Frequently asked questions
Click a question to see the answer. Broader topics link to dedicated articles.
How long does production take?
The calculator on the product page shows the lead time - it depends on the product, the run size and the options you pick, and lamination or other finishing extends it. Express production is available for selected products, also in the calculator.
The lead time is counted from the start of production, not from placing the order. Production starts once we have everything:
- a correct print-ready file,
- your approval of the proof, if the order requires one,
- the payment recorded,
- for disc replication and duplication - the correct source material delivered.
All of these must be in place at the same time - a single missing item holds up the start of production.
How quickly do you ship?
Same-day shipping if the order is ready before 13:00. After that - next working day. Courier DPD/InPost - delivery in 1-2 working days.
What are the delivery costs?
Courier from 15 PLN net, InPost parcel locker from 12 PLN net. Personal pickup in Łódź - free of charge. The final amount depends on the weight and size of the parcel - a hundred digipaks in a small box price differently from a 200 kg pallet. You will see the exact cost at checkout, once you pick a delivery method.
Can I pick up my order in person?
Yes, at our office: ul. Gdańska 91, 90-613 Łódź, Mon-Fri 09:30-16:30. After the "ready for pickup" e-mail you can come on any working day. No extra charge.
What file format should I send?
PDF/X-1a:2001 with 3 mm bleed, CMYK, fonts converted to curves or embedded, raster images 300 dpi. Full specification at Print file preparation.
What if my file has an error (e.g. no bleed)?
When ordering print you decide whether our designer checks the file. If you choose verification and we find an error, we'll write to you with a description and a proposed fix, and you get a preview to approve before printing. Without verification we print exactly what you send. For USB drives, pens, lighters and discs a new design is approved on a preview before production.
Can I send a project in Word / PowerPoint?
Unfortunately no. We accept only PDF, TIFF or JPG (CMYK, 300 dpi). Word / PowerPoint files lose colours and layout when converted to PDF - we cannot guarantee a match with the on-screen preview.
Do you have file templates?
Yes - every product page has a "Download template" section with AI, EPS and PDF files for the chosen format. Bleeds and safe margins are already set.
What payment methods do you support?
Przelewy24 - including BLIK, Visa / Mastercard cards and instant bank transfer - and a standard bank transfer (account number in the confirmation e-mail). You choose and make the payment on the cart page, together with the rest of the order.
Do you issue VAT invoices?
Yes, automatically for every order. Polish companies receive the invoice through KSeF (the National e-Invoicing System) - you will find it there after logging in. Private customers and foreign companies receive a PDF invoice by e-mail, to the address given with the order.
Can I pay on delivery?
No - all online orders require payment in advance. This lets us produce orders without risk and keep prices competitive.
Can I change or cancel an order after paying?
It depends on how far production has gone. Once the job is in production, cancelling is usually no longer possible. Write to us as soon as you can - we will check what stage your order is at and tell you whether a change is feasible, and whether it involves the cost of the production steps already started.
What if the product arrives damaged?
Write to us as soon as possible after the parcel arrives (e-mail with photo documentation) - a quick report makes it easier to settle the matter with the courier. You can lodge a complaint within two years of delivery, and we respond to it within 14 days of receiving your notification. We will replace the damaged copies or refund the cost.
Can I return an order?
Printed products are personalised goods (made to order) - under EU consumer law they are not subject to return. We do, however, accept quality complaints (print errors, wrong paper, damage).
Do you have a minimum quantity?
It depends on the product - each one has its own threshold and its own quantity step, so there is no single number for the whole shop. The current values are shown by the calculator on the product page, and that is the only place where they are always up to date. If you need a run below the threshold, or far above the catalogue, write to us and we will prepare an individual quote.
Do you print runs outside the catalogue (>10,000 pcs, custom sizes)?
Yes, we'll prepare an individual quote. Contact the office by e-mail or phone (+48 884 886 884). For large runs (>10,000 pcs) we offer better per-unit rates.
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Didn't find your answer? Write to info@promedia.pl - we reply within 1 working day.
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Paper and finishing
Paper and finishing decide how your print looks and feels. Here are the most common questions - and if you are unsure, write to us and we'll help you pick what fits your project.
What is the difference between coated (kreda) and offset paper?
Two different bases. Coated paper (kreda) has a smooth, coated surface - colours are saturated and vivid, details sharp. It is the standard for business cards, advertising flyers, covers and premium invitations. Offset (uncoated) paper is natural and matte to the touch, with slightly calmer colours, but you can easily write on it with a pen. It works for letterheads, invoices, desk offers and calendars for notes. In short: want a "wow" effect and strong colour - coated; want a natural feel and the option to add something by hand - offset.
When should I choose ECO paper (Kraft, Kazan, Flora)?
Choose ECO papers when the brand should feel natural, artisanal or eco-friendly. Kraft is the distinctive brown recycled paper with a raw texture - great for hangtags, jar labels, bags, and menu cards in a bistro or food truck. Kazan and Flora are other papers from this eco family with a natural, pleasant finish. Note: ECO papers mute colours - full-colour photos come out warm and matte, and fine black text has weaker contrast. If you need full-colour photography, coated paper is better.
And when the Prestige designer papers (STARDREAM, DALI, MODIGLIANI)?
Prestige designer papers are the premium option for special occasions - wedding and event invitations, diplomas, membership cards, cards for management. STARDREAM has a pearlescent, gently shimmering sheen (gold, silver, ivory and more). DALI has fine, regular ribs and comes in five shades - from Candido white to Verde Pino green. MODIGLIANI has a subtle, tactile texture. These papers impress the moment you touch them - choose them when the print should signal prestige. For mass hand-outs they are too expensive.
