Frequently Asked Questions

Quality

Why is AsukaBook so great?
What type of printing press is used at AsukaBook?
What is the print quality of a digital on demand press?
Do you have a printer profile available?
How and why should I use 'Perceptual' as the rendering intent when soft proofing my design?
How can I be sure that the colour AsukaBook prints matches what I see on my monitor?
Does the colour shift during production?
What type of paper is used in the AsukaBook?
What about discoloration and colour fading?
What if I am not satisfied with my AsukaBook?


Why is AsukaBook so great?

AsukaBook is ''THE ORIGINAL AND STILL PAGES ABOVE THE REST''. Here at AsukaBook we pride ourselves on providing superior customer service in addition to the highest quality products in the industry. All AsukaBook products endure extensive research, development, and testing to ensure they are the best. Our products are assembled by hand with complete quality control and care.


What type of printing press is used at AsukaBook?

We use a Digital on Demand printing process. AsukaBook products are printed on a HP Indigo Digital 6-colour press with electronic inks, halftone dot, and 175 lpi. A colour profile has been specially developed for the AsukaBook press and can be downloaded here.


What is the print quality of a digital on demand press?

Digital On Demand printing produces colour and texture like an offset press. Our quality is similar to a high-quality coffee table photography book you would find at a large bookstore.


Do you have a printer profile available?

Yes. You can now download the printer profile here. It is highly recommended that you review your edited images with our printer profile and calibrated monitor to verify approximate desired colour accuracy and consistency.


How and why should I use 'Perceptual' as the rendering intent when soft proofing my design?

To access 'Perceptual' in Photoshop go to

File - Print with Preview - More Options - Colour Management - Rendering Intent

Selecting 'Perceptual' will give you a ''natural'' view of how colours should look. This setting must be selected to obtain correct / desired colour in your layouts.


How can I be sure that the colour AsukaBook prints matches what I see on my monitor?

To ensure that the colours you see on your monitor will closely match your printed book it is essential to have the AsukaBook printer profile and a properly calibrated monitor. To accurately adjust your monitor, a hardware monitor calibration device is strongly suggested. These devices are available for purchase from most professional photography and computer software retailers. Please click here to download AsukaBook's printer profile and to learn how to check your monitor calibration. It is highly recommended that you review your edited images with our printer profile and a properly calibrated monitor to verify approximate desired colour accuracy and consistency.


Does the colour shift during production?

Colour consistency and accuracy is our first priority. The printing press is calibrated every 100 printed pages. This type of control is very rare in the printing industry. Slight shifts in colour can occur from batch to batch, but it is very minimal. Our frequent calibration helps to minimize any shifts and if any shifting does occur, it should be practically unnoticeable. Keep in mind that we are printing with a CMYK colour space, which requires a conversion process from your RGB files. Slight shifts may occur consequently, which is normal for any CMYK print process. Again, it is highly recommended to view your images and design with the AsukaBook printer profile and proper monitor calibration so you may adjust or be aware of possible colour shifting.


What type of paper is used in the AsukaBook?

AsukaBook uses a glossy paper. The printed pages are laminated with a gloss or matt finish, or a varnish coating is applied for added protection.


What about discoloration and colour fading?

We use special inks that outlast the life of widely used press inks. A surface varnish coating or laminate is also applied increasing durability and quality. Expect your book to last at least as long as any standard high-quality printed book.


What if I am not satisfied with my AsukaBook?

Here at AsukaBook we want to ensure you receive the highest quality product we can offer. Our customers have the freedom to express their creativity however they would like. We review every order before it is sent to production for any noticeable layout concerns, but we do not check for spelling errors or design and colour choices. Before placing your AsukaBook order you must agree that you have reviewed your file(s) and they are ready for print. By doing so you take full responsibility for the layout and content. If your AsukaBook for any reason does not withstand ''normal wear and tear'' or if your product in any way differs from your designed PDF (colour and/or layout), please contact us.

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