General
So
why should I choose Second Encore Productions?
How
can you afford to stay in business with such low prices?
Is
your quality any good?
Our
Website
Do
I need to be a computer whiz to use Second Encore’s website?
Does
a slow computer keep me from navigating through your site? How about
if I want to place an order?
Are
Firefox, Netscape, Opera, Safari browsers compatible with this website?
CDs
and DVDs
What
is the difference between replication and duplication?
What
is a glass master?
Do
you copy my disc exactly as I send it?
Will
my CD or DVD orders be shrink-wrapped?
Do
I need a barcode on my project?
Will
my DVDs play in all DVD players?
Will
my CDs play in all CD players?
Print
Products
What
type of paper do you offer for your print products?
What
type of finish do you offer for your print products?
What
is aqueous coating?
Graphic
Design
What
are your graphic design specs?
What
is trim size?
What
is bleed?
What
is a safety margin?
It
states on your website that your replication prices include up to
three colors on the discs, but how do I know if my disc face artwork
is only three colors?
If
I use the same artwork for my disc and insert, will the color match?
How
much space should I leave for a barcode on my replication project?
Is
there a font size limitation for printing on the face of the disc?
What
is trapping?
Do
you have templates that I can use?
I
get an error message when trying to upload my artwork. Why?
I
don’t have the software needed to design my own artwork. Does
Second Encore offer graphic design services?
What
is the cost to have something designed by Second Encore?
Pricing
What
are the costs to produce my project?
What
are the shipping costs?
Placing
Your Order
What
is a PayPal shopping cart?
What
do I need to send with my print or merchandise project?
What
do I need to send with my disc duplication or replication project?
How
should I send the materials for my duplication or replication project
to you?
Can
I place an order from anywhere in the world?
Can
I use two separate addresses for shipping and billing?
What
are the minimum quantities per order?
How
do you calculate the turnaround times?
What
delivery options do you offer?
Can
you ship to P.O. Box addresses?
Payment
It
was mentioned earlier that you have a PayPal shopping cart on your
website. Do I have to have a PayPal account to place an order with
Second Encore?
What
credit cards to you accept?
Are
transactions on your site secure?
Do
you accept other forms of payment?
Why
don’t you offer a PayPal shopping cart on the CD and DVD replication
pages?
How
do I get billed for CD and DVD replication orders?
Why
do you require a 100% prepay on your orders?
Where
do I enter my shipping information for my order?
Proofing
What
is a PDF proof?
Can
Second Encore provide hard copy proofs?
Will
the color on my proof match the final printed piece?
Contact
How
can I contact you if I have any questions or technical difficulties
on your site?
General
So
why should I choose Second Encore Productions?
Wow, where do we start? Let's see... low prices… superior
quality… fast turnaround times… years of experience…
free stuff (such as online distribution, posters, barcodes, etc.)…
the list goes on and on. In regards to our low prices, we know that
this is a very competitive business we’re in, so one of the
things we always strive for is to make sure that you are getting
the best bargain possible and the most bang for your buck. Quality
is another thing that we always keep a close eye on. We want you
to be happy with your finished product, so we do what it takes to
make sure quality is never compromised. Another thing to consider
about Second Encore is our experience in the industry and our passion
for being able to help our clients at a consultative level. You
will not be dealing with a salesperson whose only concern is to
try to meet a sales quota like some companies do. That’s not
why we’re here. We’re here to do whatever we can to
help you every step of the way, not only with replication or merchandise,
but also with other things such as artist promotion and distribution.
How
can you afford to stay in business with such low prices?
Actually, there are two answers for that. First, we were able to
negotiate some very aggressive rates with our vendors before we
even opened the doors for business. We basically did all of the
groundwork for you by finding the best replication and print facilities
in the country, and we got the best prices out of them. Second,
we have low overhead. We don't spend a ton of money sending you
catalogs and flyers in the mail because at the end of the day, it
only means higher prices for you.
Is
your quality any good?
Absolutely.
We stand behind our quality, and as previously mentioned, we make
sure quality is never compromised. Our printing is to SWOP standards
and our CD/DVD replication is to ISO standards. It doesn’t
get any better than that. At Second Encore Productions, we don’t
ever take a shortcut on quality.
