RESOURCES
Below you can find tools like Frequently asked questions for printing & ordering, guides & tools, as well as our blog where we dive deeper into the print industry.
Looking for something not listed? Reach out to us!
FAQ
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Guides & Tools
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Blog
Check out these articles to learn more about the print industry and Relm West.
FAQ
Art Questions
We prefer AI files as possible. We can accept PDFs and Adobe InDesign, but this may come with longer file prep times depending on the project.
We are always happy to give you feedback on your files if you send them over to customer service.
Sure! Having a physical sample is a great way to ensure a great color match, and we also can match Pantone colors.
Please see our Flexo Art Guidelines or Digital Art Guidelines for best file practices.
If you're looking to create your label, working with a graphic designer is a great place to start. Our team can recommend some great designers!
If you have the pieces, and just need to have them put together, we can help with the design and prepress.
If you have art but need changes, we can help with that too! We have a great art department that can help with changes to your files.
Printing takes place in CMYK (or 4 Color Process), and Pantone colors.
HEX or RGB colors are used for the web, and while these can't be used in printing, we can help guide you to similar colors and provide samples.
If your color is a code of numbers and letters (Ex. 085DAD), this is a web color.
A Pantone Color will look something like Pantone 301 Blue, and a CMYK Color will have a value for each color, and will look something like 100%, 46%, 0%, 42%.
Ordering Questions
To start an order, we will first need to quote your project. You can send over your information on our Request a Quote Form, email us at [email protected] or call us at 253-983-1040.
Once the quote is approved, customer service will guide you on the next steps. We can accept a purchase order, or take orders by email or phone.
Our standard lead time for labels is 1-2 weeks, and film is 3 weeks. We know sometimes you need your order sooner, and we're happy to work towards your need-by date! Let your customer service rep know when you need your order and we will do everything we can.
We believe in getting our customers what they need - when they need it! We rarely will ever pass on a "rush charge" or fee. We treat rushes as part of our flexible schedule, so charges are only applied if the job requires running outside of the normal scheduled hours.
Our minimum order quantity varies, depending on the project.
Generally, labels have no minimum order quantity and film starts at 7,500 feet. Let us know what you're looking for and we will guide you in the best direction!
Printing Questions
The unwind direction refers to the direction the labels or film comes off the roll. This is especially important for auto-applications.
Please see the below unwind chart for a visual:
CMYK printing or 4-color process printing uses the colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (K) to create a wide variety of colors and images.
Digital printing uses CMYK. This means that even if a Pantone color is called out, it is created and simulated by using CMYK.
Flexo printing can use CMYK, as well as spot Pantone colors.
The flexographic print method utilizes printing plates to transfer ink to the material. 1 printing plate per 1 color is required.
Relm West has in-house printing plates which helps keep plates speedy and low-cost. We also utilize shared plates whenever possible to keep your costs down.
Our customer service team will be able to advise you on how many plates your project will require and if any shared plates are possible after reviewing your artwork with our art department.
Pantone colors refers to a color chosen from the Pantone Matching System (PMS). This is a standardized system used widely in print and other industries.
The color chosen is communicated by the numeric ID - Ex. "Pantone 485 C".
We recommend referring to the Solid Coated Guide for printing with us.
If you choose a color but don't have access to a Pantone Book to view the physical color, let us know. We will help provide a physical representation of the color.
We're glad you asked! Our digital press is an inkjet printer like many others but surpasses most other presses in speed and quality. It prints at 1200 DPI for superior quality, with vibrant colors!
One of the best parts - No click charges! Click charges occur with many other digital printing companies due to standards set by their manufacturers. These can be tough to understand and be prepared for. We don't engage in that - We like to be easy to work with!
Check out our blog to find out more about why our digital department is top-of-the-line!
General Questions
We are thrilled you're interested in joining our team! Please send your resume to [email protected].
Our address is 4620 95th St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
We are located inside the industrial park.
We are open to visitors, will call, and are always happy to set up a tour!
We have partnerships with shipping carriers to ship all over the US and Canada, and are happy to work with you on other international shipments.