GENERAL

Is the production quality good? Is there a standard to which you hold?

Our quality is unmatched, and yes we have a standard. We actually hold ourselves to multiple standards. Our printing is to SWOP standards and our CD/DVD replication is to ISO standards. SWOP is a printing standard set by the printing industry to measure several aspects of printing quality on a press sheet. Things like ink density, slurring, offseting, and other technical issues are reviewed in an effort to produce the best possible printed piece. Most people are aware of ISO. This is an industry association and standard used to insure quality manufactured products. At Sinister Music INC we won’t ever take shortcuts on quality.
 

Will I be charged before I approve my project?

You will be billed when you place your order with Sinister Music INC, but you may cancel your order at any time prior to the point that production has begun on your project and recieve a full and prompt refund. Production will not begin until you approve at least one proof of your project which releases Sinister Music INC to start production. It is our goal that you be pleased with our work and your project.
 

What are the most common problems with client designed jobs?

There are several small things that happen when submitting a project that can really slow the process down. We have listed the most common problems below. Of course you can always contact your CSR for help if you do not understand how to deal with any of these issues. Improper trim size and no allowance for bleed are very common mistakes. See our templates page for the proper sizing of your project. Also see our note in FAQ concerning bleed. These should be reviewed before starting your design process. Image format. Files, artwork, or images that are sent to us in a format other than CMYK. The most common incompatible format we see is RGB. Verify that all elements you are including in your project are CMYK. Please see our note in FAQ concerning CMYK and RGB. Another common error is to size images too small or low resolution. All images should be 300 dpi at 100% of the desired size for the project. Wrong project file format or fonts not included. We accept file formats that include PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and Photoshop EPS. Please do not send us original program files such as Quark, InDesign, Publisher, etc. Convert these files to a PDF or TIFF format and be certain to include fonts. We are here to help if you have questions.

Do I need computer expertise to use this site's services?

No, you do not need any computer expertise to use our website. If you can use an internet browser, you will be able to place an order for our products. You will be able to upload your design as long as you know how to click the mouse and browse through webpages.

How can I get additional assistance?

You can get additional assistance by clicking on "Submit A Question" on the left side menu of the page. This is available 24 hours a day. We also offer expert assistance on the phone - please submit a request to be contacted by phone through the website and we will get back to you within 12 hours of your request.

Does Sinister Music INC offer hard copy proofs?

Yes we do. In fact our hard copy proofs are actually press proofs. These are the same as printing your job on the press with the selected paper. This kind of proofing does cost more than a PDF proof and it does increase the amount of time it takes to produce your project. For this reason, unless you specifically request a hard copy proof, we choose to save you the money and time and go with the PDF proof. Contact your CSR for more information about PDF proofs

What is a PDF proof?

A PDF proof is a medium resolution image displayed on your computer screen. Since all computer screens are different you cannot rely on a PDF proof to represent accurate color. A PDF will show content such as type and trapping issues. It also shows trim and bleed. The color of your final printed project will not match the PDF you receive from us for proofing. A representative would be happy discuss any concerns you may have about this process and help you make the right decision for your project. Most of our customers (95% or more) choose PDF proofing.

Will the color on my proof match the final printed piece?

If you choose to have a press proof the color will match fairly closely. If you choose a PDF, it will not. Of course blues will be blue and reds will be red. Your CSR can help you with this if you have any questions

Do I need to be an expert designer to use this website?

No, you do not need to be an expert designer. If you have a question about your design or specifications, just ask! We are here to answer your questions. Let us help.

What if I want an expert design, can Sinister Music INC do the work?

Yes. We have a complete design staff that will work with you to create just the look you want. Contact us with any questions.

What is the cost to have something designed?

Sinister Music Inc. will estimate the design costs on a case by case basis. We will take your ideas and create a design just for you and communicate with you every step of the way. We will work with any photos, art or copy that you submit. The finished product will be unique, creative and personalized.

What is bleed and is there a safety margin around the trim on printed material?

