From PDFs to Plexiglass: The Process Behind Professional Printing

What Is The Full Process When It Comes To Print Orders?  

Printing at ParcelPedia goes far beyond simply putting ink on paper. As owner James Banks reveals in this fascinating episode, professional printing is a precise science with endless possibilities that many customers never discover.

The printing process revolves around three essential elements: image files, materials, and turnaround times. While many assume JPEGs are sufficient for printing, James explains why PDFs and TIFF files deliver superior results by preserving color richness and detail. "The idea is you always want the print to really look how the screen looks," James notes, highlighting how file selection dramatically impacts quality.

Most surprising is the vast array of printable materials available beyond standard paper. From corrugated plastic and cardboard to aluminum, acrylic, and specialized adhesives, the options allow for creative customization based on specific needs. Whether you're producing weatherproof signage for outdoor events or creating distinctive business materials, the medium can be tailored to your exact requirements.

For businesses on tight deadlines, ParcelPedia offers remarkably quick turnaround times—as fast as two days for business cards and simple flyers. Even for complex specialty materials that typically require longer production schedules, James personally contacts printers to explore rush options. "Don't feel like, oh, it's too late, it's not even worth my email," he advises, "because you may be surprised that deadline that you thought you definitely missed may be right there within your grasp."

What truly sets ParcelPedia apart is their consultative approach. Many customers arrive with only a vague concept, yet leave with professionally designed materials perfectly suited to their needs. From full design services to technical file conversion, the team handles every aspect of the printing process with expertise and care.

Ready to transform your printing projects? Visit ParcelPedia at 8992 Preston Road in Frisco or call 972-335-1450. Mention this podcast for 10% off select shipping services and discover how the right printing partner can elevate your business materials from ordinary to extraordinary.

To learn more about ParcelPedia visit:
https://www.ParcelPedia.com
ParcelPedia
8992 Preston Road, Suite 110
Frisco, Texas
972- 335-1450

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Parcelpedia podcast, the
ultimate guide to all thingsshipping and business services
in Frisco, texas, from US mailand FedEx to private mailboxes
and packing supplies.
We've got you covered.
Stay tuned for a specialdiscount code to save on your
next order.
And now delivering expert tipsand insider insights with a

(00:26):
smile, here's your host, jamesBanks.
Owner of Parcelpedia.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
From flyers to forms.
Printing at Parcelpedia is morethan just ink on paper.
It's a streamlined service thatsaves you time and sanity.
Today, we're diving into how itworks, what you can expect and
why it's one of the mostunderrated offerings.
Welcome back everyone.
I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host andproducer.

(00:53):
Back in the studio with ownerof Parcelpedia, james Banks.
James, how are you today?

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Hey Sophia, I'm doing well.
How are you?

Speaker 2 (01:00):
I'm doing well, just trying to stay out of this heat,
James.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Likewise.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
I know you've got the print game down to a science
and I can't wait to hear how itall flows behind the counter.
Let's get into it today.
What's the full process when itcomes to print orders?
How long is the turnaround timeand what materials do you
typically print out?

Speaker 3 (01:25):
Awesome, awesome, great series of questions right
there, Sophia, and I'm happy todive into that for you.
So, starting out what type ofprinting materials we offer is
how the full process works.
It's very simple, veryuser-friendly, very
customer-friendly.
Starts out with what you want,or maybe even coming to us and
saying that you have an idea andwe can help you figure out what
you want.
But as far as printing, wealways have basically our three

(01:47):
core issues or three core thingsingredients we have the file,
the image file, we have theprint material and then, of
course, as you mentioned, theturnaround time.
So those are the three thingsI'm gonna really focus on today,
just to give you more detailsabout them.
So we can start with the imagefile.
A lot of times when you hearimage file, you think of, if
you're a computer person, likebitmap files, you think of JPEG

(02:08):
files, anything that comesacross on your phone as like a
photo, right, but in printing,actually, a lot of times, a
better file format to use wouldbe PDF, which a lot of people
are also familiar with, but Ifeel like most people associate
PDF with like documents oh, Igot to sign this lease or I got
to send this document over to mylawyer or I got something
coming in from my brother tofill out and people think of it

(02:28):
as more like just business andjust documents, just letters,
but actually PDF, the way thatthey interlay the layers of the
image on the file create a verygood print.
So PDF is very popular inprinting and very welcomed, and
it's something that I know a lotof people are familiar with.
So I like to always recommendPDF files for people when
they're creating their images orif they're asking hey, how
should I send this to you?

(02:48):
Pdf is always a great one.
If you're a little bit moreversed in the digital world or
as far as like art and digitalart and things of that nature,
you may be familiar with TIFF ortagged image file format.
That one is really good forprinting.
It's just a little bit morerare as it's a file type that is
typically only found in alittle bit higher end processing
or editors like Photoshop,adobe Illustrator Not

(03:10):
necessarily can, but that one'sa little bit easier for the user
.
But when you get into moredetailed, really tricky jobs,
that TIFF or TIFF file is reallygreat for printing.
It brings out the richness andthe color really great, and, of
course, at Parcelpedia, we takethat off your hands.
If you've never even heard of aTIFF file in your life, don't
worry about it.
I can convert your file intothat for you and no extra charge
.
I'll just be part of gettingthe best out of your print.

