Timetable

Step 1

Professional advice, based on your thesis or dissertation.

Good preparation is essential before your thesis or dissertation is printed. We would be happy to talk you through the various steps involved in producing your thesis or dissertation. We can, of course, create the design for you. To guarantee the best result, we offer various printing techniques and binding options. We can use offset printing or digital printing for your thesis or dissertation, with matte or glossy laminate for your cover and even spot UV (a raised high gloss clear coating), the binding can be sewn or glued, a paperback (softcover) or a hardcover, to name but a few options.

Would you like to know what your best option is? Take a look at what we offer, or contact an Optima employee.

Step 2

Request a quotation for producing your thesis or dissertation.

If you complete all the specifications relating to your thesis or dissertation on our website, you will receive a customized quotation within 1 working day. If you are unsure exactly what information to provide, please don’t hesitate to ring us. We can help you to complete the required specifications. We offer high quality at a competitive price. You may decide you would like Optima to design the cover and/or the inside pages, or you may wish to work on the layout and cover design yourself.

Step 3

Supplying files

Once you accept our quotation, we will send you all the relevant documents, so you know exactly what to send us and how to deliver these files. We will also send you a timetable.

Step 4

Layout or file check by Optima

You have two options. You can entrust the layout to Optima, or you can do it yourself. If you choose Optima, our designer will start work on the layout of your inside pages and/or cover once we have received the relevant documents from you. Within a couple of working days, we will send you the first layout draft. You can then send us your comments on this draft. The designer will make any necessary amends and complete the final layout, which we will then send to you.

If you take care of the layout yourself, you will send us a print-ready PDF. Before we place the order for the print proof, we will first check these files, to ensure they meet the (technical) requirements for printing. You will receive feedback on these files within one working day. You will have the opportunity to amend the file yourself if necessary, or you can enlist Optima’s help.

Step 5

Final files

Once your files are ready, we will create a print proof for you. We always aim for the best possible result. For this reason, we recommend having a print proof printed first of all, so you can see how the book will look.

To create the print proof, we require the print-ready files of the inside pages and the cover. If these files are too large to send by email (maximum 8 MB), you can send these files via http://wetransfer.com. This is the safest and most efficient way to send the files. We will then verify the production specifications. If we receive a print-ready file before 09:00 hours, production will start on the same day.

Step 6

Receipt of a print proof

After about three working days (depending on the post), you will receive your print proof. We always plan a few extra days between the delivery of the print proof and production of the entire print run. This gives you time to check the print proof, plus there is time to order a second print proof if required.

Step 7

Print proof approved

Once you have approved the print proof, we will start production of the entire print run. For production, we use the same files from which the print proof was produced.

Step 8

Book printing

A “normal” order (softcover, perfect binding) takes 10 working days to process and deliver. If you have opted for offset printing, UV spot, hardcovers, sewn binding, etc., the processing time will be longer. You will be informed of the delivery date in the order confirmation that you receive from us when you place your order.