Frequently Asked Questions

Furnace has exclusive manufacturing partnerships with two of the best manufacturing plants in the world. The bulk of our small orders (under 5,000 units) are pressed at Record Industry in the Netherlands. They are well known in Europe for having the most capacity on the continent and for pressing consistent audiophile quality for labels such as EMI UK, Universal Europe and many other labels where only the best will do. All of their products are made from virgin PVC material that is made from a special formulation that has taken years to perfect. You will enjoy a flat, quiet record without the non-fill issues you will see from most of the other plants.

Furnace is also very proud to have exclusive North American partnerships with the most regarded and recognized plant in the audiophile market - the Pallas Group from Germany. Pallas produces audiophile quality 180g records that outshine the competition and are well worth the extra dollars spent. Please ask your salesperson for a special quote if you are interested in having your next release pressed at either of these fine facilities.

Factors such as compression and equalization are to be taken into account, but here is a good rule of thumb for how much music you can fit on each side of a record.

Format	Speed (RPM)	Optimum Timing	Max Timing*
12"	45	9 minutes	12 - 15 minutes
12"	33 1/3	12 - 14 minutes	22 - 24 minutes
12" (DJ Levels)	45	7 minutes	9 minutes
12" (DJ Levels)	33 1/3	9 minutes	12 minutes
10"	45	7 minutes	11 minutes
10"	33 1/3	9 minutes	14 minutes
7"	45	3 minutes	6 minutes
7"	33 1/3	5 minutes	9 minutes
			* longer times will result in a drop in EQ level and sound quality

Notes: There is some debate over these figures but Furnace has generally seen the best performance out of records cut in this time range. For every minute cut over the recommended optimal and maximum length you will see a noticeable drop in sound levels and sound quality. If you have a long playing record, consider going to a double record release to preserve the best sound quality. There is an extra mastering charge for cutting extra long masters so please inquire about pricing for this service.

All lacquers need to be 14" lacquers (standard for 12" records). Even if you are pressing 7" or 10" records, the lacquers still need to be 14" in diameter. If you are providing Mothers or DMM, these should also be plated or cut to 14". Our galvanics machinery is set up to handle 14" lacquers. Providing a different size will result in additional cost and or delays in turnaround times. If you have any questions about this, please talk with one of our sales associates.

If you find a copy that has an issue that does not appear on another copy in your batch, that is ALWAYS a test pressing noise issue. When test pressings are made, we only make 5-10 units. We usually scrap the first 20-50 LPs from a stamper on the real press run because it takes that many copies to get rid of the noise artifacts on newly made metal plates. Long story short, if you have one good test pressing out of 5, you are going to get clean production copies.

To achieve these colors there are metallic flakes added to the compound. These metallic flakes can settle in the extrusion process and cause a wavy pattern in the pressed record. Outcomes are not controllable by the press operator and any variances in color or consistency are considered acceptable. Please take this into consideration before ordering metallic color vinyl.

Furnace MFG's main goal is to produce the best sounding records in the world. With this as our primary goal, we only offer colors that are pre-mixed and formulated to our specifications by our suppliers. This is the only way we can ensure that you will get the best audio quality - even on colored vinyl. Here are the colors we currently offer:

Solid Colors:
Black
Solid Gold
Solid Orange
Solid Pink
Solid Red
Solid Silver
Solid Yellow
Solid White
Solid Purple

Transparent Colors:
Crystal Clear
Transparent Blue
Transparent Orange
Transparent Green
Transparent Red


WIth 12" and 10" records we can mix two colors together providing various effects to the final product. 7" records are only pressed as single colors.

Please note that doing color mixtures and achieving specific color effects is not an exact process when using any pressing plant. Some manufacturers will form and press their vinyl manually because they use manual presses. All of our machines at Furnace are fully automatic which allows us to achieve the utmost consistency in the pressing process producing the best sounding records.

Whether the records are pressed manually or on automatic presses, each record is not going to look the same when blending colors. It's physically impossible. We mix solid PVC pellets in a hopper, they go through the extruder and the result is different each time. Some records may show more swirl effect than others.

Some colors inherently mix better than others (for visual effect). We just won't know until we've put it on the press and produced the records. The mixed color and effect samples on our site are there just as an example to show how some colors look blended together but the whole run can ebb and flow to produce unique records.

When pressing on color vinyl you should expect a little swirl from the color previously pressed on the machine. This is often desired by customers as these tend to be more valuable on the collector's market. To produce clean colored vinyl (with no speckles or swirls), an additional cleaning fee will apply. 7" records are only pressed as single colors. Because of the vinyl extrusion process that is set up on our 7” presses, any attempts at mixing colors makes a new color after just a few records and is usually not recommended.

Furnace MFG has been hard at work pressing CDs and DVDs for the independent music community since 1996. We now offer the same great service we are known for to customers searching for quality vinyl records and packaging. Furnace has made Exclusive agreements with two of the best pressing plants in the world to provide the best sounding records on the planet. Many people ask why our prices are more expensive than pressing plants in the US. The answer is simple: we offer the best quality sound and physical product on the planet and it costs a bit more to produce this kind of quality.

Vinyl pressing is a refined art - unlike a modern CD plant. It takes decades of experience to produce consistent quality records and by teaming up with our partners, we have over 120 years of know-how in the pressing business. Furnace works with our partners overseas to press and package sleeved vinyl that is then shipped to Furnace MFG in Fairfax, Virginia.

