Chameleon Print - Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS >>> Download FAQ's as PDF

What kinds of printing do you offer?
Our paper products are printed full colour using litho (offset) printing. For our large format and outdoor products, we are printing using large format eco-solvent Roland printers. We can print media like: PVC banners, adhesive vinyls, poster papers etc...
The full colour process is an industry standard and the end result is high quality printing, allowing for everything from photographs to text to be redroduced.

What paper stocks do you use?
Our paper printed items such as business cards and flyers are printed on a ‘grouping rack’ which means that we print various cards or flyers at the same time on one sheet, thus sharing the setup costs and allowing cost effective printing with a quality finish.

For our business cards, bookmarks and postcards we use a standard 350gsm coated board, available with a UV gloss varnish finish on the colour side at no additional charge. For our flyers and brochures we use a standard 130gsm gloss paper, which allows us to print double sided without too much shine through. For our letterheads and compliment slips we use a 90gsm matt bond paper.We can do many other paper stocks and weights, but these are only available on custom print runs only.

How long will it take for my printing to be ready?
We offer a general turnaround time of 5-7 working days from artwork approval. Please keep in mind that certain items like invoice books may take a few days extra due to the additional finishing, as do business cards with rounded corners or drilled holes.Due to the nature of printing, there are sometimes factors beyond our control which may affect the turnaround time. Turnaround time is calculated from the time we receive the artwork approval, Monday to Friday are our standard working days. We are able to produce certain items quicker depending on our current production schedule at the time you place your order, but rush fees may apply.

What is the minimum order?
Digital items such as banners and flags can be produced in a single unit, where as our litho printed items such as business cards require a minimum of 500 cards per name. Stickers have a minimum order of R100. Please have a look at our price list for minimum quantities.

I want to print 500 business cards, can I split the order and do 2 different names x 250 of each?
Unfortunately we cannot. We can only print a minimum of 500 of the same name or design. We can however do a minimum run of 500 cards per name for each person in your company, or else you can always have both names on one card.

What do your business cards include?
Our business cards are all printed full colour onto a 350gsm board. Unlike most other print companies, we have all the print extras included in the price - from the UV gloss on the colour side of the card as well as a black ink reverse on the back if you so require. We also do double sided full colour cards too with UV gloss on both sides.

What sizes are your business cards and flyers?
We print SA industry standard sizes. Our business card size is 50mm x 90mm.
Flyers sizes are A3 (420mm x 297mm), A4 (297mm x 210mm), A5 (210mm x 148mm), A6 (148mm x 105mm) or DL (99mm x 210mm). A4 is the size of a sheet of computer printer paper.

What kinds of banners and flags do you offer?
We offer all the standard banners from free standing PVC banners with ropes and eyelets, to X-frame banners, Roll up banners, A-frames, Pop ups and Extreme and Telescopic flags.

Can I put my banners / vinyl out in the sun?
Yes. Our inks are UV resistant for 2-3 years. Some items (such as roll ups) are made for indoor use only, and are not recommended for outdoor use.

How long will my banners last?
Banners are designed to last for roughly 2 years, but if you take care of it they can last longer.

How many colours can I use on my artwork?
We print in full colour, so you can use as many colours as you want. It can even include photos and logos.

Can I get a custom sized banner?
Yes. Our price list contains our standard sizes, but we can make one to any size required. Just let us know what size you need and we will send you a quote.

Can you produce artwork for me?
Yes we can, we offer a full range of design and artwork services. Give us the details of what you want and we will be happy to quote.

Can I supply my own ‘print-ready’ artwork?
Yes you are more than welcome to provide your own ‘print-ready’ artwork provided it follows our artwork requirements. Please visit our website to see how to supply your artwork, there are templates for download too.

How will you check my job for any errors?
We check all supplied artwork to the best of our ability. We always send a digital proof before print when we have produced the artwork for you.

If I supply my artwork in Word, Excel or Powerpoint, why do I have to pay artwork re-setting fees?
Unfortunately we cannot print from any of the Microsoft office products due to the way in which they create the file, as it is not compatible with our printing methods. We will have to re-create your artwork in an industry standard design programme such as Corel draw, Photoshop etc…

Do you provide artwork templates?
Yes, on our website you will find artwork templates for most standard products in Corel draw and PDF formats.

Do you keep my artwork on file?
Yes we do. If you require more cards or flyers in future, and the artwork is still the same, we will only charge you for the printing as we will have the artwork.

Can I make changes to my artwork before I print again in future?
Yes you can. We are happy to make adjustments to your artwork on future print runs. We charge a minimum artwork fee for changes.

What does the artwork fee include?
The artwork fee is the fee for our time to create the layout for your printing. It includes the initial layout and proof along with a set of revisions and a second proof thereafter.

When will I receive my proof?
Once we receive the information you require for your printing, we will create your artwork and email a proof to you. Please allow 24 - 48 hours for the initial proof and roughly 12 hours for any changes thereafter.

I've spotted a problem with my proof - can I make changes?
Yes, another proof will then be supplied for your approval before print.
We allow for 1 set of revisions after the initial proof, additional changes may be charged extra. Obviously, if the problem is our fault, we'll sort it out free of charge.

