to be
separated from each other. This is necessary
when making several different color
silk-screens.
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Color Correction: Please follow standard
Pantone conventions to avoid any extra charges.
There is a Pantone color chart available on our
site. Also review our Requirements for Color
Separations and Camera-Ready Art.
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Font Substitution: For files that are
submitted without compatible Macintosh fonts,
"create outlines" or set text to" curves" on all
text in your files.
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Mode Change in Photoshop: RGB to CMYK,
Indexed Color to CMYK, etc. Please, DO NOT
submit files in Indexed Color or files that have
been compressed.
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Font Style Palette Corrections: All fonts
must be submitted to us in their "plain" form.
Stylization within the palette does not hold
through our image setter.
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Extending Bleeds: If "redrawing" is needed
to make the graphic bleed properly, additional
charges will need to be assessed (to be
determined).
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Resizing Graphic: Please send all graphics
sized at 100%.
If
your files require special attention to change or
correct any of the "obstacles" listed above, you may
incur additional charges to correct these problems. |
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Color Matching |
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matches are desired, please advise us of the PMS numbers.
All artwork without exact PMS colors will be matched as
closely as possible but exact color matching is not
guaranteed. Extra charges may apply for PMS color matching.
If no specific colors are specified stock ink colors will be
used at no additional charge. |
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Sending Artwork |
| Please send B&W vector (camera ready/print ready) artwork Adobe Illustrator.
Popular vector format file extensions include: .ai, .eps or
.PDF . If artwork
is sent in the following formats, .jpg, .gif,
.bmp, .tif, or a Photoshop generated .eps file, your order
may be delayed, and you may
incur an art charge of $29.95 to produce camera ready
artwork..
If sending
vector/print ready artwork (.ai, .cdr, .eps) with embedded
fonts please be sure that all fonts are converted to curves
or outlines to avoid any font substitution. If sending
raster artwork (.jpg, .gif, .bmp, .tif, or a Photoshop
generated .eps file) with embedded fonts please specify the
font used so we can recreate text accurately. If you would
like us to try and match the embedded font please specify in
the comments. |
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Imprinting Methods |
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| There are many different ways to imprint your company name or logo
onto promotional products. Some popular methods are
screen printing, laser engraving, and hot stamping. You'll
find the standard imprint method for specific products
usually listed in each item's description, along with the imprint
colors available for that item. Please take a moment to
learn more about the various imprint methods. If
you have questions, you're always welcome to contact us for
more information. |
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Screen
Printing |
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Screen
printing is one of the most versatile of all
printing processes. It can be used to print on a
wide variety of substrates, including paper,
paperboard, plastics, glass, metals, fabrics, and
many other materials including paper, plastics,
glass, metals, nylon and cotton. Some common
products from the screen printing industry include
posters, labels, decals, signage, and all types of
textiles and electronic circuit boards. The
advantage of screen printing over other print
processes is that the press can print on substrates
of any shape, thickness and size |
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Laser
Engraving |
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Laser engraving is the practice of using lasers to engrave,
etch, or mark an object. The technique can be very technical
and complex, and often a computer system is used to drive
the movements of the laser head. Despite this complexity,
very precise and clean engravings can be achieved at a high
rate. The technique does not involve tool bits which contact
the engraving surface and wear out. This is considered an
advantage over alternative engraving technologies where bit
heads have to be replaced regularly. |
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Hot
Stamping |
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Hot
stamping is a process in which an engraved image mold, hot
stamping die or type, is heated then forced down against a
product with a colored marking foil sandwiched in between.
The area where the die cast mold meets the product is where
the ink from the foil is left behind. |
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Debossing |
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While embossing raises the surfaces of materials,
Debossing
works in reverse, pushing the surfaces of materials inward
via a heat-pressing process. Often used for logos and
titles, Debossing enhances the appearance of your products
by adding 3-dimensional depth. This technique can
successfully be used to give your product that much sought
after eye-catching appeal. |
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Embossing |
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A
highly decorative technique, embossing raises surfaces to
transform ordinary, flat and lifeless material into uniquely
contoured, 3-dimensional patterns. Most often used on
letterhead, business cards, certificates and logos,
embossing enhances any design, giving your product a look of
sophistication and style. |
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Shipping |
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Shipment |
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All
orders are shipped via the most economical method
available to meet your due date (unless otherwise
specified), using the carrier of our choice. Rest assured that we do not
add inflated handling fees like some of our competitors.
Orders of excessive size or weight may be shipped via common
carrier (freight line) to ensure lower shipping charges; you
will be notified if this is necessary. |
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Time
Taken |
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All
orders are shipped direct to you from the manufacturer. We
typically provide tracking information within 24 hours of
shipment. Manatee is not responsible for shipping
delays or loss of goods caused by the carrier, customs
departments, or any other outside influence. All merchandise
becomes the property of the purchaser at the time of
shipment. |
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If you
have Questions |
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We
ship from various manufacturing facilities throughout the
United States and abroad. If your order contains multiple
items, these items may arrive in separate shipments. If you
have further questions or concerns regarding shipping,
please don't hesitate to contact Manatee for assistance.