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Our
Website
Do
I need to be a computer whiz to use Second Encore’s website?
Not at all. It’s basically a few clicks of the mouse here
and there in your favorite web browser, and that’s about all
there is to it. We have made the entire order process and file upload
process about as simple as it gets, even for a novice computer user.
Does
a slow computer keep me from navigating through your site? How about
if I want to place an order?
If you have a slow computer, you should not have any problems at
all at our website. If you can open a browser and browse the internet
on your computer, you should be able to browse through the site
and place an order without any difficulty.
Are
Firefox, Netscape, Opera, Safari browsers compatible with this website?
Yes, most t internet browsers will work with the site, but you should
verify that you are using the most current version available. Internet
Explorer on a Macintosh will not work.
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CDs
and DVDs
What
is the difference between replication and duplication?
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. The towers that are used for
our duplication projects perform an evaluation of your master disc
to check for read and write errors and then make an exact duplicate.
This is the best option if you have small quantities or need a quicker
turnaround time to meet a deadline. Typical production time for
duplication is two business days. Replication refers to the manufacturing
process that starts with raw material to manufacture your discs
from scratch. Your original disc is evaluated for read and write
errors, followed by the production of a glass master of your disc.
This glass master is then used to create a stamper, which 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 1000 discs or more. This is the best
option if you want larger quantities (500 pieces or more) and if
you’re not in a time-crunch.
What
is a glass master?
The glass master refers to the replication process only, not duplication.
The glass master is created at the plant as an exact copy of your
disc. Glass mastering includes a review of the integrity of your
original disc and a verification of copyright ownership. Glass mastering
is included with all of our replication projects, with no extra
charge to you.
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 replicate
or duplicate it.
Will
my CD or DVD orders be shrink-wrapped?
On replication projects, we include poly-wrapping on all jewel case
orders, and we shrink-wrap all Digipak, cardboard sleeve, and Amaray
case orders. On duplication projects, we include shrink-wrapping.
Of course, there is no wrapping of any kind on individual bulk disc
orders.
Do
I need a barcode on my project?
We recommend it, but it isn’t mandatory. However, if you are
releasing a CD and intend to sell the CD through retail distribution
(either online and/or brick-and-mortar), then you should consider
getting a barcode. Some retailers and other distributors will not
accept a CD or DVD without a barcode. A barcode is included in the
price of all fully-packaged (i.e. jewel case, Digipak, Amaray case,
and cardboard sleeve) replication orders of at least 1000 pieces.
Will
my DVDs play in all DVD players?
Not necessarily. DVDs are very difficult to standardize. There are
several formats that exist and some of the older DVD players might
not be compatible with more recent formatting styles, but don’t
let that scare you away from producing a DVD. In an attempt to make
sure that you DVDs are compatible, we recommend that you test your
master disc out on a number of different DVD players before submitting
it to us, and if the disc plays on those players, your DVDs should
be alright in most players. Just remember that not all players will
work and that there is no such thing as a DVD that will play in
all DVD players, no matter what anyone tells you.
Will
my CDs play in all CD players?
There have been some sporadic reports throughout the years of incompatibility
issues with replicated CDs (mostly in the case of enhanced CDs),
but is highly unlikely that you will experience anything like that.
However, due to the fact that people are using their computers more
and more these days when creating a master CD, a common mistake
that is made is when a master CD is formatted on a computer but
the settings that allow the CD to play on a standard CD player aren’t
set properly. To avoid this type of problem, we recommend that after
you have formatted your master CD, test it on several different
CD players before submitting it to us.
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Print
Products
What
type of paper do you offer for your print products?
Our posters and flyers are printed on high-grade 100# text gloss
paper. Postcards and business cards are printed on heavy-duty 14pt.
card stock.
What
type of finish do you offer for your print products?
We offer aqueous coating on posters, flyers, and business card orders
at no additional charge.
What
is aqueous coating?
Aqueous coating is a protective coating that we put on all of our
printed pieces. The high-gloss coating prevents fingerprints from
showing without being too glossy (such as UV coating), which gives
your printed product a professional look.
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Graphic
Design
What
are your graphic design specs?
