When sending several images, you can “gang” your artwork. Setting up your artwork correctly saves us time and can save you money.
Artwork should have 1/2” between each image—see examples below of correct setup and “bad” setup.
For large orders the ideal document size is 17” wide x 23” long for unmounted dies and14” wide x 23” long for MOUNTED dies.
OWOSSO is committed to product quality and customer satisfaction! Please examine your order immediately upon arrival. Call us if you have a concern or a problem and we’ll see if one of our technical staff can help you solve it over the phone. Inquiries concerning defects, errors, or shortages need to be made within 10 working days of the receipt of your order.
If there is a manufacturing defect in the die, we will replace it immediately at no charge. We may ask you to return the original die and product samples so we can evaluate the problem for continuing quality improvement.
Our warranty covers replacement of the die that has a manufacturing defect. OWOSSO is not liable for any other warranties expressed or implied, or for damages which may be direct, incidental or consequential to use of the die.
Dies made per incomplete or incorrect instructions do not qualify for no-charge warranty replacement.
Contact A Team Member
Call us – We’re Here to Help!
800.444.5552 (U.S. & Canada) | 989.725.7112 (International)
Craig Ellenberg
President
Since 1982
craig@OWOSSO.com
Joe Holden
Tech Support Manager
Since 1984
joe@OWOSSO.com
Brandie Cords
Customer Service Specialist/Billing
Since 2004
brandie@OWOSSO.com
Andy Huff
Imaging Specialist
Since 2000
andy@OWOSSO.com
Tia Blue
Imaging Specialist
Since Since 2015
tia@OWOSSO.com
Brad Wirostek
Imaging Specialist
Since Since 2016
brad@OWOSSO.com
Dottie Roy
Office Manager
Since 2001
dottie@OWOSSO.com
We encourage you to use our online ordering system. If you prefer to email your order please use the following guidelines:
Last but definitely not least – Please confirm your order by FAXING a Proof Copy of your file and an Order Form to: 989-725-8084. This allows us to compare your FAX proof to what we received by e-mail to make sure your file came through okay.
Mac or PC files are accepted as well as all major software including files created in Illustrator, CorelDraw, PageMaker, Freehand, QuarkXpress, and Photoshop. Please call ahead for special instructions for DXF and DWG files.
Our Imaging Team is ready to answer your imaging questions every weekday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST/EDT at 1-800-444-5552.
Help us serve you better! Please submit an OWOSSO order form to each piece of copy. The accuracy of your order depends on the completeness of your order instructions. Incomplete order information may delay processing.
Reordering: OWOSSO makes reordering easy! Notify us before 10 a.m. EST/EDT for your re-order to be included in that production day.
You can download the order forms from the following list.
Don’t forget that what you see on paper looks very different when “translated” onto fabric. Images that are black will be pressed into the fabric. Images that are white will be “puffed” up on the fabric. Depending on the outcome you wish to achieve, OWOSSO can reverse the artwork for you. Based on your artwork, just let us know if you want the white or black areas puffed up on the fabric.
Artwork Quality:
When creating artwork, keep in mind that bolder lines and open detail emboss best. Fine, closed detail and small images don’t allow enough space for the fabric to be pressed or puffed, and limit the overall embossing height. Bold, open designs can be more easily recognized on the finished product. Try to avoid serifs on type. To achieve maximum embossing height, keep your line sizes at least 1/8 inch.
Borders:
Borders are necessary to give definition to your overall design. Borders can be separate, enclose the artwork, or be part of the design as an outline or contour style. (See below.) If you have questions about borders, please give us a call.
So, you’re ready to order a die from OWOSSO for your Howard Imprinting Machine… here are a few things we’d like you to know to make this a successful ordering experience.
Artwork
Whether you’re sending us black & white artwork in the mail, or e-mailing a file to us, the quality of your die depends entirely upon the artwork you supply. OWOSSO dies are photoengraved; the artwork is actually photographed onto a piece of magnesium metal that has a photosensitized coating then etched in a nitric acid bath. This means your die is going to look exactly like the artwork you send us!
Image Size
This is a very important bit of information. If you send us a piece of artwork that is 2” x 3” and don’t tell us you need it to be ¾” in height, you’re going to receive a die that is 2” x 3”. If you are e-mailing a file to us, please make sure that the file is the SAME SIZE you want the die to be. Ideally, e-mail files should be ready to go when we receive them.
Preparing Files
If you use any of the following programs to create your files, you’re halfway there: InDesign, QuarkXpress, Corel Draw, or Illustrator. QuarkXpress requires you to send us your fonts. No big deal. Just find that font folder on your hard drive, make a copy of that folder, and put it in the same folder that will hold the file you will be sending to us. The other programs have the option to change your type into outlines or curves so there is no need to send fonts along. Don’t forget to always include your placed images unless they have been embedded in the file.
Setting Type
When setting type, avoid using the control palette to create bold or italic fonts. They print okay on your printer, but will not translate on our postscript imagesetters. PDFs created in this manner will also default.
Scanning
Although original files from the above programs are preferred, high-resolution tiffs are acceptable. Scanning poor copy with ragged edges will produce a file with; you guessed it, ragged edges. Printing it to your ink jet or laser printer may not tell you the whole story on the quality of the file. Here at OWOSSO, we send your files right to the imagesetter and spit out a film at 2400 dpi. It is not as forgiving as your printer. Every little jagged line will look like a jagged line.
Three important rules for scanning are:
Stuff It!
Stuffing all Mac files will help you avoid the dreaded call from OWOSSO’s imaging department letting you know that we were not able to work with your file. Stuffing (or compressing) files encodes them to travel safely across all the PC and Unix servers before reaching their destination. If you don’t have a program similar to Stuffit, visit the following links www.stuffit.com Stuffit® or www.pkware.com PKZip®
Call us at 800-444-5552 if you have any questions!
Thanks! We look forward to receiving your order.
Doug Pendergast