Laser Printing

Printing Guidelines For Laser Printing Appointments:

Before your printing appointment, please ensure that your file meets the following specifications to ensure successful printing. To schedule an appointment please click here. All appointments require scheduling 24 hours in advance. 

Program we print from: Adobe Acrobat

File Types accepted: PDF, JPEG, TIFF, PNG

Colormode: CMYK

DPI/PPI: 300 recommended.  Maximum DPI for the laser printer is 300. 

Full Bleed: The laser printer cannot produce "full bleed" prints. Please allow for 0.197” (5mm) margins if your image is the same size as your chosen paper. If you require a full image size, select a larger paper and trim the excess. Please be aware that our maximum paper size is 12”x18” inches (305mm x 457mm).

Double-Sided Printing: Your pages must be arranged correctly in the desired print order and orientation. We are not responsible for organizing your double-sided print.  Please note that double-sided printing might have inaccurate registration. Achieving precise alignment may require test prints and file spacing adjustments by students.

Booklet Printing: Your pages must be arranged correctly in the desired print order and orientation. We are not responsible for organizing your book's page numbers. We are unable to print your book from any program other than Adobe Acrobat. If your file was originally made in Adobe InDesign patrons have found the article linked below helpful in order to save their booklet in a correct printing format. Please save your booklet as a PDF. 

  • How to Impose a Document for Booklet Printing in InDesign:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/printing-booklets.html 

 

You are welcomed to deviate from these guidelines, but please note that prints which deviate from the Grad Lab’s Printing Guidelines must be paid for regardless of the relative success of the outcome. 

Please read the rest of this page for more information on laser printing at the Grad Lab. 

 

Laser Printing at the Grad Lab:

Printer:  The Print Lab provides high-quality laser printing using a Xerox Phaser 7500, offering various paper types at 8.5" X 11" (216mm X 279mm), 11" X 17"(279mm X 432mm), and 12” X 18” (305mm X 457mm) sizes.  Please be aware that laser prints aren't color managed; for color management needs, consider inkjet printing.  Check below for paper types, sizes, and pricing for laser prints.

Paper:  

  • Basic Laser Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm)

  • 24lb Color Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue)

  • 24lb White Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm)

  • 24lb White Paper (11" X 17") (279mm X 432mm)

  • 32lb Off White Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm)

  • 52lb Matte Brochure Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm)

  • 40lb Glossy Brochure Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm)

  • 90lb Watercolor Paper (12" X 18") (305mm X 457mm)

  • 100lb White Cardstock Paper (11"x17") (279mm X 432mm)

  • Transparencies (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm)

​​​​​​​Bringing Your Own Paper: If you plan to use your own paper for printing, you are required to reach out to the Manager or Coordinator before your printing appointment. Please schedule a meeting with them to assess whether your substrate is suitable for printing on.

 

Pricing Guide:

Paper Type Black & White Single Sided Print Color Single Sided Print Black & White Double Sided Print Color Double Sided Print Cost Per Sheet
Basic Laser Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) $0.15 $0.20 $0.25 $0.35 $0.05
24lb Color Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue) $0.20 $0.25 $0.30 $0.40 $0.10
24lb White Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) $0.20 $0.25 $0.30 $0.40 $0.10
24lb White Paper (11" X 17") (279mm X 432mm) $0.30 $0.40 $0.50 $0.70 $0.10
32lb Off White Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) $0.40 $0.45 $0.50 $0.60 $0.30
52lb Matte Brochure Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) $0.35 $0.40 $0.45 $0.55 $0.25
40lb Glossy Brochure Paper (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) $0.35 $0.40 $0.45 $0.55 $0.25
90lb Water Color Paper (12" X 18") (305mm X 457mm) $0.70 $0.80 $0.90 $1.10 $0.45
100lb White Cardstock Paper (11"x17") (279mm X 432mm) $0.50 $0.60 $0.70 $0.90 $0.30
Transparencies (8.5" X 11") (216mm X 279mm) $2.85 $2.90     $2.75

 

Steps to Make a Laser Print at the Grad Lab:

  1. Select your paper type by visiting the paper samples near the main entrance of the Grad Lab. Alternatively, you can choose your paper at the time of your appointment, but please be aware of the paper size you have selected and how it relates to the desired size of your image.

  2. Schedule a printing appointment.  Click the "Schedule a Printing Appointment” link located in the “Printing” tab on the Grad Lab’s website. All appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance from your desired printing time. Once your printing request is received, a technician will reach out to you via the gradprinting@mica.edu email address.   

  3. Inspect your file before your printing appointment, ensuring the following is true of your file:
    • Colormode is CMYK

    • DPI/PPI is not over 300 maximum.

    • Image is sized to the length and width you need it to be.

    • Save your image as a PDF, JPEG, TIFF, or PNG.

  4. Ensure enough funds on your MICARD for the print job. Load funds on your MICARD at https://get.cbord.com/mica .  Payment must be collected before printing your file. A 10% fee will be added to your print if paid with a debit/credit/contactless payment.  Cash is not accepted. 

 

What to Expect at Your Appointment: 

  1. The Technician running your print will ask you for your file(s).  Prepare your files on a storage drive or host them online for easy access by the Print Lab staff.

  2. The Technician running your print will ask you a series of questions aimed at ensuring the optimal outcome of your print. 

  3. Before initiating the print job, the Technician will collect payment from you in full. 

  4. Once payment is collected the Technician will start your print. When the print is complete the Technician will set your print out on the main tables in Computer Lab for you to retrieve at your convenience.

  5. When you come to pick up your print you can use the Color Balanced Viewing Box for final assessment. 

 

Print at Your Own Risk:

Experimentation is encouraged but must be discussed with the Manager or Coordinator. All prints that deviate from the Grad Lab’s Printing Guidelines must be paid for regardless of the relative success of the outcome. 

 

Questions or Concerns?

Address concerns with the Manager or Coordinator. Technicians are not authorized to issue refunds. 

 

 

Access

The Grad Lab, Equipment Checkout, Computer Lab and Print Lab resources are available for students enrolled in a graduate program at MICA. An active MICA Graduate ID card is required to enter the Grad Lab, to check out equipment or to use computer and printing resources.