The meticulous staff at Furnace MFG inspects samples from each pressing for sound quality and consistency. It is then assembled, packaged, boxed and shipped right from our state of the art packaging facility on to your location. Furnace is your one stop source for vinyl, jackets, inserts, posters, dropcards, mastering, cutting or anything else vinyl related.

Furnace can accept a formatted audio CD-R, uploaded digital files, cut lacquers or mother plates. When supplying a CD-R, please burn each side on a separate disc to avoid confusion. If this is not a possibility, make sure a track listing is provided with clear directions on which songs are to appear on each side. When supplying digital files, please put each side's content in a separate folder. Also, it would be helpful to use a naming convention that includes the side, track number and song name (ex: A-01-smells_like_teen_spirit.aiff).

When CD-R or Digital FIles are supplied, Furnace MFG can cut to traditional lacquers or use DMM (direct to metal mastering.) On most cuts, our preference is lacquer as we think it sounds richer and warmer but if you’d prefer DMM, please let us know when you submit your order. If you intend on supplying lacquers, please note that they degrade rather quickly and are very fragile. Make sure they are packaged very well (best packed in a styro-pack) and sent via Express Air using UPS or FedEx immediately after they are cut. Make sure your cutting house supplies the pertinent info along with the lacquers so we can match them up with your order as soon as they get to the plant. If you are repressing a record that has already been pressed or has previously been plated at another facility, we can accept your Mother Plates or DMM Copper Plates. Make sure not to send master/father or stamper plates as we will not be able to use these. Make sure these are packed well and are enclosed in a protective sleeve to prevent scratches or abrasions. Often times metal work is stored in cardboard jackets. These can do harm when used to ship via air carrier. When supplying lacquers or mother plates, have the cutting facility / plant send them directly to our plant's shipping address on your estimate and not to our US address.

Upon approval of your test pressings (up to three weeks) and label artwork proofs, our standard lead time is a consistent 4-5 weeks depending on the quantity and the complexity of your order. Once the records are pressed and arrive at our facilities, they are immediately inspected, packaged and shipped to you. Packaging all of our vinyl in house allows us to provide both faster turnarounds and personalized attention to quality control, ensuring your highest expectations are met.

7" vinyl is pressed at 40 grams, 10" is 100g and for 12" vinyl we offer 125 gram as standard and 180 gram for heavyweight. We also offer other weights such as 120g, 140g and 180g 12"s.

Yes. If you are supplying us lacquers or mother plates with etching already included, this will appear on your pressing. If you need to add a custom etching to your supplied parts or you would like us to add a custom etching to your DMM plates, make sure to add this information on your order form. There will be a nominal fee if we are adding this to your supplied metalwork.

Yes. Send us full resolution graphics (should be one color line art - not grayscale or full color, ie - no dots) and we can make one side a non-playable piece of art. Contact your salesperson for a quote on this service.

In a word - YES.

Black vinyl has the best playback characteristics - by far. Black vinyl produces the least amount of surface noise and the most resonance and is why it is preferred by high end “audiophile” labels.

To produce different hues, special pigments need to be added and the compound is re-fomulated for each color. This can result in a pressed record with slightly higher surface noise.

As a rule, opaque colors have less surface noise than transparent colors so if you want color vinyl and still want it to sound as good as possible, choose one of our solid colors for best results.

Surface noise effects certain music more than others. If your music is very dynamic (jazz, acoustic, classical), this noise will be more noticeable than on a loud rock, metal or dance record. When in doubt, press black vinyl!

Yes, Furnace MFG can duplicate an Enhanced CD, provided this distinction is made during the order process and if your master is set up as an Enhanced Disc (audio session followed by a Data session). Furnace has special machines that can duplicate Enhanced Audio CDs, so we must know your master is prepared as such in order to ensure proper duplication.

If your master is set up as an EnhancedCD, it must be mailed in (2719-C Dorr Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031. We do not offer upload capabilities for EnhancedCD masters.

If you plan on mailing in your Audio CD, place it in protective case and then use a padded envelope or bubble wrap it and put it into a box. This will ensure it doesn’t get damaged/scratched during transit.

Mail it to:
Furnace MFG
Attn: Production Dept.
2719-B Dorr Ave
Fairfax, VA 22031

Do not send your only master copy to us. Make sure you have a backup in the event the package is damaged or goes missing. Furnace suggests you use a carrier that offers tracking services (FedEx, UPS, or USPS with tracking services).

CDs you receive from Furnace MFG will sound, function and play exactly like the PMCD you receive from your mastering house. There are a few steps you should take to ensure your CD duplication project sounds as good as possible:

- Have your mastering house create at least 2 PMCDs for you to take home so you have a backup.

- Have your mastering house add the P & Q codes, CD Text (if you are interested in that feature) and frame accurate SMPTE time sheet. Include a copy of the time sheet when you send your master to Furnace MFG.

- Thoroughly proof your masters to make sure they sound exactly like you want your replicated CDs to sound, but be sure to handle your masters extremely carefully in order to prevent wear and tear of your production masters.

- Make sure the PMCD you send us is extremely clean and free of scratches.