For best results, the minimum resolution for all art files is 300
dpi (dots per inch) at 100%. We can accept the following formats
for upload: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, Photoshop EPS, or a flattened Photoshop
PSD. Please be certain to include all fonts in your files. Full
color artwork should be in CMYK, and black and white artwork should
be in Grayscale. RGB files are not accepted. Do not convert fonts
to curves, because this can severely limit the quality of the type
and will not trap well. We recommend that you confirm the final
trim size and make sure that you have sufficient bleed (1/8-inch)
and an acceptable safety margin (also 1/8-inch). Minimum font size
is 7pt. Artwork that doesn’t incorporate these design specs
will more than likely delay the project, so if you have any questions
at all and don’t want to run the risk of delaying your project,
please feel free to contact us about this.
What
is trim size?
Basically, the trim size refers to the dimensions of the final piece.
If you were to measure a CD booklet that you might have in your
CD collection, you’ll see that it’s 4.75” x 4.75”.
That is what is referred to as trim size.
What
is bleed?
Bleed refers to extending the image (such as the background or a
photo) beyond the trim line. After the traycards and inserts are
printed, the plant trims them in stacks of hundreds of sheets at
a time, which is much faster than trimming individual pieces. Bleed
gives the plant a margin of error during the trimming process, so
that if the stack of paper shifts a bit during the cut, the white
of the paper won't show along the edge and you won’t have
a little white stripe going down the side of your inserts/traycards.
We recommend that you add 1/8-inch of bleed to each side of your
layouts. For example, your insert will be trimmed to 4.75”
x 4.75”, which means if you were to add 1/8-inch to all four
sides (top, bottom, left, right) for bleed, the dimensions before
you start your design should be 5” x 5”.
What
is a safety margin?
Safety margin refers to the area just inside of the trim lines and
is basically the opposite of bleed. For example, if you were to
put important information (such as a song title or an important
part of a photo) right up against the trim line, some of it - in
the event that the paper shifts a bit during the cut process - may
get cut off when they trim your inserts and traycards. We recommend
that you keep your type and other important elements 1/8-inch inside
the trim line. Again using the final insert dimensions of 4.75”
x 4.75” as an example, the safety margin would be 4.5"
x 4.5".
It
states on your website that your replication prices include up to
three colors on the discs, but how do I know if my disc face artwork
is only three colors?
For the most part, it depends on the program you are using to design
the disc artwork. Some programs, such as Photoshop, can only create
artwork in full color (CMYK) or black and white (Grayscale), but
other programs such Illustrator and InDesign allow you the ability
to create three colors separately, which are referred to as “spot”
colors. When we check in your artwork and it is determined that
the disc face art is comprised of more than three colors (such as
CMYK), we will contact you immediately to go over the different
options that you will have before we proceed with your order. If
your disc artwork needs to be more than three colors, there is no
need for concern. The extra cost to add full color to your discs
is significantly less than what most of our competitors will charge.
By the way, all replicated discs are silver when they are manufactured.
If you prefer a white disc rather than a silver disc, you will need
to request that a “white flood coat” be applied to the
disc face before your artwork gets printed on the discs. The white
flood coat counts as one of the three colors that are included in
our replication prices, but it can really enhance your artwork.
If
I use the same artwork for my disc and insert, will the color match?
No, it will not match, mainly due to the fact that there are two
different printing processes that are implemented. Replicated discs
are screen-printed and duplicated discs are inkjet-printed, but
inserts are printed on a conventional state-of-the-art offset printing
press. The art on the disc face will not match the art from the
insert because the machinery that is used (as well as the materials
that are printed) are different. We recommend that you do not intend
to match the disc and the insert to avoid any confusion. If you
still want to use the same artwork for design reasons, no problem,
but please be aware that they will not match.
How
much space should I leave for a barcode on my replication project?
You should leave a space that is at least 1.25” x .5”
for the barcode. We recommend that you create a white box with those
dimensions, which will not only tell us where you would like the
barcode to be located, but it will give you a better idea of what
the finished product will look like. In the event that you don’t
like the placement of the barcode, you can move it around to your
liking before submitting the artwork to us. The traditional location
of the barcode is on the back of the finished product, usually in
the lower right-hand corner or the lower left-hand corner.
Is
there a font size limitation for printing on the face of the disc?