What is the difference between gloss, matt and Soft Touch foil?
All three are a thin foil laminated onto the paper after printing - it protects against water and scratches and adds character. Gloss strongly reflects light and boosts colours - good for posters, photo folders, product labels (note: on business cards fingerprints show quickly). Matt does not shine, looks elegant and "expensive", and hides fingerprints better - a classic for premium business cards, menus and invitations. Soft Touch (velvet) is the luxury finish: it feels like velvet or silk, a premium "wow" effect - for VIP cards, upscale invitations, album covers. Soft Touch is the priciest of the three.
Why are ECO and designer papers supplied without foil?
Because their whole charm is in the natural texture and feel. Foil is a smooth layer that would "seal over" that texture - kraft would stop being raw, and designer STARDREAM or DALI would lose its signature surface and shimmer. That is why we leave ECO and Prestige papers unlaminated - a deliberate aesthetic choice, not a missing option. If you want a protective, smooth foil finish, choose coated paper.
Can I write on a laminated print?
With an ordinary pen, usually not - foil is smooth and the ink neither grips nor stays put. If you need to add something by hand (a guest's name, a date, a signature), a paper without foil is better - ideally offset or designer paper, as they take handwriting well. We'll advise at ordering if you tell us you plan to write on it.
Product variants and versions
Many products come in several versions - classic, ECO, Prestige or folded - plus options such as folding or shape cutting. Here is what each name means in practice.
What is the difference between classic, ECO, Prestige and folded versions?
It is the same product family in different "outfits". Classic - standard coated paper, full colour, good price, universal use. ECO - on ecological paper (kraft or offset ECO), natural and less flashy, for eco/artisanal brands. Prestige - on designer paper (STARDREAM, DALI, MODIGLIANI), a premium version for special occasions. Folded - printed on a single sheet folded into panels (e.g. a business card or flyer that opens up), giving more room for content. The choice of version is mostly about paper and budget - the rest (format, design) stays similar.
What does "folded" mean and what is scoring (bigowanie)?
Folded means the finished print is bent into panels - like a DL flyer that opens accordion-style, or a folded card or greeting card. This fits more content on one sheet in a pocket size. Scoring (bigowanie) is pressing a shallow groove into the paper at the fold line before folding. It is used mainly on heavier papers (from about 200 gsm) so the ink does not crack at the fold and the line stays straight. Thinner papers fold well without scoring.
What are die-cutting and a cutting die (wykrojnik)?
Die-cutting (sztancowanie) is cutting the print into a shape other than a plain rectangle - rounded corners, a string hole in a hangtag, a silhouette, a window in a sleeve, or a complex folder shape. It uses a cutting die (wykrojnik) - a form with blades (like a cookie cutter) that cuts the given shape. Standard dies (typical shapes) we keep ready. A custom shape needs a die made to order - a one-off setup cost at the start of the run and a slightly longer lead time. You will meet die-cutting with hangtags, sleeves, folders and unusual packaging.
What do 4/0 and 4/4 printing mean?
It is a notation for which side carries colour. The digit 4 means full CMYK colour (four printing colours). 4/0 is full colour on one side only, the other stays blank (white) - good for a poster or a single-sided flyer where the back is not needed. 4/4 is full colour on both sides - the standard for invitations (front + programme on the back), double-sided flyers, menus, or business cards with details on the reverse. Simply put: the first digit is the front, the second is the back; 4 = colour, 0 = blank.
Personalisation and file preparation
Some products can be personalised - meaning each copy can print different data. Here we explain how it works and how to prepare files so the print comes out exactly as on screen.
What is the difference between printing and engraving?
These are two marking technologies for gadgets, and the housing material decides which one applies. A plastic housing takes a full-colour print, so the logo can be multicoloured. A metal housing is engraved - the coating is removed to expose the material underneath, so the result is single-colour and the artwork has to be vector (converted to curves). This applies to USB drives, pens and lighters; for a new design you approve a preview before production.
What is personalisation and which products offer it?
Personalisation is printing where each copy can carry different, variable data - a name, surname, date, number or code. Instead of one identical design you get a series in which selected fields are swapped. It is available for invitations and event cards (guest names, table number, an RSVP QR code), diplomas and certificates (names from a list), business cards (a separate set for each person in the company) and greeting cards (personalised wishes for clients). Numbering consecutive copies is also treated as part of personalisation - it appears with products that have personalisation, not as a separate service.
How do I prepare a list for personalisation?
The simplest way: send an Excel file (or a Google Sheet / CSV) where each row is one copy and the columns are the fields to swap - e.g. a "Name", "Table number", "Date" column. Make sure the data is already correct and in its final spelling (we do not change it - we print it 1:1 from the list), with no empty rows or typos. If the design includes a QR code (e.g. RSVP), tell us which address it should point to. If anything is unclear, we will ask before printing so a mistake is not repeated across the whole run.
What are bleeds, CMYK, curves and 300 dpi?
These are the four basics of a correct print file. Bleed is 3 mm of extra artwork beyond the trim line - so after cutting there is no white strip at the edge. CMYK is the printing colour mode; screens glow in RGB, so the file must be saved in CMYK for the colours on paper to match your intent. Curves (converting text to curves / embedding fonts) keep the text from shifting because of a missing font on our side. 300 dpi is the image resolution - below that, graphics come out blurry. We walk through it all step by step in the article Print file preparation - and when ordering print you can add a file check by our designer.