- Send your master in protective packaging in order to avoid damage during shipping and keep your second PMCD in good condition in case something happens to your first one.

Our production department’s quality assurance measures guarantees EXACT, bit for bit copies from your master. This will ensure the perfect reproduction of your master. This perfect copy will capture all of the hard work and hard earned cash you spent on the process but it will also reproduce any imperfections that are embedded on your master disc. Make sure you listen to your master for any audio glitches (pops, hiss, skips, static) and make sure the volume and file names are setup correctly, as everything will transfer to your copies. Also, make sure your supplied master disc was burned as a RedBook audio master and not a data CD. Pop it into a CD player that only plays standard audio CDs to ensure it performs exactly like it should. If it is burned as a Data CD, it will not play in regular CD players, only in computers or players that will recognize raw audio files.

Yes.  Furnace MFG accepts mastered DAT (Digital Audio Tape) tapes as source masters.  However, Furnace will need to create and have you approve a copy of the digital conversion on CD-R before we begin the replication of your CD.  This process will add 2-3 days to the turnaround time of your project, and standard audio conversions will apply. When the information on the DAT is converted, Furnace adds the SMPTE time and P&Q programming codes to your disc.  Please check this reference master very thoroughly because your replicated CDs will sound, function and play exactly like your reference master.

Once a PMCD is approved for production, glass mastering is the first step toward the replication of your CDs or DVDs. In this stage, pre-mastered audio (including PQ subcode, DDP and disc Table of Contents) is transferred via a Laser Beam Recorder (LBR) to a glass substrate over an extremely thin layer of photoresist (i.e. film) on the surface. The LBR copies your information onto the glass by exposing small portions of the film. These exposed surfaces on the film represent data bits, which are easily read by CD players. When the glass master is completed, it is run through an electroforming process where a more durable representation of your data is created onto metal (the stamper.). Stampers go on to press or mold your audio disc into polycarbonate (plastic).

Yes. Furnace MFG will replicate your discs directly from your supplied master. When we receive your source master, our staff will immediately enter your project into the production queue, which will greatly decrease your turnaround time.

On the other hand, if you are not happy with the quality of your master or need some editing done to meet your exact standards, Furnace MFG's in-house mastering team is ready to help.

Please contact one of our account representatives to get a special quote for audio mastering.

Our Replication department’s quality assurance measures guarantees EXACT, bit for bit copies from your master. This will ensure the perfect reproduction of your master. This perfect copy will capture all of the hard work and hard earned cash you spent on the process but it will also reproduce any imperfections that are embedded on your master disc. Make sure you listen to your master for any audio glitches (pops, hiss, skips, static) and make sure the volume and file names are setup correctly, as everything will transfer to your copies. Also, make sure your supplied master disc was burned as a RedBook audio master and not a data CD. Pop it into a CD player that only plays standard audio CDs to ensure it performs exactly like it should. If it is burned as a Data CD, it will not play in regular CD players, only in computers or players that will recognize raw audio files.

Creating an audio master at home can be problematic due to the various qualities of CD-burners, blank media and file formats available in the home market. That being said, there are a few steps you can take to help minimize problems.

- Make sure to use good quality media. Bargain-bin media is almost always B or C grade media and not recommended for master creation.

- Set your burner speed to 16X or less. The ultra fast burners (52x+) found in home computers today are great for burning data but terrible for burning audio. The maximum safe speed for audio burning on any home burner is 16X. Discs is burned at higher speeds may play on your stereo, but will likely contain too many errors to be used as a master.

- The slower the burning speed for your master, the less errors and error corrections it will contain and the better your replicated CDs will sound. For best results, use a burn speed of 16X or less.

- Make sure to burn high resolution (44.1 KHz, 16-bit stereo) WAV or AIFF files. These formats are industry standard for creating Red-Book audio masters.

- Make sure to close/finish the session when you burn your master and burn your disc with the option "disc at once" selected instead of track at once. Most home software gives you the option of closing/finishing the session or leaving the session open (allowing for more data to be added later). Discs with open/unfinished sessions cannot be used as audio masters since they may create playability issues in the finished product and will prohibit Furnace from using it with our equipment.

- Make sure your burner/software conforms to Red-Book standards for audio (set forth by the IEC). Burners/software that conform to data standards don’t necessarily conform to audio standards.

- Most stand-alone stereo component burners (the kind normally hooked up directly to a stereo) do not conform to those standards. While they may produce a disc that can be played back on some machines, they will not produce a disc good enough to be used as a master. Whether you use a computer burner and software or a stand-alone burner, make sure it can produce master quality disks including the appropriate formatting.

- Once you create a master, carefully listen to it only once. If it meets your expectations, place it in a safe container and do not open it again. The less you play and handle the disc, the better master it will make.

- Always burn and send 2 copies of homemade masters. That can save you time and money in case one of your discs does not pass quality assurance testing.

This depends on how your master was created. There are software applications that encode "CD Text" onto your audio PMCD (Pre-mastered CD) master. Ask your studio if they can provide this service while they burn your final master. If they are unable to offer this service, Furnace can add CD Text to your master for a one-time fee of $50.00 and will extend your lead-time by 3-4 days. This CD Text (which can include song, album and artist information) will appear on all CD Text equipped CD Players.