Please be advised that shipping to PO or APO
boxes must be done so through the U.S. Postal Service. For international orders, please contact
us. |
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Privacy Policy |
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Use of
Data Collected |
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Manatee Productions Inc will respect your privacy with
the highest regards. Any data collected on our site is done
so on a secure server, which is perfectly safe to pass
sensitive information to and from. The data, when collected,
is only reused to allow you to be aware of any specials,
promotions, or order correspondence necessary to enable us
to provide you with the best shopping experience possible. |
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Correspondence |
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You
may choose not to receive periodic emails. In the event you
do not wish to receive any more periodic emails, you can
take your name off of our mail list at anytime by simply
sending us an email or calling us. |
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If you
have Questions |
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policy, or just do not wish to enter information online,
please feel free to call us at (877) 370-8886. |
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Return Policy |
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For
Defective Merchandise |
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Except in the case of manufacturing defects, we are unable
to accept returns on personalized promotional items. Please
check your order for defects immediately upon arrival, as
there are absolutely no returns after 15 days from receipt
of order. In the event that you receive defective
merchandise (defects unrelated to imprint), please contact
us immediately and we will work diligently to resolve the
issue. |
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For
Imprint Errors |
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Orders with imprint errors or incorrect products will be
reproduced free of charge. We will also arrange for pickup
of the misprinted items at no cost to you. |
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Proofs |
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Virtual
Proofs |
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Virtual proofs
(via an e-mailed .PDF file) are usually provided by
Manatee at NO CHARGE. Extra charges may apply for
additional proofs. Virtual proofs will be sent in black and
white unless imprint is multi color or specific PMS colors
are provided. Please allow up to 36 hours for virtual proofs
if requested. |
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Pre-Production Proofs |
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A
pre-production proof, which is an actual sample of the item
you are ordering with your imprint, is available for most
products. This is recommended when time allows, and
on large quantities. Upon
approval of the pre-production proof, your products will be
manufactured with standard production time. Pre-production
proofs typically incur setup costs in addition to the cost
of the item, and can add an additional 5-10 business days to
the ordering process to allow for factory setup, production
and shipping. Please contact us if you would like to request
a pre-production proof. |
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Trademarks |
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Copyrighted Images |
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All
logos and trademarks shown on products on our website appear
solely for illustrative purposes. Our use of the logos or
copyrighted material held by other companies is not meant in
any way to imply that Manatee Productions Inc owns the
rights to those images. As such, we will not reproduce
products featuring copyrighted text or images for any
purchaser without expressed permission from the owner of the
copyrighted material. |
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Legal Rights and Authorities |
Any
customer placing an order with Manatee represents that they have the legal right and authority
to use any intellectual property they submit as it pertains
to its application to promotional products. The customer is
liable for any copyright infringement issues which may arise
from their inappropriate use of intellectual property. Manatee will not be held responsible for the
unauthorized use of any trademark, logo, or copyrighted text
that is applied to any of the promotional products we sell.
In addition, the entire content of the Manatee website is owned and copyright protected by Manatee
Productions Inc. Our website and its contents may be
used as a shopping resource for non-commercial use only. |
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Site Information |
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Price Changes |
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While we make every effort to
keep our site up to date, occasionally market conditions may
cause product pricing to change. All pricing is subject to
change at any time, and we reserve the right to make such
changes as necessary. In the event that the price on an item
you order differs from the currently published web price, we
will notify you of the updated pricing or assist you with
finding a comparable product to better meet your budgetary
needs. |
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Product Images |
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We strive to provide clear,
accurate product images to assist you with your purchase.
Please be aware that computer monitors display color
differently, and the photos and color swatches shown are not
in any way guaranteed to precisely replicate the actual
product. It is always advisable to evaluate an actual sample
of the product when possible. |
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Cancellation Policy |
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After your order and artwork
has been approved, we submit it to the factory for printing.
We understand that occasionally a situation may arise where
a change needs to be made after art approval. Should this
occur, we will do our best to notify the factory of the
change before production begins. You may incur setup fees if
your merchandise has entered the production process.
Unfortunately, we are unable to cancel or change your order
once production has begun. Should you no longer require your
ordered materials after production, you will be liable for
the full cost of the items. |
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Rush Orders - Discuss
Your Needs |
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We understand that your
promotional needs may occasionally require rush service.
Many of our products have rush production options available;
please contact us to discuss your particular needs.
To
request rush service, simply specify during the order
process that you would like rush production. We will
determine the best options to meet your needs and will
contact you with an estimated production time. Please note
that rush service applies only to the manufacturing process;
your items will ship using the lowest cost ship method to
ensure on time delivery. Rush orders may incur an
additional cost. |
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Minimum Orders |
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We understand that businesses and individuals may not need large quantities of
personalized products, and we are more than happy to
accommodate smaller orders. While most products have
minimum order quantities, we can often negotiate smaller
orders with our manufacturers. Please contact us to
further discuss your options. |
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Overruns and Underruns Policy |
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| Due to the nature of the
printing methods used to produce and imprint products,
some items may have slight over or under runs. Manatee
Productions Inc makes every effort to minimize this
occurrence. Industry standard is ± 5% in most cases. You
will only be charged for the actual quantity shipped. Please
contact us if you have any questions regarding your specific
order. |
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