Custom Manufacturing FAQ

With over a decade of experience in custom eco-conscious manufacturing, we are the go-to for some of Australia’s most innovative businesses.

Large items we commonly produce.
Business signage, point of sale, event signage, market signage, wayfinding, wall cladding, A frames & fabrication for signage companies.

Small items we commonly produce.
Jewellery, ornaments, educational aids, trophies, coasters, magnets, business cards, gift certificates, bar tab cards, nametags, small signs, lanyards, bookmarks, swingtags, door hangers.

Materials we commonly work with.
Plywood, hardwood, recycled acrylic, MDF, acrylic, pvc, mirror, aluminum, foamboard, polyprop, vinyl.

This FAQ fields some of the most common questions we get asked about our custom manufacturing services.
(For questions about photos on wood see our photos on wood faq.)

  • How do I order custom manufatured products?
    Easy-peasy lemon squeezy. Simply email us through what you are after on the contact page or email us at info@printonwood.com.au

    Once we have all the details we need from you we then send you an obligation free quote (we aim to have that with you within 2 business days. Please understand that custom quotes, especially complex ones can take longer in busy periods). Once you have your quote, if you want to go ahead let us know and we’ll send you an invoice that can easily be paid online, then we're off and racing.

    What’s your average production time?
    We will speak with you about when to expect delivery and work with you if you have specific timings you are needing to achieve. Most common projects are in your hands within 2-3 weeks from approval and payment (depending on size & complexity). Rush orders are also possible, so if you’re working to a deadline, simply sing out.

    What are your maximum & minimum sizes?
    The largest single piece we can produce is approx 1.2 meters x 2.4 meters. We can then tile/join these pieces to make larger pieces. We love large scale projects so talk to us about what you’re thinking and we’ll work through how we can help.

    Our minimum size is only limited by how small you want to go. We regularly produce small jewellery pieces with incredibly fine detail.

    What are your minimum quantities?
    We don’t have minimums, but we do have minimum spend requirements depending on the nature of your product. While we are short-run specialists, some of our products are more suited to small quantity orders than others. As a general rule of thumb, the more items in your order, the lower your unit price will be. But each product has its own rules and requirements so best to get in touch to find out more.

    If I supply wood can you print on it?
    Sometimes, but wegenerally prefer to use our own materials or materials from known timber suppliers so that we can guarantee the quality of the final result.

  • I’ve seen something on your website, instagram, pinterest or elsewhere. Can you help replicate this for me?
    Send us your inspiration reference images at info@printonwood.com.au with a quick brief of what you’re hoping to achieve and we'll help you get some ideas of what is possible.

    I know what I want but I’m not a designer - can you help?
    There are 3 ways to tackle this, depending on the size and ambition of your project.

    1) You can put together your artwork using a website like Canva which helps you create your design and prepare files for printing, without needing to understand design and file supply.

    2) We can provide a quote for design & do this part for you.

    3) For larger projects you can hire a designer. Let us know if you require recommendations suited to your project.

    Do you have a minimum font size or detail limitations?
    Printing onto wood does not mean compromising on the result. Our materials may be rustic, but our processes aren’t. We aim for perfection in production and only work with production equipment that supports that vision.

    We aim to only accept practical limitations which have nothing to do with the materials we print on. All of our processes are built to compare to regular printing. Our general advice is: If you can read it we can print it.

    With that in mind - while printing size 5 font is absolutely fine (if that’s what makes you happy!), please keep in mind that anyone without perfect vision is going to struggle to read it - not because it’s printed on wood but rather because the font is so gosh darn small!

    It should be considered that some wood products have dominant grain structures and these textures can be distracting; especially when printing fine type. We always recommend that you consider which wood type you’ll be printing on before you start the design process.

    What are your artwork file requirements?
    If you’re technically minded, think of us like a regular digital printer.

    We require files to be supplied as PDF documents. Vector graphics are preferred whenever possible and if not, anything over 300dpi is perfect. We ideally need files setup in CMYK with 3mm bleed. All graphics or linked files should be embedded and all fonts should be converted to outlines. If it’s easier, supply packaged files rather than flattened files. Crop marks, bleed marks and printers marks aren’t necessary but you are most welcome to supply with those marks in place.