CD Text is sometimes confused with the web-based Compact Disc Data Base (CDDB) that is integrated into most software jukeboxes such as iTunes and Windows Media Player. These players search the online CDDB database for the musical "fingerprint" of the album or song they are playing. This information is then downloaded to your computer and displayed in your music player's browser window. The CDDB does not require the presence of CD Text on the disc. It only requires that the content owner submits the disc with all of the song and album information directly through the CDDB website or through some advanced media player menu option. This can easily be done in iTunes (check help menu for instructions).

Which one is right for you? CD Text will work with or without an Internet connection since the information is supplied on the master but only on CD Text enable machines (less than 5% of the market). CDDB requires an Internet connection to search for the digital fingerprint. You make the choice and Furnace MFG will make it happen.

No. Furnace does not require our clients to provide licensing information as long as it's an original performance by your artist and does not include samples of the original recording. With this being said, Furnace MFG urges you to obtain the mechanical license to comply with copyright laws and to properly reimburse royalties to the songwriter(s). You can pursue this a few different ways:

1) The easiest way to obtain a mechanical license and pay the royalty fees up front is to contact the Harry Fox Agency (212-370-5330 or www.harryfox.com). You can complete all applications for projects of less than 2,500 units online by visiting www.songfile.com.

2) You can also contact the copyright owner directly and negotiate a mechanical license royalty rate. This can be more time consuming but may save you money in the long run (especially if your release is a hit!) Find out who owns the song's copyright by contacting the following publishers/licensing organizations: ASCAP (www.ascap.com), BMI (www.bmi.com), or SESAC (www.sesac.com).

Yes, but only with the proper license. Anytime you use a clip of a song, movie, TV show or commercial recording of any kind, you must obtain a Master Use License from the content owner before we begin replication of your CDs or DVDs. You can find out who owns the song's copyright by contacting the following publishers/licensing organizations: ASCAP (www.ascap.com), BMI (www.bmi.com), or SESAC (www.sesac.com).

There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule.

Furnace MFG complies with the Anti-Piracy Compliance Program headed up by the Content Delivery and Storage Association (CDSA – formerly known as IRMA). This organization protects copyright owners from unauthorized reproduction of their intellectual property by going after piracy dealers and replicators who knowingly or unknowingly replicate unauthorized product. All reputable manufacturers will require you to submit paperwork showing your ownership of the intellectual property you wish to reproduce. If they don't, you risk the loss of your product, masters and possibly your money as the manufacturer you use may be shut down by CDSA. Since each master/project contains original content, each job you send to Furnace will require its own Replication Rights Form or online terms acceptance.

Furnace MFG uses a technology called RepliCheck to scan all incoming master material. If your master includes any content that is found in it’s large database of music, movies, TV shows, etc, it will flag the content for further investigation. Do not use unlicensed samples, clips or and recorded material on your master unless you have permission. It will be caught flagged and your master will be denied for non-compliance.

When doing a compilation disc there are two things to consider:

1) If a company is releasing a compilation of songs it owns and has previously released, then a properly completed Replication Rights Form / online IPR terms acceptance listing the company as the copyright owner will suffice.

2) If a company is releasing a compilation of songs where some or all of the songs are being licensed from another copyright owner, a completed Audio Manufacturing Agreement must be supplied for each song or artist prior to the manufacturing process.

This agreement is usually worked out between the record label and the band (or the band’s management).

Contact the Library of Congress to get the necessary forms to copyright your music (www.copyright.gov - 202-707-9100). Send them the completed forms, a CD or CD-R of the recorded material, a lyric sheet and a small fee in a certified mail package to ensure they receive your package. Furnace suggests you send all of the songs that you have recorded at one time so this fee covers them all. Within a few weeks, you'll receive confirmation on whether your songs have been successfully copyrighted. Once your songs are copyrighted, you'll want to affiliate yourself with a music publisher/licensing agency that will track radio and television uses and pay you any performance royalties for which you are entitled

If you choose to send in your ROM master, please note that there are dozens, if not hundreds disc burning utilities/software on the market. Here are a few tips on how to create a workable master:

- Always write your master using only one session by using the “write a disc” or “disc at once” method. This will create a single volume that is most compatible with our equipment and will be the most compatible for the recipients of your discs.

- Only use high quality recordable media with a good quality disc burner. Most bargain prices media is not Grade A quality. This media may be fine for making backups or one off discs but is not a good choice for creating your master. Spend a little extra for good quality media (Taiyo Yuden and Moser Baer both make great master quality media).

Our production department’s quality assurance measures guarantees EXACT, bit for bit copies from your master. This will ensure the perfect reproduction of your master including the reproduction of any imperfections that are embedded on your master disc. Make sure you test your master very carefully and make sure that all of the files are present and open properly. Also, check to see that the volume and file names are setup correctly, as everything will transfer to your copies. If you want your disc to autorun, this must be programmed on your master so check to make sure this functionality works during your testing.

This is certainly possible, but you must set up this feature before submitting your master or files. If your master was prepared with the autorun feature, then the replicated discs will also have autorun on them. However, please note that we do not test the replicated discs for autorun. If you would like us to test the autorun feature, or add it for you to your master, we can do that for a small fee. Your sales representative can help find the right solution for you.

Yes. Contact your sales representative for instructions on uploading files to our FTP server.

