FAQ
About
Q: Where are you located?
A: We are located in Taipei, Taiwan.
Q: How are you different from other game manufacturers?
A: We are a small but very experienced and growing company that has been one of the main sources for board game printing in Taiwan for the last several years. Now it is time to branch out and offer our services to the rest of the world.
We are starting to attend all the major conventions such as GenCon, Essen and Tokyo Game Market. Feel free to reach out to us to setup an in person meeting!
Q: Where are your Account Managers located?
A: Currentently all of our staff is located in Taiwan. We do have an International sales manager who is from Syracuse, NY. but he is in Taiwan most of the year. You can contact him about any questions you might have.
Components
Q: Do you produce component-only orders?
A: Yes. For instance, if you only need a large amount of dice or cards, we can accommodate that.
Q: Does you offer dry erase boards?
A: Yes! We can make custom dry erase boards in any size and we can also provide dry erase markers.
Q: Do you offer printed rubber playmats?
A: We absolutely do! Rubber playmats can be printed with full color on one or two sides. They are a great way to add something special to your game. Or you can offer them as an add-on to your game.
Q: Do you offer paper pads and pencils?
A: Yes, we have many varieties.
Q: Do you make stickers?
A: Yes, we can make any stickers you want.
Dice
Q: What are my choices of material when it comes to making dice?
A: The vast majority of our dice are either resin or acrylic. Resin has a lower mold cost but a higher per unit price and a longer production time. Acrylic dice have higher mold costs but lower per unit prices and shorter production times. For games with a low print run and/or a small number of dice per game, resin is usually the best option. For games with a high print run quantity and/or a large number of dice per game, acrylic is usually the best option. Your Sales Manager can help you to select the right dice for your game.
Q: Can you make a die that has different color pips or different color numbers on it’s different faces?
A: Absolutely! When filling out the online quote form, just let us know what you need!
Q: Can other dice types other than standard D6s be custom engraved or custom silkscreened?
A: Yes! Besides D6s, we can also make custom dice for D4s, D8s, D10s, D12s, etc.
Q: Do solid colored dice cost more than plain white or black dice?
A: No, they do not cost you more. You can have any solid color you want for the same price. When filling out your quote, just let us know what color you want.
Q: What's the difference between rounded corners and squared corners with regard to dice?
A: Dice with rounded corners tend to roll more fluidly on the table but do appear to the eye to be a bit smaller than dice with squared corners, because dice with rounded corners have been polished down to give them their rounded appearance. In the end, choosing between rounded and squared corners is a matter of personal preference. There is no cost difference between the two.
Q: What can I do to keep costs low for custom engraved dice?
A: When including custom engraved dice in your game, consider the following in order to keep costs as low as possible:
1. Only use 1 color ink per die face. Using multiple color for engraved dice on the same face is more difficult to manufacture, and will raise costs.
2. Consider the size of the dice. Lowering the size from 16mm (standard) to 14mm dice will save money.
3. Determine how many dice you really need.
4. Ask your Sales Manager if there are any other cost saving custom dice options that they can recommend for your game.
Q: What should I consider when choosing silk screened vs engraving for custom dice?
A: Generally speaking, except at very low quantities, engraving dice is less expensive than applying a silk screen. Therefore we generally recommend engraving for custom dice. The exception to this is when you have a very detailed image that uses multiple colors on the same face of a die. If that is the case, silk screening might be your best option. During the quoting process, discuss your vision of your dice with your account manager, and they will help you choose the best option. Having a drawing of the images that you want on each die face will be helpful.
Q: What is the printable area of a die face?
A: For a typical D6 (six-sided die) that is 16mm with squared corners, the printable area is 11-12mm, which means at least 2mm of margin (otherwise known as bleed) is needed around each edge of the printed area. For a 16mm D6 with rounded corners, the printable area is 9-10mm, which means at least 3mm of margin is necessary.
Metal
Q: What kind of metal is used in your metal components?
A: We use a variety of metals. Please ask us about what you would like made out of metal.
Q: When should I consider using metal components in my game?
A: Metal components are heavier than components made with other materials. They work great for game currency or for special components that you want to showcase. Typically, metal components are more expensive than other other types of materials so they are usually reserved for games with a high retail price or sold separately as a game accessory.
Payment
Q: Where should I send my wire transfer payment?
A: The wire transfer account information will be sent with your invoice.
Q: What currency should I use to make payments?
A: Unless otherwise specified on your invoice, please make all payments in US Dollars (USD).
Q: What payment options do you accept?
A: Currently we accept bank wire transfers and paypal. Please make sure all payments are made in US Dollars (USD).
Plastics
Q: What’s the best way to submit design for custom plastics for mass production?
A: The best way is to have sample sculpts created and to send those sculpts to our factory for each unique design. We can base our molds on the samples. If you are unable to have sculpts created, then you can send us a 3D design file along with a 3D-printed physical sample of each unique design. For the 3D files, it’s best to send us .stl files.
Q: How do I submit designs to make a plastic insert tray?
