Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a price quote?

Simply select the options and services you want for the product you want. Add the item to your cart. You can view your card by clicking on the "my cart" button in the grey navigation bar at the top of the page. Items are not purchased until you proceed to checkout.

If you don‚'t see what you are looking for, click the "contact us" button under the logo, and let us know all of the details of your job and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

Please include:

1. Your name and contact phone number in case we have any questions.
2. The quantity you need.
3. A description of what you are looking for with as much detail as possible including the size, the number of sides printed, the paper stock, folding and any other bindery instructions.
4. The turn around time and shipment method you desire.
5. Anything else you think will help us respond accurately to your request.

What are the steps to ordering?

To place an order with Digital Print Engine, begin an order by selecting from the top orange navigation bar, the product you are interested in. Select the options for the product along with any additional options you desire.

Once you have completed configuring your product, click the "Add to Cart" button. When you have selected all the items you want purchase, view your cart by clicking on the "my cart" button in the grey navigation bar at the top of the page. Then, click the "Proceed to Checkout" button when satisfied with the quantities. Here you will be asked your billing and shipping information, shipping method, and payment information.

Have more questions? Continue to browse our Help Center, give us a call at 701-356-7770 or click the "contact us" button below the logo.

Can I cancel or change my order?

You can cancel or change your order if we have not already started printing it. Please give us a call immediately to notify us of the change or cancellation. 701-356-7770. Any jobs that have been printed will be charged to your account.

Can I change my file after I upload it?

Please review your file carefully before you upload it. Please give us a call immediately to notify us of the change. Once we have printed it, it is too late to make any changes, and will be charged to your account.

Have questions about your order? Call us at 701-356-7770.

How do I upload my files?

Once you have chosen your options for the product, you can Upload Your Artwork using the "Browse" button.

How do I know if my upload was successful?

Once your files are uploaded, we will review it and notify you of any problems. An Error message will appear if there are problems at the time of uploading.

Can I upload my files before I make an order?

Yes, you upload your files at the time of selecting other options for your job, then add the product to your cart. Orders are only placed when you proceed to checkout.

Will I receive an email to confirm my order?

Yes, you will receive an email confirmation that we received your order. Any problems we have with the file, or questions will be addressed at that time.

How do I check my order status?

You can give us a call at 701-356-7770 and we will report the status of your order. If you have registered for an account, you can also see your order progress under the My Account link.

When am I charged for my order?

You will be charged for your order once you proceed through the checkout. Digital Print Engine uses Paypal to collect payment.

What payment methods do you accept?

Digital Print Engine accepts Visa, Master Card, and Discover and Paypal accounts for payment.

How can I get a receipt?

You can print a receipt from the Paypal website you will be directed to.

How are returns and refunds handled?

All Sales Are Final. No refunds will be issued after the job has been approved and printed. Customer must notify DigitalPrintEngine.com within 2 business days of order acceptance to report any defects discovered in the ordered product. 100% of the received product should be returned to DigitalPrintEngine.com within 5 days from the day the job was received. Once the claim has been approved by DigitalPrintEngine.com, a reprint at no cost will be given to the Customer.

Do you share my information with any other businesses?

If you are purchasing a product, we will request some personal information such as name, address, email, telephone number, account number and other relevant information. We will also collect financial information used only to bill you for the services you purchased. All information collected is used only to process your order. We do not share our information with other businesses.

Why should I log into or register with Digital Print Engine?

Registering and logging into Digital Print Engine makes return visits to the site easier. You can enter in your shipping and billing addresses, re-order previously placed orders, and submit product reviews.

Will you store my files so I can reorder them later?

Digital Print Engine will store your files only if you register with the site. To register, go to the "log in" button on the grey navigation bar in the upper right part of the page. Click on the blue "Create an Account" button to register your name and email address.

How do I reorder a project?

The reorder button is only available to users that have logged into the site. Log in to your account by clicking on the "log in" button on the grey navigation bar in the upper right part of the page. Once logged in, you can view your past orders by clicking on "my account" on the grey navigation bar in the upper right part of the page, then on "My Orders" on the left side of the page. All orders that you have placed previously will be listed here, and available for you to reorder.