If you plan on distributing your DVD you should make sure that you author the master to meet the strict video DVD standards to ensure universal playability. Although DVD Video authoring is not a simple process, there are applications that will provide you with the tools needed if you want to create a DIY master.

If you are using a PC, check out the Roxio Creator application. Roxio has been making CD and DVD authoring software for years and are among the leaders in the industry. This software package can create a professional level master ready for reproduction.

On the Mac side of the equation, Apple’s own iDVD is a simple, yet powerful way to create a production quality master. Make sure to read all of the instructions before attempting your own master creation and whenever “Professional Authoring” is mentioned, follow the instructions listed. You don’t want to make 200 copies of your video and have complaints from your recipients that they can’t get it to play.

Our templates have pre-existing registration and crop marks included in the file to save you from complex and tedious set-up time and to ensure that your layout conforms to our specifications. All you have to do is drop all of the components of your layout (images, text) into the templates and save! As long as you follow these four simple rules, you should be fine:

1) Make sure the artwork extends to the bleed line
2) Outline your text or supply us with the font files
3) Make sure all images are high resolution
4) Do not flatten the layers (keep the template on a separate layer)

There are actually different templates for different disc-making processes. For example, if you accidentaly use the Full Color printed disc template to design artwork for a disc that is supposed to be a one color disc print, your artwork will get cut off! Always be sure you are using the correct template before you begin. Template downloads are available on our site.

Please note that if you do not use our templates to submit your artwork, you will incur a $50 out of template fee to cover the additional time and cost required for us to transfer your artwork to our templates.

There are a few key guidelines that you must follow to ensure the quality of your scans:

• All scans must be made at 300 pixels/dots per inch at the actual size it will be printed.
• Do not scan at a smaller size and then stretch the photo in the page layout software.
• Do not scan at a low resolution and then increase resolution in PhotoShop.
• If you have an image editor, such as Adobe Photoshop, you must convert your scans to CMYK color mode and then do color corrections before using them in your layout.
• Save your scans as a .TIF. Do not use BMP, .JPG, or .GIF files as they can degrade the quality of the image and do not allow you to save in CMYK mode. If you use .EPS files, please make sure that you save the image with an 8-bit TIF preview.
• If you are scanning bitmap line art, scan your image in at a resolution of 1200 pixels/inch and save it as a bitmap file. This will give you a smoother image to work with. Also, use .TIF files whenever possible.
• When saving an image as a .TIF, make sure NOT to use LZW compression.

Yes! Each program handles embedding differently, but regardless of whether the images are embedded or not, we need the graphic files.

Unless you are skilled and experienced at trapping your artwork, you should probably let us handle the trapping for you. We provide this service free of charge and have a skilled production team that will take it upon themselves to see that your job is trapped correctly and to our rip software’s specifications.

Converting your fonts to a graphic element will eliminate the need to send us fonts. This will ensure that there are no odd font issues during production. However, if you convert your fonts to paths, we cannot fix any typos since we will not have the font you are using. Always keep your original file that still requires the font(s) so you can make quick edits should there be a need.

If you are sending in your master disc and forms, you can simply burn your graphic files to a CD-R or DVD-R or USB drive and send them along. You may also upload your files directly to us via FTP.

When you are ready to send in your project, please make sure you have included all of the following:

• If you are using Quark (5 and above) or InDesign (any version), simply collect/package the file. This will include all fonts and images for you to send to us. If there is anything wrong with your document, the application will let you know. If you are unable to have your document automatically collect for you, be sure to manually provide us with the following:

• Document layout file
• All fonts if you haven't converted them to paths (both the printer and screen fonts)
• All linked or embedded imagery (saved as CMYK, not RGB). All files must be created at 300 DPI
• Hardcopies of all items to be printed (optional)
• A printed list of the contents of your disc. Be sure to place your images in an images folder and fonts in a fonts folder. If you place all files in a single directory, it will take us time to organize your files for you (which will slow down the production of your job).
• List any special instructions you may have Always include a hard copy or PDF proof of your artwork, for us to reference.


Here are a few more quick tips:

• Try to keep all text as vector imagery (not pixel data, unless you need to have an elaborate effect applied in Photoshop).
• When printing out proofs it is extremely helpful if you also print separations (CMYK). Separations can help pinpoint any problems your layout has before being sent to film.
• Do not use Quark's built in styles for text!!! These are located on the measurements palette (such as bold, italic, etc...) These styles may print on your printer, but they will not be picked up by the ripping application designed to get your files to the press! Be sure to always use the actual font version of bold or italic and NOT Quark's styles!
• The limit for acceptable ink coverage is 300% Total Ink Density. Make sure none of your files or colors created in your layout application has T.I.D. of more than 300%.
• Note that our standard rich black is 40% C, 30%M, 25%Y, and 100%K. Anything higher than that and the white text will not appear crisp.
• Do not use LZW compression when saving your TIFF files. If you are ever in doubt, feel free to email the Furnace MFG design department with any and all of your graphic and pre-press questions

Process colors are the colors needed for 4-color process printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black: commonly referred to as CMYK). This is a standard printing method employed by printers worldwide to print pieces with color photographs or illustrations.