    Please ensure that you maintain a text free area of at least 3mm from the edge (although we recommend 5mm generally).

    If any of the above sounds unfamiliar or difficult, don't worry - Get in contact and we can help.

    We don’t ever hit print without supplying a final proof and checking your artwork thoroughly both for technical problems and practical issues too. If we’re concerned, you’ll know about it! And we’ll make sure everything is spot on before we produce.

    What if I don’t understand file set up?
    While it’d be great if all of our clients could supply files ready to go or work with a pro designer who’s totally across file set up, we fully understand for many projects, clients & timeframes that is not possible. Get in touch and we can help work out the quickest and easiest way to get your files ready to print & bring your project to life.

  • Can you do white ink printing on wood?
    Yes - We can with print white ink on almost all materials. Contact us if you are unsure as to how to set up your artwork files to print in white.

    Can you put metallic colours on wood?
    Yes for sure. For signage we use mirror foil acrylics, or foil vinyls to 'bring the bling' to your signs. This is especially popular for events and weddings. For smaller pieces like business cards the process will depend on the material, the design and your budget. Get in touch to discuss options.

    What other materials do you work with?
    Yes, other materials we use every day are acrylic, mirror, vinyl, PVC, aluminium & foamboards.

    Can you print all over the wood?
    You sure can. All of our in-house print processes are full colour processes so photography can work just as well as typography. There is no problem with inks running to the edge of the wood.

    Can you print Pantone colours?
    Generally not - PMS colours, simply put, do not exist in digital printing. However, like all digital printers, we can often get a close CMYK match to your intended colour. We are very successful and replicating brand colours and meeting even the most stringent requirements. For larger sized items painting to match a Pantone colour is always an option too!

    If colour matching is a concern, simply contact us.

  • Who do you manufacture for?
    We service events companies, wedding & event stylists, signmakers, printers, retailers, shopfitters, artists, jewellery makers, marketing agencies & experiential agencies. We work with sole traders & small businesses through to large scale organisations and some of the most recognised brands in Australia & the world.

    Can I work with you on confidential diesigns & ideas?
    Of course. All our work is treated as commerical in confidence. We supply well known brands who's work we don't show here because it's their intellectual property and we make sure to keep it that way. We are no strangers to commercial confidentiality and we are always happy to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) if you require.

    Can I speak to somebody on the phone about my project?
    You can phone us on (03) 8579 0990 within business hours, Monday to Friday.

    We are often busy in the workshop & away from the phone - So if we do not answer, please leave a voicemail with your name, contact number and a brief message. This ensures we will get back to you asap! You can also email us via the contact page to request a call from one of our team to chat about your project.

    Can I visit your workshop for enquires?
    Definitely! But please book a time with us. Give us a call on (03) 8579 0990 or send us an email via the contact page to request a time. If you drop in unannounced, it’s possible we’ll be tied up on other projects & we want to be able to give you our full attention!

  • Do you do bulk, trade or wholesale pricing?
    Yes. Bulk, trade and wholesale are a significant part of our business. Trade pricing can be on single projects or can be based on minimum spends or order volumes.

    Can I order samples?
    We can provide a digital sample free of charge by mocking up your design on a high resolution wood template. This is a good way to get a feel for how your design could look on wood. (Note that digital proofs are never perfect as different screens will display colours differently.)

    We can absolutely produce a physical sample for you but depending on the work involved you may need to allow allow upwards of $60 + gst. On larger orders, we can include a sample for you to ensure everything is correct prior to production.

  • Can you handle delivery & distribution?
    Yes. We deliver within Australia, overseas or items can be collected from our studio in Cheltenham VIC. We can provide you a quote for any distribution requirements you may have.

    Can I pickup my custom order?
    Of course. Our workshop is located in Cheltenham, Victoria so if you’re local, come down to collect!

  • We are Australia's original specialist wood printery and have been imaging on wood since 2013.

    We have some serious print pedigree and the technology & equipment to back it.

    We love that we can produce results and products that you can't get anywhere else and we treat every job - big or small - the same: Using the same production machinery & care for small one-off jobs that we use when working with big brands and high profile campaigns.

  • No worries! Feel free to send us an email via the contact us page & we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!