Obtaining an estimate
Upon request, Punctual Graphics USA will provide prospective clients with an estimate of all costs involved to the completion of a specific job. In order to make such an estimate as accurate as possible we need detailed information.
For music typesetting we have to examine a copy of the score at full-size. Other valuable information includes page-sizes, special requirements concerning layout and house-style, and the deadline for performance or publication.
For estimates related to desktop publishing we need to know a number of things: for example, how text will be provided to us, whether photographs need to be scanned and corrected, whether artwork needs to be created, whether and how colour needs to be used.
(NB: Please, never send us original manuscripts or photographs. Punctual GraphicS USA cannot accept responsibility for any material lost during shipment). If you would like the material returned to you after we have prepared our estimate, please let us know and we will return it at our expense. Naturally, a request for an estimate does not oblige a prospective client in any way to have the job done by Punctual Graphics USA. All estimates are free-of-charge and remian valid for 30 days. If it might take longer than 30 days for a client to approve an estimate, it may be necessary for us to prepare a new estimate.
We must emphasise that these estimates are just that -- estimates. They are not a guaranteed maximum price and should therefore be treated as representative, but not final.
After examing the sample material and considering all the other information provided, Punctual Graphics USA will contact the client with the estimate, usually by fax. If the client agrees to the estimate and would like us to begin work, the estimate must be signed and returned to us by fax or mail.
Before we begin work, we urge all clients to go over the manuscript one last time, looking for the smallest errors, ambiguities, omissions and inconsistencies. Please remember this Golden Rule of typesetting:
It is much more difficult (and consequently much more expensive) to change something after it has been typeset rather than changing it beforehand in the manuscript.
About our rates and pricing
Although it is extremely difficult to have a standard price-list, the following summary can be used as a guideline:
1. Music Engraving
Estimated prices are usually calculated per manuscript page. However, the following prices are per engraved page because all manuscripts differ in size and density.
Simple piano music $15 to $20 Complex piano music, organ music $20 to $30 Octavo choral music $25 to 30 Solo with piano accompaniment $15 to $25 Small ensemble score (up to 20 staves) $25 to $35 Full score $35 or more Instrumental part (not extracted) $19 to $27 Set of parts (extracted from a score) 65% to 75% of the price for the score All the above prices include two sets of corrections and proofs at 600 dpi as well as all shipping with ordinary mail.
2. High-resolution print service
We offer high-resolution prints at 1200 x 1200 dpi laserprint or Linotronic films at 2400 x 2400 dpi. Laserprints are made on coated, glossy paper. The standard for halftones in our films is 150 lpi, but higher rasters up to 200 lpi are possible.
600 x 600 dpi for extra B/W proofs A4, 8.5" x 11" (normal paper) $0.40 1200 x 1200 dpi for B/W master prints A4, 8.5" x 11" (glossy paper)
A3, 11" x 17" (glossy paper)$1.75
$3.002400 x 2400 dpi for masters on films A4, 8.5" x 11" (film)
A3, 11" x 17" (film)$4.75
$6.75
On request from the client we can backup all files related to the client's jobs. This relieves the client from the risk of damage to or loss of data files. If a reprint of a particular work is due and changes are to made first, Punctual Graphics USA is responsible for restoring the original files for correction and production of the new masters. If, despite all the backups, a file that needs modification was found to be corrupt, Punctual Graphics USA will redo the corrupted part of the job at no extra cost for the client (up to a maximum value equal to the overall backup fee already paid).
Almost every backup set contains the following files: SCORE-files (for music only), EPS-files (compressed), PM-files (layout) and a few small workfiles with instructions and comments.
Depending on the size of the job, Punctual Graphics USA will decide on to which medium the backup will be archived.
Either Magneto-Optical disks of 640 Mb, or CD-ROMs of 640 Mb will be used.
To ensure continuing integrity of the backups, Magneto-Optical disks are verified and rewritten annually.Charges are based on the backup size of each completed job, rounded up or down to a Megabyte unit. Each Megabyte costs $1.50 per year.
For example, a complex piano piece of 20 pages would be approximately 10 Mb of files or $15 backup fee per year.Backups are invoiced once a year at the end of December. Along with the invoice, the client receives a detailed overview of the backup situation, including a description, the backup size and the date on which each job has first been backed up.
4. Hourly rates
Substantial changes made by a client after the inital typesetting and changes or corrections after approval of the corrected second proof, will be surcharged at $40 per hour, divisible into 5-minute increments. The same rate applies to changes required before reprints.
Payment
Punctual Graphics USA does not require prepayment or a retainer to begin work on a project. All we require to begin a project is our estimate signed by the client.
When a project is sufficiently large, we usually divide it into two (or more) parts. In such cases, we ask for payment for the first part before beginning work on the second part.
A first invoice is included with the first proof of a job, which represents the majority of the work (inital typesetting, layout, scanning, etc.) and includes the two standard corrections which follow. A second invoice is sent when all corrections are made and the client has approved the masters. This invoice contains the production of the master prints, any supplementary corrections and proofs, and other final charges as described in "Rates and pricing" above.
Payment can be made either by personal cheque or by any form of bank cheque, money order, etc. Please make payment to
Punctual Graphics USA, Inc.
5424 Rosa Ave.
El Paso, TX 79905.IMPORTANT: Invoices are calculated in US$, and clients situated outside the United States of America need to ensure that Punctual Graphics USA receives the total sum with all bank and exchange costs paid by the client.
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