Spot color printing is a technique in which solid ink is applied to a printing surface (as opposed to the CMYK patterned dot method). This is used on projects where special inks (like metallic colors) are part of the color scheme and in circumstances where pure and complete ink coverage is desired. Spot colors are picked from the Pantone Matching System (PMS) pallet, so they are consistent throughout the printing industry. If while creating your design you use spot colors but want us to print using CMYK, there will be a noticeable shift in color.

Pantone Matching System, or PMS, is a universal color numbering system used by printers everywhere to duplicate any color you desire. To see a color and its corresponding PMS number, you can go to a film house or copy center and reference their PMS color wheel chart. Only this color swatch book or look-up table will give you an accurate PMS color; don't rely on your computer monitor! Unless your computer screen has been recently professionally calibrated, the color you see on the screen will sometimes be much different than what is output to film and paper. Note that a letter will follow the PMS number (such as PMS486c). If you are printing on a coated stock, choose the color with the suffix "c" at the end. If you are using a dull or unfinished stock, choose the letter "u".

In order to print on your CD/DVD face, we create film positives to make silk screens that are used to screen ink directly to the disc. Each screen is colored using spot colors from the Pantone Matching System (PMS). If you hold the film positive up to a light, whatever you see through will represent the CD/DVD silver once screening is complete. Whatever areas are black (coated with emulsion) will be colored with specified PMS inks.

If you want a solid, colored background on the CD/DVD, you do not need a piece of film for it. We are more than happy to screen your background using our standard or edge-to-edge template.

As a side note, we have found that most clients choose a solid white background instead of the CD/DVD silver because the colors show up truer/brighter on a white background. Disc faces meant to be in full color will be silk-screened using process colors (CMYK).

Instead of utilizing the CMYK process (the standard for booklet and tray card printing), most CD/DVD faces are printed using PMS spot colors. Each spot color constitutes its own piece of film, so if a job contains 3 colors, the image setter will output 3 plates that correspond to the appropriate PMS colors. If a job requires a full color image (like a photograph), the file will be separated as CMYK and will be silk-screened on the face as a 5-color image (CMYK + White Background) or can be screened directly on the CD/DVD silver.

Furnace accepts files compliant with most major page layout, illustration, and image editing applications. Submit your work using any of these applications:

• .INDD (Adobe InDesign) (Furnace Approved) :
• .QXD (Quark XPress)
• .AI (Adobe Illustrator) (Furnace Approved)
• .PSD (Adobe Photoshop)


Recommended image formats (save as CMYK):

• .TIF (do not use LWZ compression when saving!)
• .PSD (Adobe Photoshop)


Vector art formats:

• .AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• .EPS (Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand)


If we are creating artwork for you, submit your text using:
• .DOC (Microsoft Word)
• .TXT (ASCII Text)

…and do not format your text into columns or attempt to lay it out. Simply submit your text using obvious text sizes to distinguish headers from body copy. If you are using files within applications other than those specified above, please contact our design department to discuss these matters in detail. Be aware that we may not accept your files or that design fees may apply to cover any conversions.

We do not accept Microsoft Publisher, Powerpoint or graphics embedded in Microsoft Word.

In order to make your booklets and traycards, an image setter is used to create aluminum printing plates that transfer ink to the paper at high speeds. To make color booklets, the printing press uses four ink colors: CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK). By varying the percentage of each of these four colors, you can achieve any color desired.

NOTE: Any color photographs or images within your layout must be converted to CMYK in order to create color booklets. Please make sure that you do this because a we see a common mistake where the files are saved in the computer's default RGB (Red Green Blue) setting.

Many professional graphic artists prefer some of their layouts to be printed with spot colors from the Pantone Matching System (PMS) to create a special look or effect they are trying to achieve, the most common being a metallic spot color (an effect that cannot be realized through traditional CMYK layering). Furnace can print any number of spot colors, but keep in mind that you will incur PMS set up fees to cover this custom service.

Finally, when designing folders or booklets, you need to use printer's spreads. This means that we need your layout to be set up in the same manner that we will print and bind the job. For instance, a four-page booklet will have two printer spreads: the outside of the booklet having the cover (pg. 1) on the right and the back cover (pg. 4) on the left. The inside spread will contain pg. 2 on the left and pg. 3 on the right. The same is true for all other folders or booklets.

Our standard print stock involves printing onto 100# paper stock with pre-existing gloss content. Once the ink is applied and allowed ample time to dry, we then apply an aqueous coat over the ink in order to protect the print. The gloss content and the aqueous coat enable our packaging machines to fully automate your print into jewel cases (this requires no hand assembly charges).

Our matte stock is essentially the standard stock with a special matte coating. This creates a slightly duller texture in both look and feel.
NOTE: There is still gloss content with a matte finish! A common misunderstanding is that matte stock is perfectly dull (no gloss). This is not the case. Because of the original gloss content, most jobs with matte finish can generally be automated.

Unfinished stock is what you are looking for if you want no trace of gloss whatsoever. Your design is printed straight onto the unfinished stock of your choice - no gloss, no finishing coat - just ink and paper. Projects of this nature are not automated into our packaging procedure. Each piece is inserted into the jewel cases by hand and is subject to hand-packing fees. Unfinished stock creates very different results than coated stock due to how the ink is absorbed during the printing process. If you would like to work with unfinished stock, make sure you or your designer has experience working with this kind of paper. Contact the design experts at Furnace MFG if you have any questions.

