What do Eltom do?

We fulfil the complete range of business print requirements from business cards through forms, to complex marketing literature including direct mail. For our complete range of products and services click here.

What size of client do you service?

We service a range of clients from small businesses to blue chip customers. Our largest account spends in excess of £500k per annum, and our smallest, a few hundred pounds. We supply 20 companies who are quoted in the FTSE 100 index.

What does the price include?

Our price includes quoting, designing, setting, printing, storage and delivery in any quantity to any location in the world. We also supply very detailed management reports both hard copy and via remote terminal either pier to pier dialup or through the internet.

What information do you need to print my job for me?

In order to print your job we need an order, specification and a copy. We can accept copy in a number of formats from hard copy to digital files.

If I do not have a finished copy can you design something for me?

We have a graphic design department which can turn your ideas into finished copy. The service includes logo design, forms design and copy writing, we can handle anything from a simple letterhead to a prestigious corporate brochure.

What do you do with the copy when it is received?

We convert your copy into a format that can be used for digital printing, or for output of a negative film for conventional printing. We will provide you with a proof copy of what we intend to print for you to sign-off prior to production.

Can I make amendments at proof stage?

Yes, you may amend the proof and receive reproofs as many times as is necessary to achieve the desired result. We do make a small charge for these corrections the value of which depends on the complexity of the changes.

Can I receive my proof electronically?

Yes we can send your proof via email.

How long will I have to wait for delivery?

The production lead time depends on the complexity of the job but we indicate the approximate delivery date on our quotation. Most items will be received within three weeks of receiving your order. We always do our best to meet your requirements.

Who do I talk to at Eltom?

Your first quotation will give you the names of your contacts. If you have any queries relating to your order, or requests for new prices, your account manager will be pleased to help you.

What is print management?

Print management is a service offered by Eltom whereby we undertake to provide all of a customer's print requirements. The service is supported by our Print Management Centre to handle multiple products to multiple end user locations. We offer electronic trading, a comprehensive management information package and open book pricing.

How do i supply artwork?

When supplying artwork, please follow the instructions below and help us to make your job run smoothly.

Email - All details, including delivery and printing instructions must be sent along with the attached files. If you have a designer sending files on your behalf, please forward them the details so that they can be supplied along with the finished artwork.

Disk - Please include a covering note or text file including your contact details, delivery and printing instructions. Disks containing urgent jobs should be sent using registered or Special delivery as 1st class post can take 2 to 3 days to reach us.

File Types - Wherever possible, files should be supplied as flattened, CMYK artwork at a minimum resolution of 300dpi in either JPEG, TIFF or PDF format. Vector files (Illustrator, Freehand, etc.) are prone to numerous bugs and should really be avoided as a format for finished artwork. If there is no option but to send vector files, please ensure that all fonts are converted to outlines. Be aware that when conversion or printing software errors occur there may be a charge for putting the files right. PDF files should be high resolution, without downsampling and should have all fonts embedded. Please avoid sending Microsoft Word documents for print as this is not a print ready application and extra charges will be incurred due to reworking unsuitable artwork.

Colour Issues - RGB Images may suffer from colour shifts during CMYK conversion prior to printing. It is therefore suggested that all files are supplied in CMYK colour mode as not all RGB colours can be reproduced with the CMYK printing process. When using large areas of solid black, the colour breakdown should be: 100% black 50% cyan. Black areas without cyan can cause ink saturation problems and should be avoided. It is also worth steering clear of 4 colour blacks as they prevent the inks from being raised too high and can cause other areas of colour to appear washed out.

Bleed - Bleed is a printers term for colour that is printed beyond the finished size of a page. Due to the cutting process not always being 100% accurate, artwork that spreads to the edge of the paper can sometimes leave unsightly white slivers of unprinted paper along the edge of the page. This can be avoided by ensuring that your artwork flows beyond the size required. If the background is white, then bleed is obviously irrelevant, it would however, be good practice to always supply finished artwork with bleed in place. We require that, where needed, a bleed of 2.5mm be used. Additionally, it would be a good idea not to place any text or important imagery too close to the finished edge. An illustration of how bleed works can be found here.