We recommend at least an 8pt type for text to be printed on disc
faces. You should also try to use readable type that does not have
tiny lines or curls on the font face (such as a “handwriting”
type of font) because they 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 if the discs shift slightly
during the printing process.
What
is trapping?
Trapping helps to eliminate white lines between color changes in
any printed piece. We do all of the rapping for you (at no additional
cost), so you don't have to worry about it.
Do
you have templates that I can use?
Yes we do. They can be found by clicking on the “Templates”
link on our menu bar towards the top of every page on our site,
or by clicking here.
I
get an error message when trying to upload my artwork. Why?
It is more than likely a file issue, meaning that the file you are
uploading might not be an acceptable file type. We recommend that
you save your file(s) in another file format and try to upload again.
I
don’t have the software needed to design my own artwork. Does
Second Encore offer graphic design services?
We sure do. We would be more than happy to help you with that as
well.
What
is the cost to have something designed by Second Encore?
We only charge $50 per hour for graphic design. Not bad when everybody
else charges $75 to $100.
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Pricing
What
are the costs to produce my project?
The prices that are listed on our product pages include all production,
setup, and material costs, with no hidden fees whatsoever. The only
cost that is not included on our product pages is for sales tax
(where applicable) and - in some cases – shipping charges.
What
are the shipping costs?
The prices listed for our print products (posters, flyers, business
cards, and postcards) and CD duplication include the shipping charges.
For shipping information on all of our other products, please visit
the respective product pages.
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Placing
Your Order
What
is a PayPal shopping cart?
The PayPal shopping cart is simply a place to hold the products
you would like to purchase while allowing you to continue shopping
at the Second Encore website, similar to other shopping carts you
may have seen on other online retailer sites. The only difference
is that all of our transactions are securely administered through
PayPal rather than some other third party company that we (or you)
might not be too familiar with. When you are satisfied with the
contents in the shopping cart, you can proceed to check out by clicking
on the “View Cart” buttons found throughout our website
to complete your order.
What
do I need to send with my print or merchandise project?
Once you have made your payment on our website, all we would need
at that point is your artwork. We have made this convenient for
you by creating our “Upload” page where you can upload
your art files to our server through your favorite web browser.
What
do I need to send with my disc duplication or replication project?
We recommend that you send two original masters with any project
submitted for replication. In some cases, if only one master disc
is provided and it is flawed in some way (scratches, fingerprints,
etc.), this gives us a backup disc to use to prevent any delays
in production. In addition we need a completed IPR form, which states
who owns the rights to the content on the disc that you want to
have copied. If you are ordering fully-packaged CDs or DVDs, we
will need artwork for the insert, traycard, and disc face. We suggest
that you use our “Upload” page for your artwork, where
you can conveniently upload your art files through your favorite
web browser and get them to us much quicker than by mailing them
in. Please note that audio tracks – if uploaded through our
upload page – will not be accepted. Your master discs must
be mailed in, not uploaded.
How
should I send the materials for my duplication or replication project
to you?
You have several options such as USPS, FedEx, DHL, or UPS, but whatever
carrier you decide to use, we highly recommend that you get a tracking
number in the unlikely – but possible – event that your
package gets misplaced during transit.
Can
I place an order from anywhere in the world?
Yes, you can, but we only ship to the USA and Canada.
Can
I use two separate addresses for shipping and billing?
Yes, you can use different addresses for shipping and billing.
What
are the minimum quantities per order?
Each product has different minimums. Please refer to the price grids
on our product pages for more information.
How
do you calculate the turnaround times?
After your replication order is placed, we check in your artwork
to make sure that the files meet the design specifications. Once
we have determined that we have workable art files, you will receive
PDF proof via email for your review. This proof is usually sent
to you within 24 hours of your order being placed. You must approve
the proof by replying to our email as soon as possible. If you approve
the proof prior to 12:00 pm EST, that day becomes day one in the
turnaround time. For example, if you place a replication order that
has an eleven-day turnaround time on Monday the 4th, you should
receive the PDF proof on Tuesday the 5th. If we receive your approval
by 12:00 pm EST on the 5th, the 5th would be considered “day
one” out of the eleven-day turnaround, thereby giving your
order a shipping date of the 19th (eleven business days later).
