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Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Q. Should I send in test prints to check my color calibration with your lab?
A. Yes, we find that this may help avoid color space and workflow issues. You may send up to 3 files to be printed as 8x10’s for color calibration (no charge to you). You can order these FREE test prints in our Digital ROES under "Evaluation Prints".
Q. Which of CPQ’s workflows should I start with?
A. We highly recommend one of our CPQ ROES client software applications to any digital photographer who wants to increase efficiency of their workflow, as well as sales. CPQ ROES makes it easy to quickly order proofs/prints of all sizes, or to assemble beautiful albums or order creative press products. Color by You for press products and studio controlled color. Color by CPQ for press products and lab controlled color. CPQ School/Volume for events and packages. We also offer CPQ Creative Templates for album templates, pager and companion books. More information about each software package can be found here.
Q.How do I get a CPQ Account Number to use with ROES?
A. To request a CPQ Account Number, please visit our New Customer Account Request form.
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General Questions
Q. How much do you charge for shipping?
A. The latest shipping information and terms are available in our downloadable service guide.
Q. What are your forms of payment/accepted credit cards?
A. We accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express as a method of payment. Each order is charged to your credit card the day it is completed and shipped. If you would like Open Terms, you would need to complete a credit application. COD is available, however there is an added “COD Tag Fee” that is charged to each shipment that the customer is responsible for.
Q. What kind of printers do you use? Why do you have more than one?
A. Depending on the print sizes requested and/or type of printing required, your order could be printed on one or more printers. For Photographic paper (Kodak Endura and Endura Metallic) all prints 11x14 and smaller are printed on one of our KODAK RP30s. Prints larger than 11x14 will be printed on either a Durst Theta 51 or Theta 76 depending on the largest print size ordered. The Zeta printers are used for all package work, and the Lambda76 is a wide format Photographic printer.
We use Epson wide-format inkjet printers for our direct-to-canvas and fine art applications (such as Gallery Wraps) using pigment-based UltraChrome archival inks.
Finally, all Digital Publishing (four color presswork) is produced on the HP Indigo 5000 Digital Press. These items include the press products (photobooks, calendars, greeting cards) as well as brochures and other commercial items.
Q. Do you support film?
A.Our film support ends December 31st, 2009.
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General Software
Q. What types of software do you support? Can I send in just a CD with images with an instruction sheet?
A. At CPQ a vast majority of our customers rely on one or more of our ROES-based software clients to send in their work to the Lab. These are all available as free downloads on our software page, and work well in both Windows and Mac-based operating systems.
We also support LabPrints for the Wedding and Portrait photographer, it also runs on both Windows and Mac.
For the School and Event Photographer, we offer CPQ Link. It is a custom Windows-based (Vista compatible) software that merges the best of popular programs to produce a complete application that allows the photographer to determine the workflow that best suits their needs. Provides reporting functions and many other benefits.
We highly recommend the use of one of our approved software applications as it enables us to efficiently and correctly process your order – plus it enables you the customer to receive the best pricing available.
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ROES Software
Q. How do I get stated with ROES software?
A. You can download our ROES client from our software page. Java may take several seconds to start up and initially retrieve the resources it needs to run. If a link is clicked repeatly, this delay will only increase, as several instances of the application start up. If you visit CPQ web page – “downloads” and click Download Now, and your hard drive starts running. At that time Java is starts and will take you through several prompts. After loading, you may begin ordering right away. Remember if this is your first order (no account yet) please enter NEWUSER in the area – under the My Information button.
Q. Do I need to calibrate to CPQ’s printers?
A. You do not calibrate directly to CPQ printers. You calibrate your monitor to a standard and Neutral state, and we calibrate our printers to this same standard. We recommend a Color Vision Spyder (Spyder2express) to help achieve this. Do keep in mind the lighting you are using to view you monitor while calibrating can affect your outcome. You can also request a CPQ color guide print (free of charge) to help with this process.
Q. What about Greeting Cards? How are they printed?
A. All of our extensive line of Greeting Cards are printed either on Kodak Professional Paper OR on one of our HP Indigo-based substrates (Linen, Pearl, or cover stock). For cards that are folded or printed on both sides, they are always printed on the HP Indigo 5000 Digital Press.
We offer a wide range of card sizes, ranging from business cards to bookmarks and tri-folds. Please see our Press Product Creator software section for a complete list.
Q. How are your Proof Books printed?
A. Proof books are available in two distinct ways. In CPQ ROES customers can order proof books printed on Kodak Professional Paper, and these are coil-bound with a Photographic cover page and even have the option of a black bonded leather folio that accommodates the Proof Book. We offer these types of Proof Books in both 8x10 and 10x13 sizes.
We also offer Press-Printed Proof Books that have the advantage of double-sided printing. These high-quality books are printed on the HP Indigo 5000 Digital Press, then they are bound into a hard cover that is available in a variety of colors. We also offer UV coating as an option for additional protection.
Q. I want to order Black and White prints. Should I not Grayscale images in Photoshop prior to sending them to you?
A. You should not use the grayscale application if you are sending in files as B&W. Grayscaling strips all the RGB value out of a file. If you are using one of our ROES-based ordering clients, it is better to select the B&W option in the image options and allow us to control your output.
Q. I notice that I cannot combine Proof orders and Finished prints in the same order. Why is this?
A. Finished prints follow a different workflow that involves Quality Control (QC) in addition to printing and checking of the order prior to shipping. For this reason Proof Orders and Reorders cannot be combined.
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My PhotoBook, My PhotoCalendar Software
Q. What types of Files can I use in these software versions?
A. You can use any type of image file to build your projects, such as .jpg, .gif, .png, etc. You should exercise caution in using extremely large files as they could slow the performance of your PC or MAC.
Q. Why are there two separate downloads? Why are they not in one application?
A. The .exe files are large downloads; therefore it made sense to have them as separate installations.
Q. I noticed that some of the screens and the Help button have the name DigiLabs. What is that in reference to?
A. DigiLabs is the Software Developer that produced this version of the MyPhotoBooks and MyCalendars and Cards for CPQ under a licensing agreement.
Q. You mention that my images using this program cannot be color-corrected by the Lab prior to printing my project. Why is this?
A. When you build your book, calendar, or card project using the MyPhotoBook or MyCalendar and Card application your order is rendered into a print-ready .pdf, which feeds directly to our order process and printing. Since these jobs are “flattened”, i.e., they become one file – we cannot easily correct colors. You should always use properly exposed images for these projects.
Q. What fonts can I use with these programs?
A. You can use any font that is loaded on your local PC or Mac. Otherwise there are no font limitations.
Q. I noticed that the Book Cover styles in the software are all black. How do I order a different-colored cover?
A. In the ORDER INFORMATION screen - where the user fills our his or her address, customer number, telephone, email, etc. – there is a blank at the end of the form called ORDER NOTES – this is where you should state your color preference. Leaving it blank may delay your order, as we will contact you for clarification.
Q. I am building a PhotoBook in this program, and have some images that are lower-resolution than others. Can I use these? How will I know if they are too small for the project?
A. Prior to uploading your project the software will display a report on your screen. If you have any empty nodes (blank boxes that need images and/or text in them), or images that are too small – they will be on the report. You should go back and fix these prior to uploading your project.
Q. Can I send you my completed project on a CD or DVD instead of uploading it to the lab?
A. This program currently only supports uploading jobs to the Lab over the Internet using the program. For building a Press product and sending the order by mail on CD/DVD, you should use the CPQ Press Product Creator.
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