Which file formats give the best printed results?

Digital Print Engine recommends a high resolution PDF. We also recommend EPS files with embedded fonts. EPS produces excellent results for documents that combine raster (images) with vector (text). For an image file without a lot of text, a .tif is an excellent format.

Which file formats does Digital Print Engine accept?

We accept the following file formats:

• .pdf
• .tif (flattened layers)
• .jpg
• .eps
• .psd
• .ai
• .indd
• .zip

Please make sure your files are at least 300 dpi, and allow .125" per side for a bleed. For example, on a 4" x 6" card, you would send your art sized at 4.25" x 6.25".

Tips for making print ready files with Microsoft Word and Publisher

Setting up the file: For flat pieces, the page or canvas size is always .25" larger than the finished piece. Example, for a 4" x 6" postcard, go to FILE -> PAGE SETUP, a Page Tab will appear on the right hand side. The width should be set at 6.25" and the height will be set at 4.25" (this will allow for the .125" bleed), click OK. Place a guide line .25" inside on all 4 sides (this will allow for a caution zone or margin).

Any artwork that is meant to go to the edge of the finished piece, needs to go the edge of the canvas and any text or other live matter needs to stay inside the margin guide lines.

To save your file as a PDF: File->Print, for the Printer Name, select Adobe PDF or PDF Creator. Click on the "Properties" button. The default setting will be "Standard" click the drop down arrow and select PDFs using PDF/x-1a:2001 or High Quality Print. This will embed the fonts and image resolution.

Before you click OK, go to the Layout Tab -> Advanced Tab -> Paper Size drop down menu -> Postcript Custom Page Size -> Width will be set at 6.25" and Height 4.25". Click OK until you get back to the Print window and click Print. Take note as to where the file is being saved.

To verify your PDF before uploading: Open the PDF you just created and scroll down towards the bottom left hand corner. The PDF size should read 6.25" x 4.25". If this is correct, you are ready to upload.

To save your file as a jpg or tiff: File -> Save As,
Save as type: JPG File Interchange Format (jpg) OR
Save as type: Tag Image File Format (tif)

When selecting either format, a "Re Standard printing (150dpi)" appears with a "Change" button. Click the "Change" button and select Press Quality (300dpi).

How do I export my file from Microsoft Publisher?

To export files from Publisher, go to the file Menu and select Save As. Save As a Tiff.
File > Save As. In the Save As dialog box, select .tif. (Tag Image File Format)
Be sure to change the resolution from the default, which is 150dpi, to Press Ready, which is 300 dpi.

How do I export my file from Photoshop?

.jpg- Choose File> Save As. Next to format pick the .JPG file extension, and click Save.
.pdf- Choose File> Save As. Next to format pick the Photoshop PDF file extension, and click Save.
.eps- Choose File> Save As. Next to format pick the Photoshop EPS file extension, and click Save.
.tif- choose File> Save As. Next to format pick the .tif file extension, click Export, and click Save.

Can I order a hard copy proof?

You can order a hard copy proof by requesting one in the Special Instructions box on the products pages. We will print one copy of your file on the stock you chose for you to review and approve before continuing with the remainder of the order.

What is the benefit of ordering a hard copy proof?

Hard Copy Proofs are a service specifically for color matching purposes. We will print one copy of your file on the stock you choose for you to review and approve before continuing with the remainder of the order.

How do I upload a new file if I find an error?

If you realize there is an error in your file, please call 701-356-7770 immediately so we don‚'t continue with the production of your order. We will then direct you on how to proceed on getting us another file.

If we find problems with your file and request a new file, we will contact you via email with instructions on how to proceed.

What is Resolution?

Resolution is the term used to describe the number of dots, or pixels, used to display an image. Higher resolutions mean that more pixels are used to create the image, resulting in a crisper, cleaner image.