(03:33):
And so that's just a little bitas far as the image files that
we're looking for when we'resending these off to the printer
.
Because the idea is you alwayswant the print to really look
how the screen looks, and a lotof times printers are not able
to do that because of the filetype.
It just does not have enoughinformation to produce what's on
the screen.
So that's why we alwaysrecommend those two, PDF or TIFF

(03:53):
.
And if you don't have access tomake those, or you don't even
know what that is, we'll do itfor you, and you just got to get
it in our hands.
We also offer the image creation.
If you were like hey, I have a,for example, I have a barber
business, I'm just gettingstarted, I want some flyers, but
I don't have anything.
I just have my name, I have mylocation and that's it.
We can do full service.
Drop a design for you, get youa logo, whatever you need, if

(04:16):
you have your own things and youjust need to my printer that I
used to use.
They just went out of business,but I have all my files.
It was image, it was materialand it was the turnaround time,
so I will go next to thematerials Printing.
I know first thing that comes tomind is paper.
Of course, it's one of the mostpopular things to print on.

(04:36):
But that is not the limit.
You have a lot of options whenit comes to printing materials.
What we can offer you areprinting on paper.
Of course.
We could print on corrugatedplastic, we can print on
cardboard, we can print onaluminum, we can print on
acrylic, which is like aplexiglass, which most people
are familiar with calling it.
We can print on high-tech orlow-tech stickers.

(04:57):
High-tech would be very strongadhesive, for like floor
graphics sometimes you see themin grocery stores highlighting
different deals and stuff orlow-tech, meaning it's meant to
be moved around, so you may wantto move it to this side of the
store or that side.
Or a magnet on your car thisside or that side, from this
vehicle to that vehicle.
So really, there's a sky's alimit when it comes to what we
can print on and what we canoffer you.
And a lot of times it may comedown to what you're doing.

(05:26):
Hey, I just need some flyers.
Flyers in a mud event soundsreally good.
You may want somethinglaminated.
It may be something like that,something simple, where you
realize, oh, you're right, yeah,if I would have ordered that it
would have been a waste.
Or I'm glad I didn't even knowI could get plastic, or I didn't
even know I could get aluminum.
That's perfect.
I'm making these for a weldingshop.
Making them out of metal wouldbe perfect, things of that
nature.
So we love having that broadvariety of options for y'all and

(05:47):
for the customers so that theycan really fine tune their
printing to what they need.
And then, of course, the lastthing, probably the most
important thing for most printjobs is turnaround time.
Everyone wants to know, and oneof my very first questions to
ask because I need to know thatI can help you before I dive in
and really attempt to help Ourquickest turnaround is two days.
It is for select things.

(06:07):
The faster, easier things toprint like business cards 80
pound or like a lightweightflyer, just a flat, no fold, no
punch flyer.
So if you need something in ahurry, something to pass out
your name on it, that's a greatoption.
It's very low price and it'ssuper fast.
They make it right here inArlington Texas so it gets here
to Frisco in two days.
So I love doing those jobsbecause a lot of times customers

(06:28):
come and they almost areexpecting to know hey, I need
this by Friday and it's aWednesday or Tuesday afternoon.
You probably can't do it, butjust let me know.
I'm like oh no, I don't know Ican't do it.
We can do it, You'll be fine,we'll have it for you.
We'll call you when it's in andit's really cool to see that
frown turn upside down Whoa, Ican make this deadline.
Yes, you can make it.

(06:49):
Some of the more complex prints,like printing on the acrylic,
printing on the metal, they comefrom facilities out of state.
So of course I always ask thatif you come with me with a job
and it's something that it'sjust you need it, and if it's
typically not within that range,I will personally contact the

(07:10):
printer to see what can be done.
A lot of times they will rush ajob.
They'll just add a fee If it'ssomething where I can try to eat
the fee for the customer.
I will do that just to gettheir business, just get them in
the door.
If it's something that they'reokay with paying, of course,
I'll bring that up to them, letthem know.
Hey, we can get this veryquickly, but your budget may get
stretched a little bit.
We, at least we always takethat step.

(07:30):
I just let my customers know,don't be scared, don't feel like
, oh, it's too late, it's noteven worth by email us, because
you may be surprised thatdeadline that you thought you
definitely missed may be rightthere within the grasp.
Just a few things between ourprinting as far as how it works,
what we have to offer and howeasy it really can be for you.

(07:50):
You can literally just walk in,tell us what you need.
You may not even know what youneed and still walk out
satisfied and happy and knowthat your job is in the works
and on the way.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
Wow, James, thank you so much for breaking that down
for us today.
I certainly did not know therewas so many things you can print
on.

Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yes, I feel like every year there's like a new
thing that comes out.
Oh, we're printing on rope now,Like oh, okay.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Oh, wow, find a.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
CrossFit gym.
See if they need their brand onsome rope.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yes, Well, you certainly never know, and it
sounds like you've got printingcovered from A to Z.
We will catch you in the nextepisode.
Have a fantastic rest of yourday.
All right, you too, thanks.

Speaker 3 (08:33):
Sophia.

Speaker 1 (08:38):
Thanks for joining us on the Parcelpedia podcast.
Thanks for joining us on theParcelpedia podcast.
Don't forget mention podcast atour store to snag 10% off
select shipping services.
Stop by at 8992 Preston Road,suite 110, frisco, texas, or
give us a ring at 972-335-1450.

(08:59):
We're here to make yourshipping a breeze.
Until next time, keep shippingand smiling.