Bleed is extending any color, photo, or design elements past the trim line. Our plant trims printed pieces in stacks of hundreds of sheets at a time. This is much faster than trimming individual pieces, at the cost of a little accuracy. Bleed gives the print shop a margin of error when trimming, so that if the cut is a little off, the white of the paper won't show along the edge. We request you add 1/8-inch of bleed to your layouts. For example if you have an item that will be trimmed to 4.75 x 4.75 then you would want to add 1/8 to all sides for bleed, making the final art size approximately 5.0 x 5.0 . Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much bleed you need to add to your layouts. These are generally the outermost guides. Safety margin is the opposite of bleed. If you put important information such as a song title or an important part of a photo right up against the crop line, some of it may get cut off. We recommend that you keep your type and other important elements 1/8-inch inside the trim line. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much safety margin to allow. These are generally the innermost guides. In the example of an item trimmed to 4.75 x 4.75 the safety margin would be approximately 4.5 x 4.5.

Why does Sinister Music INC specify CMYK files and what does that mean?

CMYK and RGB are two different color models, and understanding the difference can mean producing a great-looking insert rather than a muddy, disappointing one. This has become more of an issue in recent years because the internet is used by so many people and it uses the RGB color model, not CMYK, The RGB color model is used by monitors, televisions, scanners, and digital cameras. A monitor uses very small bands of red, green, and blue light to generate color. RGB color is considered additive color because when you add all three colors together, you get white light; when you turn off all three lights, you get black. By mixing varying amounts of red, green, and blue light, you can create most other colors. The paper of a magazine, catalog, or CD booklet can't generate light like a computer monitor. It has to rely on reflected light, and the subtractive color model CMYK. When you add cyan, magenta, and yellow together (CMY), you get a color close to black, and when you don't lay down any ink, you get white that is, the white of the paper.A fourth color, black, is added for economical and practical reasons, and is represented as the letter "K" so as not to be confused with blue. By mixing varying amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, you can create most other colors, but CMYK does not have the same range of color that RGB does. All commercial, full-color printing uses CMYK inks.

So why is the difference between RGB and CMYK important?

Many colors created on your RGB monitor can be duplicated using CMYK inks, but not all. Your RGB monitor is generating light, so it can create some bright colors that can't be duplicated on any CMYK printing press. Paper can only reflect light, so if you print the some RGB colors in CMYK they get flat and dull. If you're designing artwork in an RGB color space, we'll have to convert it to CMYK to print.

How do I know if my disc face is only 3 colors?

Since we include up to 3 color on disc printing at no charge for discs that are replicated, we get a lot of questions about this issue. For the most part it depends on the program you are using to design the disc face. Some programs cannot represent 3 colors. They work well with full color or grayscale (black and white type and images). We can guide you in this area. If you need to send us files and don't know if they are 3 colors or less, just write a note to tus and have them contact you before producing your project. Of course we will contact you anyway before we produce your project, but a heads up can prepare us to preview your file before contacting you. By the way, all replicated discs are silver when they are manufactured. If you want the disc face to be white before printing your artwork on the face of the disc you will need to ask for a white base coat to be applied to the disc face. This does count as one of the three available colors but it can really enhance your artwork. If your disc face needs to be more than 3 colors, don't worry. The extra cost to add full color to your disc face is cheaper at Sinister Music Inc than most of our competitors. Some of the competition charges 2.5 times what Sinister Music INC charges. Talk to us for advice on this issue.

If I use the same artwork on my disc face as the printed insert will the color match?

We do not recommend using the same artwork on the disc face as you are using on the printed insert that goes along with your disc. Disc faces are screen printed, inkjet printed, or offset printed depending on which method you choose. Inserts are offset printed on a conventional state-of-the-art commercial printing press. Even if you choose offset print for your disc face it will not match the art from the insert because the machinery to produce the print is so different. It is best to change the artwork so that it is clear that you did not intend that they match. If you still want to use the same artwork for design reasons that's no problem. Just be aware that they will not match. Your CSR is a good source of information on this issue.

What resolution and file format is best for uploaded artwork?

For best results, save your pictures at 300 dpi (dots per inch) and your other artwork at the highest resolution available (600 dpi is OK but our equipment will utilize up to 2400 dpi). Do not save pictures at resolutions higher than 300 dpi because this just slows down the process and does not improve the image quality. We recommend the following formats for upload: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and Photoshop EPS. Please be certain to include all fonts in your files. All artwork should be CMYK not RGB or something else. Do not convert fonts to curves. This can severely limit the quality of the type and will not trap well. Please call our experienced staff with any questions.

