Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find common questions asked about our ACL process (APPLIED CERAMIC LABELLING - DIRECT SCREEN PRINT)
Customer Information
How long have you been doing this?
We have been in operation since 1985. We have grown over the years to become one of the largest screen printers for the Wine and Spirit industries in North America.
Do you only service the Wine and Spirit industries?
No. We also service the Beer, Soft Drink, Salad Dressing and Water industries. We can basically screen print on any "solid" container including most type of glass bottles and plastics.
What are your customer service hours?
Customer Service hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm Pacific Standard Time. After hours you can leave a voice mail. If you wish to send an e-mail please click here.
Do you only deal with large customers?
No. We like to work with start up customers and grow with them.
Do you only deal with companies based in the West?
No. While we are located in Vernon, British Columbia, we deal with company's right across North America. We have professional Logistics people who will take care of everything in terms of freight. We will guarantee the product arrives at your back door by your bottling date.
Decorating and Technical
What types of paint do you use to direct screen print and what are the differences?
We use 5 different types of paint in our direct screen print process:
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Ceramic Paints
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The most popular style of paints offering excellent durability and clarity.
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Precious Metal Paints
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Gold, Platinum and Copper; the ultimate materials for high-end labelling.
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Iridescent Paints
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Paints that create a textured and multi colored look.
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Metallic Paints
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Paints that provide a coarse and textured look ideal for Gold and Copper colors.
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Etch Paint
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Specially formulated paint used to provide an "etched" look in a cost effective medium.
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Can you do a full 360 wrap?
Yes.
How many colors can be printed on one bottle (maximum)?
We can do a maximum of 6 colors + 1 frosting at Universal Specialties Inc.
What is frosting?
Frosting is the technique whereby we spray a clear bottle with a ceramic etch paint 360 degrees and it gives the bottle a "frosted" look. Please see the gallery for examples.
Can you do decals?
Yes and we have the ability to do decals, screen printing and frosting all at once on the same bottle.
Order Information
What information do you need to place an order?
Orders should include instruction on quantity and shipping information. In addition, there should be design instructions including colors, placement, size and type of font and digital artwork.
What type of artwork do you accept?
Digital formats that we prefer to work with are:
- CDR (Corel Draw) v10 or less
- EPS v10 or less
- AI (Adobe Illustrator) v10 or less
Please include a PDF, JPG or paper label of the art so that the Designers can compare the working files to the PDF to ensure there have been no font substitutions or problems opening the files. If there are any font issues, the Designers may request that the fonts be converted to outlines/curves/objects and resubmitted.
Do you match to pantone colors?
Yes, but we do not guarantee an exact match. Please note that rubines and rhodamines, and shades of which, are not attainable.
Do you charge setup charges?
Yes, there is a minimal charge.
How do I know that the art I sent you is what you will print?
We do not proceed without final customer sign-off on design and layout. We always supply a proof before any production.
Do you supply pre-production samples?
Yes, at a minimal charge.