Can I use an image off my website on my printing?
In most cases, No. The resolution of artwork for printing should be at least 300dpi to create high quality printing. Most website images are only 72dpi and will print “fuzzy”. If supplying your own artwork, please ensure a minimum of 300dpi. If small text is used, we recommend a minimum file size of 600dpi.

I am doing my own artwork, what is bleed?
Bleed is the term printers’ use when the background colour or images runs off the edge of the page. By adding a 2mm all round bleed to your artwork, you ensure that there will be no white edge showing when the final printing has been trimmed.

How much will delivery cost?
We can deliver anywhere in South Africa from R100 using our courier or you are welcome to send your own. If you require delivery please request the price with your quotation or order.

I am not satisfied with the quality of my print job, will you reprint my job?
Please return your print job so we can find out what went wrong. If we deem the problem a manufacturing defect (ie a fault on our side), we will be more than happy to reprint your job.However Chameleon Graphics will not be responsible for design flaws on jobs not designed by us. Including but not limited to, colour issues, typos, resolution issues or not enough bleed for cutting etc...

What about privacy and security?
No information we collect for order processing is shared with any other company or website. Your information is only used to contact you when necessary. As well as this, your artwork produced for your printing is for your order and will not be used or reproduced for anyone else without your written permission.

EQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

>>> Download FAQ's as PDF
What is your minimum order?
We can print anything from 1 but Screen Printing less than 10 shirts isn’t the most cost-effective way of getting printed t-shirts, so we recommend printing at least 10 to 20 to bring your cost down to something manageable. If you still want a single shirt or less than 10, we suggest digital heat transfer prints.

Can you produce a sample of my design on a garment?
Due to the process involved in screen printing, we don’t do a sample shirt as the setup costs will make it too expensive. We do however provide a computer generated mock up for approval before your order goes into production. The mock up will be emailed to you so you can check that the position, print, colour and type of garment is all correct.

Can I get a price list for screen printing?
Yes, we have a screen print and heat transfer price list on our website for download. For larger quantities or specific items not listed, please contact us for a quote.

How fast can you get my printing ready?
Our normal turnaround time is 5-7 working days on smaller orders (less than 100) and 7-14 working days on larger orders (100+) from the time your artwork is approved. The turnaround time will be confirmed with your quotation. If you require sooner, we can print in less time but a surcharge may apply.

When does the clock start for my job's turnaround time?
As soon as we've received the 70% deposit and the final artwork approval. No work will begin on your order until the deposit has been received. If you're in a hurry, make sure you take care of these two things so your printing order isn't delayed.

Can I use a picture from my web site or off the internet on my shirts?
No. Web images are saved at 72dpi. We need at least 200 dpi to get a decent print. Artwork is included in the price of your t-shirt printing, but we reserve the right to charge for excessive artwork revisions and we will always notify you before any fees apply.

Can you screen print Full Colour (4 colour process) artwork?
Yes, we can. Full colour or 4 colour process designs need to be printed on white garments. Many times spot colours can be more affordable and effective. We are happy to work this through for you to find the best colours and methods of printing for your design.

How many ink colours can I have screen printed?
We screen print up to six (6) spot colours. Full colour printing is only advisable on white or light coloured garments (as above). If you are looking for custom shirts or small quantities, then we would do the printing as a full colour digital heat transfer, the number of colours would not affect the price as it is printed in full colour.

How big can you screen print? Can you print over seams and off the edges?
The biggest we can screen print as one print is around 420mm x 420mm. This is a jumbo print and we cannot print near seams or off the edge of the shirt.

Our standard t shirt print size is around an A4 size. We like to keep the prints under 290mm wide as this fits well across the different range of sizes for both larger kids and adult sizes. This also ensures that the print does not ‘get lost’ under the sleeves when the shirt is worn. When printing across various sizes of shirts, we will always fit artwork to the smallest shirt to be printed.

How big can you do a heat transfer? Can you put the transfer over a seam?
The biggest we can print the heat transfer prints is A3, but we find an A4 print works best on most garments. Small text may not cut well and will need a background or outline around the text to give it enough surface area to stick. Heat transfer prints are heat pressed on the garment and thus need a nice flat area to be pressed onto, we cannot print near or over buttons or seams.

What makes a quality t-shirt?
Click Here, to see our web page on t-shirt quality

What sizes are the garments?
Garments are available in adult sizes Small to 3X-Large, some ranges have an adult x-small. Kids sizes are in ages from 2-3 years, 4-5 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years, 11-12 years and 13-14 years.

We do have samples of the most popular items available which you can check for sizing, but bear in mind that sizes and colours may fluctuate during manufacturing – We cannot be responsible for size variations and colours in garments between manufacturers. If a specific size garment is required, we advise that the customer supplies their own garment/s

Washing and care instructions
We recommend that all screen printed and heat transfer printed garments are machine washed inside out on a cool wash. Please do not bleach or scrub your printed shirt. Although you can iron onto our prints, for best results please ensure that any print is ironed from the inside of the garment only!

How long have you guys been screen printing shirts?
Pic a Shirt has been around since 1989, so we are not new to this game! Our staff have all had many years experience in printing, both in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

What about privacy and security?
No information we collect for order processing is shared with any other company or website. Your information is only used to contact you when necessary. As well as this, your artwork produced for your printing is for your order and will not be used or reproduced for anyone else without your written permission.