When printing most Digipaks or Eco Jackets the entire design is printed on one side of the board and then converted or folded down and glued to create a double walled package. In the conversion process there are gaps or knockouts to the unprinted side of the board (usually along the inside of the package's spines) that will show up on the inside as the color of the stock (in most cases white.). Some clients desire an uninterrupted image on the inside of their printed material so Furnace now offers Reverse Board Printing to "fill in the gaps". This allows you to have a continuous image, eliminating the white spines. Contact your account representative for details on this custom print option.

Unless you are skilled and experienced at trapping your artwork, you should probably let us handle the trapping for you. We provide this service free of charge and have a skilled production team that will take it upon themselves to see that your job is trapped correctly.

Converting your fonts to a graphic element will eliminate the need to send us fonts. This will ensure that there are no odd font issues during production. However, if you convert your fonts to paths, we cannot fix any typos since we will not have the font you are using. Be sure to save the "paths" version of your file as a copy (that's then sent to us). Always keep your original file that still requires the font(s) so you can make quick edits should there be a need.

Unfortunately, Yes. Furnace MFG is not responsible for errors that are created by using a different viewer. Acrobat is the only program that can accurately display all the properties of a print proof.

When working with color, you must be sure to use CMYK process color. Computer screens and most scanners operate in RGB (red, green, and blue) mode, so you must make sure that all of your pictures and images are in CMYK mode. This is important because anytime you import an RGB picture into a publishing program, your colors may wash out when it comes time to make the film (even if the image appears as it should on the monitor).

Depending your needs, we can offer either offset printing or silk-screen printing. Determining which one is best for your project depends on the type of art work that you are printing on your disc face.

There are many tutorials on the web which explain the difference between offset and silk-screen and if you have specific questions, please contact one of our sales representatives.

When the presses have stopped, your printed items are then cut down to size. Thus, it is important that the printer knows exactly where the boundaries are for each panel of your print. This is where crop marks come in. Crop marks are a tool that shows us exactly where to cut your print. Be sure to follow all of our specs and do not modify the crop marks. The crop marks are .75 mm thick and colored in 100% cyan, 100% magenta, 100% yellow, and 100% black (also known as Registration color).

Since there are four process colors that make up most color images, there are four printing plates generated to represent each process color. The printer has to line these four negatives up perfectly to avoid such things as moray patterns and other problems that may surface during printing if each color plate is not aligned. When the colors all stack directly on top of each other, you achieve the perfect color balance. Registration marks are used to accomplish this task. They are simply circled targets located in the same place on each piece of film that are colored in 100% values of each of the four colors (or more if PMS spot colors are used). The templates provided by Furnace MFG contain all required registration marks, so you need not worry about creating them. In order to avoid project delays and cost overruns, only use Furnace MFG supplied templates and don’t move these marks.

When cutting the paper stock containing your printed items, the blade may shift the paper stock ever so slightly. To prevent small white gaps at the edge of your print, we require that all graphics on the edge of the page extend at least 1/8" past the crop mark lines. Every Furnace template has guidelines to indicate how much bleed you need to add to your layouts in order to be safe. In order to avoid project delays and cost overruns, only use Furnace MFG supplied templates.

Perforation marks are dotted lines pressed into paper for either a fold or tear off to occur. Perforations are commonly found placed .25" in from the tray card's left and right edges. This is where our packaging equipment will fold the sides of your tray card so the spines of the jewel case are visible. Your Furnace MFG supplied tray card templates will contain all appropriate perforation marks. In order to avoid project delays and cost overruns, only use Furnace MFG supplied templates.

The safety margin is a concept put into place to prevent trimming of essential elements to in your layout (such as text). We require that your type and any other important non-bleed element be 1/8" inside the crop marks. This way, if the cutter is slightly off, your type or images won't end up on the cutting room floor.

Duplication is the copying of data onto recordable media (such as a CD-R, DVD-R or BD-R). This term is generally used when referring to small-run projects where data is "burned" onto a pre-made recordable disc. Duplication is a process done on differing scales; from a single disc on your personal computer to thousands of discs in with custom, large-scale CD-R, DVD-R and BD-R duplication equipment. Furnace MFG only uses Grade A, master quality disc media and industrial quality drives and equipment in our Duplication department. This ensures quality and consistency for each and every disc. The advantages of using the Duplication process include quick turn times (as little as same day delivery), small runs (1-10 copy minimums), variable data disc printing, for ordering just in time inventory, on-demand - e-commerce order fulfillment, custom disc creation with custom disc face printing, etc.

Replication is the manufacturing process of an optical disc (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray). This term is generally used when referring to large-scale press runs where your content in transferred to glass-master, plates are made and then used to press/mold polycarbonate into discs. The advantages of Replicating discs include a lower per piece cost on larger runs (usually 1000+), access to offset and silk-screen disc face printing, a larger variety of print and packaging options that also require the larger run size.

A catalog number is how record labels categorize their release. This catalog or release number is also how distributors and stores identify and reference each product that is being ordered, stocked and sold. The record label or band should create this number and it should somehow correspond to the label or company name that is releasing it (example - Dogtown release number four could be DOG004 or DT004.) Some companies that own and manage their own UPC codes assign their catalog number to correspond to the UPC suffix that is assigned to a particular product. In the end, it's up to you to assign a catalog number that will stay the same throughout the life of the release.