What is the difference between replication and duplication?

Disc duplication refers to the process of taking an existing blank CD-R or DVD-R disc and burning information onto that disc much the same way you copy CDs on your computer. At NationWide we use state of the art dedicated duplicating towers to manage the duplication process. These machines do a cursory evaluation of the disc to check for read and write errors and then make an exact duplicate of the disc you send us. This is the best option if you have small quantities (up to 1,000 pcs) or need quicker turn around time to meet a deadline. Typical production time for duplication is 48 hours. We can produce your project in 48 hours if needed *at added rush costs. Disc replication refers to the manufacturing process that starts with raw material to manufacture your discs from scratch. We evaluate your original disc for read and write errors and then make a glass master of your disc. This glass master is then used to create a stamper . The stamper is mounted on the machine that uses heat and pressure to mold your discs one at a time. This is the highest quality of disc manufacturing but is only cost effective for 500 discs or more. It takes as little as 1/2 of one second to mold one CD on this kind of equipment. The cost of creating both the glass master and stamper are already included in the quote shown in our instant pricing panel. This is the best option if you want larger quantities (500 pcs or more) and you have time (an average of 10 business days) to produce your project.

What is a glass master?

The glass master refers to the replication process, not duplication. The glass master is created by Sinister Music INC as an exact copy of your disc. It is then used to create a stamper. Glass mastering includes a review of the integrity of your original disc and a verification of copywrite ownership. Glass mastering is included with all of our replication projects. No extra charge.

Do you copy my disc exactly as I send it?

Yes. Take extra care to insure that your disc is exactly as you want it to be. We do not alter your disc in any way before we duplicate or replicate it.

How many master disc copies should I send with my project?

We recommend that you send two original masters with any project submitted for replication or duplication. Often one master can be flawed in some way (scratch, etc) and this gives us a backup disc to use. Otherwise the production process stops while we wait for you to send us another disc. This of course can delay the production process and could threaten your deadline.

Can I get my discs shrink wrapped?

On replication projects we include poly wrapping on all jewel case and shrink wrap on all amaray case assemblies. On duplication projects we also offer shrink wrapping. Of course there is no wrapping of any kind on individual bulk discs.

What do I need to send with a disc duplication/replication project?

We need two copies of your original disc just the way you want it copied. In addition we need a completed IPR form that shows who owns the rights to the content on the disc that you want to have copied. Finally we need a track listing showing the song names and times for CDs with music on them. If you are ordering a complete package then we also need artwork for the insert, traycard, and disc face. There are templates for these items on the website under the specs and templates button.

Do I need a barcode on my project?

That depends on how you intend to sell your item. For example if you are producing a music CD and intend to sell the CD through retail distribution then you might want to consider adding a barcode. Some retailers and other distributors will not accept a CD without a barcode. On the other hand if you have no intention of selling through distribution channels then a barcode is just wasted money.

In truth everyone charges for barcodes. Some of our competition claims that barcodes are free with your order but they are really including the cost of the barcode with every order whether you need it or not. We believe that if you don't want a barcode you should not have to pay for it. Check our complete price with or without a barcode, you will find that we cost less! Remember what mom always said: You don't get something for nothing . (good advice)
 

How much space should I leave for a barcode?

You should leave a space that is 1.25 wide and .5 all for the barcode. Most people place the barcode on the back of the printed piece. For jewel cases that would be on the traycard.

Is there a font size limitation for printing on the face of the disc?

We recommend 7-8 point type or larger on disc faces. You should also try to use readable type that does not have tiny lines or curls on the font face. These can be difficult to read. Another thing to remember is to keep the type at lease 3/16 away from the edge of the disc. Otherwise it may be cut off as the disc shifts slightly on duplication type production.

Will my CD play in all CD players?

No. CDs are much more forgiving than DVDs but problems can exist. The most common mistake we see is when a client formats the CD on a computer and does not use settings that will allow the CD to operate on a standard CD player (like the one in your car). The best way to avoid this kind of problem is to try the disc out in several different machines before sending it to us.

What is the time limit on CDs and DVDs?