The display, or resolution on a monitor, is composed of thousands of pixels or dots. This display is indicated by a number combination, such as 800 x 600. This indicates that there are 800 dots horizontally across the monitor, by 600 lines of dots vertically, equaling 480,000 dots that make up the image you see on the screen.

What is the importance of DPI?

DPI (dots per inch) is usually described as the number of pixels (dots) that fit horizontally and vertically into a one-inch space. For an image to print properly and maintain its consistency, the industry standard is an output size of at least 300 DPI. You can‚'t just change an image from a low resolution to a high-resolution image. For instance, if you change an image from 72 DPI to 300 DPI, the image will look blurry because it stretches out the pixels.

What resolution should my art have?

For the best results, your art should have a resolution of at least 300 DPI. If your resolution is lower than this, the image quality may suffer.

How do I set up my Photoshop document with 300 DPI?

Choose File>new. In the window that pops up, make sure after Resolution it says 300 and that the units are set to pixels/inch.

Please note that you cannot use this technique to increase the total number of pixels in an existing image or document. If you change the resolution of an existing file, you must decrease the size so that the total width and height in pixels does not change.

Can I print a low resolution image if that‚'s all I have?

Digital Print Engine will print files you approve for printing, but we do not recommend printing any image below 150 dpi. If we have concerns about the quality of the image, we will contact you via email and confirm with you on how you want to proceed. Generally, images as low as 150 dpi will print reasonably well, but we cannot guarantee you will be satisfied with the results. Your image may appear fuzzy when the resolution gets below 150 dpi.

Resolution is the measurement of the number of dots or pixels laid out in a grid: 300 ppi (or dpi) is actually 300 pixels x 300 pixels in each square inch. In theory, the greater the resolution, the more detail is contained in the printing.

Please note that increasing the resolution in your imaging program (e.g. changing the resolution from 72 ppi to 300 ppi) does not add more total pixels to the image.

For example, an image that is 17.7 inches by 25.62 inches at 72 ppi can be safely converted to 4.25 x 6.25 at 300 ppi because you have 1274 pixels by 1845 pixels. On the other hand, an image that is 4.25 x 6.25 at 72 ppi can only be scaled to 1.06 inches x 1.5 inches at 300 ppi.

What is the difference between 300 and 72 DPI?

Printed items require a higher resolution than items viewed on screen. 300 DPI is the required resolution for printed items. Computers are only able to display 72 to 96 DPI on screen, so a 72 DPI image may look okay when viewed at 100% on your monitor but may print fuzzy.

Do you have product templates?

All of our products include templates available on the Templates page. These templates are designed to apply to a wide range of applications and have been carefully crafted to be as accurate as possible. Our templates include PDF, AI, INDD and JPG versions of each template.

Be sure to delete the template layers before you submit your files to print.

Do I have to use a template?

You do not have to use a template, but it is recommended to help you set up your document to the correct size and allow for bleeds.

How do I use the templates?

Use our templates as a guide to help you build your artwork at the correct size. BE SURE TO DELETE THE TEMPLATE LAYERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK TO PRINT.

Our templates contain three colored boxes at the outside edge. The red box on the very edge is the bleed box. This is an area that will be trimmed off when your piece is being cut to final size. Please make sure your image extends to the outside edge of the bleed box. The blue box is the cut line where your project will be cut. The green line indicates the margin, or caution box. Do not put any important text or visual elements in the caution zone between the margin line and cut line, because our cutter may trim into this area.

1) Download the template which is most appropriate for your printing project and open it in the program you are using to layout or design your product.

2) Use the template guidelines and instructions to combine your elements into a proper layout. Double check to make sure anything that bleeds off the edge of the page extends all the way to the red bleed line on the template, that you don‚'t have any text or graphics in the caution zone (between the blue and green lines on your template) and that your artwork is placed the way you want it with regards to the cut line (which is a blue line on the template). This will help to ensure that your printed product looks the way you want it to look.

3) This step is vital: delete the template layers from your artwork, then save your file as a 300 dpi .tiff, .jpg or high resolution pdf. If you save as a pdf, and if you have the option for marks and bleeds in the left hand option panel, make sure the top, bottom, left and right numbers are set at .125", then save it.