A UPC Code, also commonly referred to as a barcode, is essential if you're planning to sell your products to distributors and through retail stores. Furnace MFG will happily supply you with a unique barcode for each individual project you press with us. Your barcode can either be dropped into your layout or temporarily applied to the package via two methods: a top spine label or a barcode sticker. A top spine is an adhesive strip placed over the top of a case that makes your product more visible in stores. It generally features the band, artist or product name, the title of the release, the catalog/selection number, and the UPC number and scan-able barcode. A barcode sticker is simply your unique barcode printed on a small white sticker and then applied directly to the poly wrap or directly onto the product itself.

Helpful Note: If your designer is leaving space for a barcode on the artwork, the size of the box should be no smaller than 1.35” wide by 0.4” high. They should leave a white background for the barcode to be dropped in; we can’t guarantee the barcode will still scan if the box is colored or smaller than the minimum dimensions.

All orders are shipped using FedEx. FedEx offers Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, Next Day and Early Next Day shipping options. For orders that need to be shipped for Saturday delivery, FedEx offers this option as well. Ground: transit times are 1-7 days depending on your location
3-Day: 3 business days from ship date
2-Day: 2 business days from ship date
1-Day (overnight): 1 business day from ship date

Furnace does not ship anything via US Mail or to P.O. Boxes.

Note: Shipping rates are determined by the weight of the package and the destination address. Business days are Monday through Friday. Bank holidays as well as Saturday and Sundays are considered non-business days. Choose your delivery method carefully to ensure your desired delivery date.

Some of our larger clients have Furnace ship their product directly to distributors and stores from our plant. We call this drop-shipping. Furnace can save you shipping time and costs by shipping directly to your retailers or distributors. Furnace MFG offers 2 drop-ship locations for free. For drop ships of 3 or more locations we charge a small service fee of $10.00 per additional address. Additionally, if you need individual fulfillment (such as mailings to radio stations, magazine publications or to individual customers), ask one of our Sales Consultants about our direct-mail services.

Clients who take delivery of products in the Commonwealth of Virginia (whether shipped or picked up) and do not possess a state-issued resale certificate will be charged Virginia sales tax. Each state issues resale certificates to registered businesses that then resell product to distributors, stores and end users. This resale certificate exempts these businesses from paying sales tax on manufacturing the product. Click here to download the resale certificate for Virginia or go to: http://www.tax.virginia.gov/ to learn how to qualify for a resale exemption.

Furnace stands behind our products 100%. We guarantee that the print and burn quality of your project will be beyond industry standards.

If you feel that your product does not live up to these standards, contact one of our quality assurance supervisors here and detail your concerns. In the rare occurrence a project needs to be reworked, Furnace MFG will arrange to return the discs to our facility and fix them free of charge.

Furnace’s rework policy does not cover issues related to disc or supplied design content. If the supplied content is incorrect, Furnace will work with customers on correcting their mistake, but the customer will be responsible for all charges incurred to complete this process (including additional discs or print materials, product return, refurbishment costs and return shipping). This also includes any graphic mistakes that are not caught in the proofing phase.

For a small fee, we are able to duplicate a single, completed copy of your disc project in advance of your order for final approval. This is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Furnace takes great care in properly packing up and shipping your finished product. If your order is damaged or lost during shipping, please contact us so we can make an insurance claim on your behalf. Please detail the nature of your claim and provide pictures if damage has occurred. Our Quality Assurance team will quickly and painless remedy the issue.

Please note that while Furnace MFG only uses grade A+ recordable media that complies with the strictest of compatibility standards, some older equipment does not support recordable media playback and that may cause playability issues. If you have further issues with playability when you receive your project, please contact one of our customer service reps to detail your concerns.

A top spine is an adhesive strip placed over the top of a case that makes your product more visible in stores. It generally features the band, artist or product name, the title of the release, the catalog/selection number, and the UPC number and scan-able barcode.

Furnace MFG participates in the Anti-Piracy Compliance Program headed up by the International Recording Media Association (IRMA.) This organization protects copyright owners from unauthorized reproduction of their intellectual property by going after piracy dealers and replicators who knowingly or unknowingly replicate unauthorized product. All reputable manufacturers will require you to submit paperwork showing your ownership of the intellectual property you wish to reproduce. If they don't, you risk the loss of your product, masters and possibly your money as the manufacturer you use may be shut down by IRMA. Since each master/project contains original content, each job you send to Furnace will require its own Replication Rights Form. If you have any questions on how to fill out this form - please contact your account representative and ask for help.

Absolutely! You can change the back of the card to reflect your artwork - however, you cannot move or resize the box that the codes get printed in.

No. Any re-orders of a prior order will not incur an additional set up fee provided there are no changes. The only charge would be the printing charge for the additional cards. If you need to change the content available for download in between orders, you can do that as well but that will incur a nominal charge.

No, there is not. The discounts are calculated based on the quantity of each batch printed in one run. Since the set up costs are the same for each different batch, the price is the same.

You can use the same widget for all the various cards you order. The unique code printed on the back of the card will determine which content the customer has access to.

Yes. Please title your tracks how you would like them displayed in the download package.

Please contact of our sales associates and they can provide a link as an example of how the widget can be used.