Design

Designing for print, display, CD or the Web involves much more than just design. It requires meticulous attention to detail for each very different process.

We have years of experience designing for every type of output - To CD, to film or plate, for press or display, or for the Web - Whatever the project, we will manage it from start to finish.

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Copy Writing

Our copywriters produce skillfully crafted copy whether it be for a brochure, advertising campaign, press-release, direct-mailing, media event, promotion or website.

If required, we will carry out research or conduct interviews on your behalf.

You will receive creative and persuasive copy that gets straight to the point - in short, the kind of copy that increases sales.

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Typography

Now that most artwork is produced digitally, the word 'typography' isn't heard much these days. However, creating a balance between text and graphics is still essential. We produce type-mark-ups of the highest calibre, an absolute necessity when producing style or corporate identity guidelines for others to follow.

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Typesetting

We provide a complete typesetting and page make-up service to many of our customers, ranging from simple text input to more complex data conversion and data merging programmes.

The original data can be supplied to us in a variety of digital formats, which might include files output from an existing database, spreadsheet or word processing package, or as handwritten copy.

Complex data can be converted into a suitable format, and then managed through the page make-up process with various proofing procedures until the finished digital artwork is ready for output.

Scanning prints and transparencies, or manipulating digital images, is all part of the service.

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Artwork/Paste-up

We provide a complete typesetting and page make-up service.

Your data can be supplied to us in virtually any format: Digital files from a database, spreadsheet or word processing package; from Corel, HTML, Illustrator, InDesign, PageMaker, PowerPoint or Photoshop; from hard
or handwritten copy; or perhaps from photographs or paper-cuttings.

We will tap, extract, scan, re-draw or re-work text or graphics as necessary - However, to avoid charges associated with improving bad-quality images, all material should be supplied at the highest quality possible.

Once complete, we can supply the artwork to you, print in any quantity, or produce hand-made items such as proofing dummies, presentation one-offs, cardboard engineered items, or any other item requiring hand-finishing, mounting, framing, or mechanical finishing.

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Proof Reading

Checking proofs is a tedious but critical task. Any mistake overlooked can be costly. Computer spellchecking programmes can be of some use but most have their limitations. They are usually based on US English, are unable to distinguish between tenses or homonyms, and cannot read for sense or consistency.

We provide a proofreading service of varying depth dependent upon the clients' wishes. If we are supplied with a digital file we will gladly undertake the changes. Alternatively we will supply hard copy recommendations.

On request we will check for:
- spelling, punctuation, grammar, and general English errors
- overall sense and clarity
- widows, orphans and hyphenation
- problems in page layout and mark-up copy
- inconsistencies in style and content
- inconsistencies against typesetting specifications

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Illustration

Illustrations should both enhance the communication of an idea and attract attention.

Technical illustration provides visual support in the form of line drawings that clarify technical concepts, processes and procedures. Presented in a logical and appropriate manner they make typed matter easier for the reader to understand.

We create schematics, exploded views, assembly illustrations, cutaways and other line-art in a range of different styles and formats.

Although we do not produce freehand illustrations ourselves, we are able to source unique cartoon, caricature and other stylised brush, crayon, pen, charcoal and magic-marker material from a diverse range of contacts we have collaborated with over the years.

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Data Conversion

We support virtually all professional graphic software packages and are able to convert most document content, whether in graphic, database or spreadsheet format from virtually any program language. This avoids the need to re-type work and cuts down much of the re-checking process.

We are also able to recover text from badly-degraded hard copy using copying skills and the latest text recognition software. And, we have software available to us that enables us to generate pixels intelligently - so we can improve on the quality of a lowish-resolution image when no other option is available.

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Adobe Acrobat

We design documents specifically for use by the cross-platform Adobe Acrobat Reader (free from Adobe), which allows anyone to view and print the document.

Adobe Acrobat is extremely versatile. Some of its many advantages include:

- No font, colour or positional 'glitches' cross-platform - every detail is preserved just as the original;
- Optimised saving at any resolution
- low for general uses such as proofing and laser printing
- high for litho printing;
- Security - changes can only be made if you own the full version of the software;
- Ideal for security back-up, storage or distribution of all type-based information - literature, brochures, guidelines...

As an owner of the full-version programme we can also edit any pdf document.

As a matter of course all our client proofs are sent in Acrobat PDF format as an e-mail attachment.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is freely available from the Adobe website. If not already installed on your computer click the button to take you to the download page.

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Scanning

Our scanning facilities enable the digital capture of photographs, transparencies and artwork to produce high-resolution images. We will then convert the images to CMYK/duotone/monotone/greyscale as necessary then save them in the file format, resolution and size required.

Should only low-resolution images be required, we are able to use our flatbed scanning facility at a far lower cost.

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Reprographics

Bromide/film/Matchprint/Cromalin/plates/wet proof

On receipt of your files (which must be accompanied by colour laser prints), we will first check and correct any problem regarding resolution, font, bleed, dot-gain, and any manner of other issues associated with file formats that would otherwise cost far more to correct on press, or worse still, cause a complete reprint.

Should any change be necessary that would result in a visual difference when compared with your laser prints, we will supply a PDF proof via email for your approval prior to proceeding further.

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Output - Hard Copy/Digital

HARD COPY - Bromide/film/Matchprint/Cromalin

DIGITAL - ISDN/ADSL/ADS/CD/Zip

On receipt of your files (which must be accompanied by colour laser prints), we will first check and correct any problem regarding resolution, font, bleed, dot-gain, and any manner of other issues associated with file formats that would otherwise cost far more to correct on press, or worse still, cause a complete reprint. Should any change be necessary that would result in a visual difference when compared with your laser prints, we will supply a PDF proof via email for your approval prior to proceeding further.

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