4) Upload your file when you place your order. We will review it and let you know of any problems.

If you have any questions about the templates or your proof, feel free to call us at 701-356-7770.

*For postcards which will go through mailing services, be sure to follow the USPS design requirements very carefully or you may end up paying higher postage rates than predicted. These requirements are noted on the postcard templates.

How do I delete the template layers from Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign files?

A template is used for artwork placement only and must be removed before the file is uploaded, otherwise the template will be printed with your artwork.

In Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign, view the layers palette by going to the "Windows" menu and selecting "Layers". To remove a layer, click on the layer that contains the template and drag it to the trash bin located at the bottom of the palette.

When placing a PDF into a Photoshop file, the layer may come up as "Background" and be locked; double click on the layer and it will change to "Layer 0" at which time you can delete it.

What is a bleed?

Bleed is the term for printing that goes right to the edge of the paper. If you have images or backgrounds that you want to go off the edge of the paper, then you must design your job larger than the final cut size. Bleeds are created by cutting through the enlarged image or background. To create a bleed, make your document .125" larger on all four sides. For example, artwork for a 4" x 6" postcard should extend to 4.25" x 6.25".

On our templates, the bleed line is .125" outside the blue cut line. Any ink coverage that extends to the edge of the paper should extend to the bleed line. If your art extends to the blue cut line but not the bleed, you may have unwanted white borders after trimming.

Can I stretch my image to make it fit in the bleed line?

We do not recommend stretching your artwork because it lowers image resolution and may change the aspect ratio. Changing the aspect ratio can make objects and people appear taller or shorter than the original image.

If the resolution of the original artwork is 300 DPI (dots per inch), stretching the artwork makes the image less sharp and detailed. For an image to print properly, the image should be saved at 300 DPI at the final printed size.

If you need to re-size your image to add bleeds, we recommend you do so from the program you used to create the file.

Can I stretch my image to make it fit in the bleed line?

We do not recommend stretching your artwork because it lowers image resolution and may change the aspect ratio. Changing the aspect ratio can make objects and people appear taller or shorter than the original image.

If the resolution of the original artwork is 300 DPI (dots per inch), stretching the artwork makes the image less sharp and detailed. For an image to print properly, the image should be saved at 300 DPI at the final printed size.

If you need to re-size your image to add bleeds, we recommend you do so from the program you used to create the file.

Do I need to include a bleed if my design has white on all sides?

No, it is not necessary to include bleeds if you have all white edges. Just select the option "no bleeds" when ordering so we know how you intend your project to be cut.

If your design includes any element that reaches the edge of the page, bleeds are required.

Creating a bleed in Publisher or Word:

You must select page or document set-up and type in the values of your custom sized project, plus .125" on all sides if you have a bleed. Be sure to keep in mind that the outer .125" all the way around will be trimmed off. Also keep in mind that you want to keep important graphics and text within the safety zone of .25" inside the trim line. The final size of your file has to be the actual trim size of your project, plus .125" on all sides if you have a bleed. Many programs default at the 8 ½ x 11 page size when creating the PDF, TIFF or JPG‚ even when your document is custom sized. If you are printing to Adobe PDF‚ you must go to Properties - Layout‚ Advanced, Paper Size, Post Script Custom Page Size. There you will enter your custom page size values. Also, if the Graphic Resolution does not default to 1200 DPI, change it to 1200 DPI. When making a JPG or TIFF, you must be sure the resolution is 300 dpi, as some programs default to 150 dpi.

Can I have a bleed on an envelope?

No, we cannot print your envelopes in house with a bleed. Our printer requires a .25" margin on all four sides. But if you‚'d like us to order envelopes with a bleed for you, we have vendors that are able to do this for us, so just let us know.

What are the product specs with bleeds?

Artwork should be submitted at the final size plus .125" of bleed on each edge. For example, if the final size is intended to be 4" x 6", please submit the artwork at 4.25" x 6.25".

What are the product specs with bleeds?