If we don’t receive your approval by 12:00 pm EST, the following
business day would be considered “day one.” Please know
that our production turnaround times do not include transit times,
and that all production times are estimated. However unlikely, we
cannot be responsible for missed deadlines due to circumstances
beyond our control - such as equipment failure - and ask that you
allow enough time in the production schedule in the unlikely event
that this should happen.
What
delivery options do you offer?
All CD and DVD orders are shipped via UPS Ground, and print and
merchandise orders are shipped through FedEx Ground, UPS Ground,
and DHL Ground, all of which deliver on an average of two to five
business days (depending on the shipping destination). However unlikely,
we cannot be responsible for missed deadlines due to circumstances
beyond our control - such as inclement weather - and ask that you
allow enough time in the production schedule in the unlikely event
that this should happen.
Can
you ship to P.O. Box addresses?
No. Our carriers (UPS, FedEx, and DHL) cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes,
only residential and physical business addresses.
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Payment
It
was mentioned earlier that you have a PayPal shopping cart on your
website. Do I have to have a PayPal account to place an order with
Second Encore?
No, a PayPal account is not mandatory. You will be given the option
to pay by credit card at checkout if you prefer.
What
credit cards to you accept?
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Are
transactions on your site secure?
Yes, through PayPal. During checkout, the site uses SSL with 128-bit
encryption, which makes all transactions completely secure. After
finishing the checkout process, you may get a message that you are
leaving secure pages.
Do
you accept other forms of payment?
At this time, credit cards or PayPal transactions are the only acceptable
payment methods. We feel that this is the fastest way to get your
project underway. No having to wait for checks to clear...
Why
don’t you offer a PayPal shopping cart on the CD and DVD replication
pages?
Most replication orders require some assistance/contact before the
order process starts, so we felt that it would be a good idea to
hold off on the shopping cart for replication orders. This gives
you the opportunity to touch base with us and bring up any questions
or concerns that you may have before you submit your deposit.
How
do I get billed for CD and DVD replication orders?
All CD replication orders and DVD replication orders require a 100%
deposit. When you are ready to place your order, we will send an
invoice to you via email where you will be given the option to submit
your payment by credit card or through PayPal.
Why
do you require a 100% prepay on your orders?
Although we used to require a 50% deposit on all CD replication
orders, we have found that due to the fact that most orders are
paid by credit card and the order ships directly to the customer
within a couple of weeks, it actually makes the process a lot easier
by not having to hassle with two different payments (50% down and
50% on completion of order). Back when we had the 50% deposit policy,
most clients wound up paying 100% up front anyway.
Where
do I enter my shipping information for my order?
You will be given the opportunity to enter your name and shipping
information at order checkout.
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Proofing
What
is a PDF proof?
A PDF proof is a medium resolution image displayed on your computer
monitor. A PDF proof will show content such as type and trapping
issues as well as the trim lines and bleed.
Can
Second Encore provide hard copy proofs?
Yes we can. In fact our hard copy proofs are actually press proofs.
A hard copy proof costs more than a PDF proof and it also increases
the amount of time it takes to produce your project, but if you
have any concerns about the colors and you feel that you need to
be as accurate as possible, you have the option of a hard copy proof.
Will
the color on my proof match the final printed piece?
In regards to a PDF proof, all computer monitors are different,
which means you can’t rely on a PDF proof to represent accurate
color. (To get an idea of what we’re talking about, go to
your local computer retailer and look at all of the monitors sitting
next to each other. Every monitor can be showing the exact same
image, but each one will look a little different.) Of course, the
blues will be blue and the reds will be red, but due to the fact
that your computer monitor displays color in RGB and printers print
everything in CMYK, there will be a slight difference. Not a big
difference, but a difference nonetheless. In regards to a hard copy
proof, there’s an industry standard of a 5% variation, which
is hardly noticeable to the human eye. If you have any concerns
or questions about this, please contact us and we will be more than
happy to address any concerns you may have.
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Contact
How
can I contact you if I have any questions or technical difficulties
on your site?
You can always contact us via email at info@secondencore.com or
if you prefer to call us, our toll free number is 888-288-4406.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday, from 10:00 am to 6:00
pm EST, but if you call us during those hours and get our voicemail
(which is very likely to happen), we ask that you leave a message.
We usually reply to all emails and voicemails within an hour, sometimes
within five minutes.
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