What happens after I place an order?
Your order goes into our Print Queue. From beginning to end there are six steps in our queue. You’ll be assigned an order number at the end of the checkout process. If you’ve got an order number, then we’ve got your order in queue.
The six steps are –
1. Order Submitted Waiting for Files
This means we’ve got your order, but haven’t yet downloaded your files.
2. Validating Files
This means we’ve got your files and are checking them out to make sure they conform to our tech specs and are printable.
3. Waiting for Payment
This means we’ve validated your files as print ready and have sent you an invoice.
4. Ready to Print
This means we’ve received your payment and your order is scheduled for print.
5. Ready to Ship
This means your order has printed and is in the shipping room.
6. Shipped
This means that you’ve been sent tracking numbers and the order is on its way to you.
You can check your order status from your Ka-Blam User control at any time.
If there is a problem with your order that requires your attention, then we’ll change your order status to “on hold” and send you a message via our Message Center letting you know what the problem is and how to correct it.
How long does #2 (validating) take? And, separately, #4 (printing)?
There is no set time per se. You chose your ship-by date during the order process, we verify your files and get you an invoice as quickly as we can, and then pending timely receipt of payment your order ships by the date you selected.
When printing Manga, do you print it in the traditional way… from right to left? If not, how would you be able to do that for me?
We can do that. I recommend that you idiot-proof it for us though. Treat the files as if you were sending us a regular left to right book by numbering your pages in reverse order — name the first page in a left to right orientation as “page01″ even though it will be your last page when read right to left and reverse the naming of your covers as well. Does that make sense?
Let’s say we have a release date looming. How much “buffer time” would you recommend between submitting files and receiving the proof copy? On top of that, once we are happy with the proof copy and choose to have it go “live”, is there any sort of wait time involved between us placing it into distribution and it being officially “live”?