CDs have a time limit of 76 minutes if you want them to be compatible with most playback equipment.

Should I get a gloss coat finish on the face of my discs?

We offer gloss laminate finishing on disc duplication only (CD or DVD). The laminate is a great way to protect the disc from exposure to water and sweat. It also makes the images really pop on the face of the disc. We highly recommend gloss laminate on any disk that has full coverage images on it.

What disc face printing options are available for disc duplication?

For duplication we offer black text, full color and solid black or heavy ink coverage. All of our options can be gloss laminated for protection and better looking images. We also offer one color silk screening on silver face with our promo 5 songs/30min total or less package.

What disc face printing options are available for disc replication?

Replicated discs can be 1, 2 or 3 color without any additional cost. Full color or 4 color with a white flood coat is available for a small flat charge if needed. Laminate is not available on replicated disks. Replicated discs resist water and don't need laminate for that reason.

What type of information must I provide to place an order?

We are just implementing these options, so for the first few months we are going to ask you to submit your project specifications for a direct quote. You need to provide billing and shipping addresses and you must choose a delivery method. If you choose to accept our quote, your order must be paid by paypal or google checkout which accepts all major credit cards, check or money order. Once all of the appropriate information is supplied and your project is uploaded or mailed to us we will email you an approval of your project. After you have approved the project by returning our approval email then your order is considered placed and in production. You will not be charged until you have approved an order. Please Note: Orders cannot be cancelled after you have approved them.

Can I place an order from anywhere in the world?

Yes, you can place an order from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet access. We do, however, only ship to the USA and Canada.

What methods of payment do you offer?

You can pay with paypal, and with major credit cards through paypal and google checkout. We also accept checks and money orders. If you pay with a company or personal check your project will be delayed until we can confirm that the check has cleared your bank.

Can I use 2 separate addresses for shipping and billing?

Yes, you can use different addresses for shipping and billing.

Do you provide an invoice for my purchase?

Yes. A copy of the invoice should be included with your order when it arrives.

How does the quoted production time work?

When you place a submission for a quote we can normally get you a full quote including shipping charges within 1-3 hours during normal 10am-6pm EST business hours. Usually 8-12 hours if submitted anytime after that. When you receive a quote and approve is through us we place an order we begin processing the project by preparing a PDF proof of the printed pieces for your review. This usually happens within 24 hours of the order being placed. We will email the proof to you for approval. You must approve the proof by replying to our email as soon as possible. If you approve the proof prior to 4:00 pm EST then that day becomes day zero in the quoted days for production. For example if you are ordering a project with a quoted production time of 5 days and you approve the proof on Monday morning at 11:00 am EST then Monday becomes day zero. Tuesday is day one and so on. Your project will ship from our plant on the fifth business day after day zero, in this case that would be the following Monday, 5 business days after day zero. All production times quoted are estimates. We try our best to make these times but don't always get it done. Please allow for this when placing your order. Actual shipping time begins after production is finished. Please allow plenty of time for the production of your project. We cannot be responsible for missed deadlines.

Can I speed up the production time? 

Yes. We offer options for expedited production of your project. This is a great feature if you have a short time frame to complete your project. Please remember that while we do make most deadlines sometimes we miss the deadline. Please allow plenty of time for the production of your project. We cannot be responsible for missed deadlines.
 

Can I send in part of my project to get the ball rolling and send the balance later? 

Yes, we would recommend doing this. You can send part of your project to us but the production does not usually begin until all pieces of the project are in house. In some cases it makes sense to send us something to review to make sure you are on the right track with your project, possibly avoiding a larger problem further down the line. Contact us for advice.

What are you shipping costs?

Each project is different. We will contact you with shipping costs prior to processing your order for production. You can cancel your order at that time if you do not want to pay the shipping costs.

What shipping options do you offer? 

We offer several shipping options. UPS ground, UPS 3 day, UPS overnight, UPS overnight early delivery, and UPS overnight late next afternoon. We do not ship with client accounts. Please remember that all shipping time estimates are not guarantees of delivery time. Allow enough time in the production and delivery schedule for errors, equipment failures, or missed deliveries. We presently offer shipping to Canada and U.S.A. We do not ship to P.O. Box addresses.