Artwork should be submitted at the final size plus .125" of bleed on each edge. For example, if the final size is intended to be 4" x 6", please submit the artwork at 4.25" x 6.25".

We have provided templates for all of our products and sizes to assist you with setting up files.

Do you have templates showing bleed?

Yes, we have templates for all of our products. These templates are set to our standard sizes and have the .125 bleed area already marked on them for your convenience. They also show the area where you can safely place text so it is not trimmed off.

How close can my text be to the cut or trim line?

Text should be at least .125" from the cut line (.25" from the edge of the bleed) to ensure it is not trimmed off. The caution zone indicated by the green line on the template is .125" inside the blue trim line on projects with bleeds and .25" on projects without bleeds. All live graphics and text should be inside the green margin line on the template. Red=bleed, blue=trim, green=margin or caution zone.

Can I put a border on my artwork?

You should be careful when designing borders since they are prone to looking uneven when pages are not trimmed perfectly. Perfect trimming is unlikely. The use of borders on any artwork is not recommended.

Can Digital Print Engine print a custom sized document?

Digital Print Engine offers custom trimming for most of our products. If you'd like custom trimming, just let us know.

If you have a project that has a size not offered in the size options, click the "contact us" button below the logo and describe your project to us. We'll get back to you with a answer if it's something we can do, and if there's any special instructions on how to set up your file.

What are the size and weight requirements for the different postal classifications?

Requirements for First-Class Post card rates

• Rectangular
• At least 3.5" high by 5" long by 0.007" thick
• No more than 4.25" high by 6" long by 0.016" thick
• Length is the dimension parallel to the address.
• Oversized cards can be mailed at letter rates.

Requirements for First-Class letter rates

• Rectangular
• At least 3.5" high by 5" long by .007" thick
• No more than 6.125" high by 11.5" long by .25" thick
• A surcharge applies to certain items including square, rigid, and unusually shaped envelopes weighing 1 ounce or less.
• Length is the dimension parallel to the address.

What is CMYK?

CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing. It is based on mixing pigments of the following colors in order to make other colors:

C = cyan
M = magenta
Y = yellow
K = key (black)

Submitting your files in CMYK color mode will give you the best results. If you submit your files in RGB or any other color standard, they will be changed to CMYK during the printing process. Because only about half of the colors in the RGB standard can be exactly matched in CMYK, conversion will cause the colors to shift.

If you are concerned about color and your job is color critical, please order a hard copy proof to ensure color accuracy.

Can you convert my files from RGB to CMYK?

On our digital printer, it is not necessary to have your files in CMYK, Our printer does print in CMYK, and will convert the file. However, we recommend creating and submitting your document in CMYK to assure the color looks as close to your original file as possible. Changing from RGB to CMYK can produce some color shifting and a reduction in the color gamut because it is impossible to reproduce the entire RGB color palette with a digital printer.

If color accuracy is crucial, we recommend that you order a hard copy proof.

How do I convert to CMYK in Adobe Photoshop?

To convert to CMYK in Photoshop, Choose Filter > Colors > Convert to CMYK. Or go to the Image menu, Mode, then CMYK Color.

How do I convert to CMYK in Adobe Illustrator?

To convert to CMYK in Illustrator, Choose Filter > Colors > Convert to CMYK. Or go to the File menu, Document Color Mode, CMYK color.

How do I export my files from InDesign?

jpg- Choose File> Export. Next to format pick the .jpg file extension, click Save, and click Export.
.pdf- Choose File> Export. Next to format pick the Adobe PDF file extension, click Save, and click Export.
.eps- Choose File> Export. Next to format pick the .eps file extension, click Save, and click Export.

Which paper should I choose for my business cards?

Digital Print Engine offers two choices of paper for business cards.

The 80# Cover Glossy 2 Sides is an economical paper. For a thicker card, choose the 10pt glossy on one side, which has a glossy coating on the front side. The back side is uncoated, which is great for writing on.

How do I submit more than one file?

If you need to submit more than one file for your printing project, submit compressed or zipped folders with the multiple files enclosed.