A: Please contact us and we will walk you through it. Just the measuremnets is a good start.
Q: How do you prevent cardboard from warping?
A: We use a very solid cardboard and we store it in a temperature controlled environment.
We recommend that you use material of at least 2mm thick for your game boards, player boards, and punchboards. This also helps prevent warping.
Q: How do I ensure that my cards or punchboard tiles have consistent color matching across multiple print runs?
A: If you are making a game and you expect that there will be an expansion in the future that will have card or tile backs that will need to match the card or tile backs from the base game, be sure to let your Account Manager know. They can get more information from you that will help them to determine whether specific precision color matching is needed for your game. Whether or not it’s needed depends on how many different card or tile backs you have, and the quantities of the cards or tiles you have.
Q: What types of boxes do you currently offer?
A: We can make almost any box you can think of. We love boxes.
1. Standard 2-piece cardboard box that you see for most board games (also called a “telescoping” box)
2. Tuckboxes (thinner cardboard used for smaller card games)
3. Clamshell boxes
4. Foil packaging for small sets of cards
5. Plastic blister packs
6. Cardboard tube boxes
7. One piece cardboard boxes that use a magnet to open and close the top flap of the box
Q: What thickness do you recommend for folding game boards?
A: We recommend a folding game board of at least 2mm thick cardboard. For other folding components, like cards or cardboard screens, we can make them from a thinner card stock.
Q: What's the maximum unfolded size you offer for game boards?
A: 700mm x 1000mm
Q: How should I lay out my punchboard sheets, and how does that relate to a die-cut pattern?
A: We will set up the puchboards for you, just let us know the size and amount. It is also recommeneded we punch and bag them for you.
Q: What types of finishes are available for the boxes?
A: The basic decision is whether you want a matte finish or a gloss finish. Gloss finishes allow for brighter colors but also produce a larger amount of glare under artificial lighting. You can also add the following finishes to your box:
1. Linen: This is a textured pattern that is stitched directly into the box itself. Linen finishes are a nice way to give an upgraded look and feel to your box. They also help to cut down on the glare that results from a gloss finish.
2. Thumb cuts: These are small notches cut into the sides of the box top that allows for easier opening of the box. They can also be cut into the sides of the box bottom to help remove the components from the box if the box is packed particularly tightly.
3. Printing and Paper Lining on the inside of the box is available if you would like to print a design (or text) on the inside of the box top. Printing can be done in color or black and white.
4. Foil stamping, Metallic ink, and Spot UV are additional ways to add a shiny effect to different parts of your box. Foil Stamping and Spot UV are best for larger, broader areas of the box, whereas metallic ink is best to highlight text and other smaller, intricate design features.
Q: Are there any required markings that must be present on the back of the box?
A: When submitting your box files to our Pre-Press team for review, please ensure that the following symbols are on the box bottom:
1. The UPC code for your game (you can learn more about UPC codes from http://www.gs1us.org/get-started)
2. The words “Made in Taiwan”
3. A choking hazard warning
4. Your company name
5. The European “CE” symbol (if you determine your game meets the requirements)
6. We also strongly recommend the lot number of your order plus your company’s business mailing addresses in the United States and/or Europe.
Q: What can metallic ink, foil stamping, and spot UV be applied to?
A: Typically, metallic ink, foil stamping, or spot UV are effects that are applied either to your game box or to your game cards. Metallic ink is used to highlight text or other intricate artistic areas, while foil stamping is used to highlight larger, broad areas and geometric shapes. For cards, you can apply metallic ink or foil stamping to all the cards in your game, or just to a subset, although it is more cost effective on a per-card basis to apply metallic ink or foil stamping to the entire deck. Spot UV is another way to highlight broader shapes on a box.
Q: How do you ensure that colors are accurate during the printing process?
A: In the Pre-production process, we will print and send you high resolution color proofs of your printed files and you will have the opportunity to check them to ensure the colors are correct. In the mass production process, we print off the sheets for the printed items in a game and they are checked by a color specialist against the color proofs. The color check specialist looks that the sheets as they come out at different intervals in the process and checks them against the color proofs. If the colors are off, then they adjust the color values manually and the items that did not match are discarded.
Q: What file format should I use for all of my printed materials?
A: We require all files for printed materials to be submitted as PDFs. For additional information, please contact us.
Q: What are printermarks (or die lines) and why are they needed?
A: All printed components need to include a separate file with Crop marks, Fold Lines and/or Die-Cutting lines. Please label these clearly by attaching “PrinterMarks” to the end of your filename (ie. BoxBottom_PrinterMarks.pdf ) The artwork should be saved in a separate file that contains only the artwork. This applies to all of the print files.
As with all printed components, please save the die-lines, bleed-lines, and fold-lines as a separate file so that they don’t get printed. The best way to do this is to create them on a separate layer, then save only that layer as a separate pdf file.
Q: My matte finished game's color looks dull, how can I fix this?
A: Any components with a matte finish will compress the color gamut and have a slight dulling effect. You will lose a little detail on the darker colors. We recommend making the files 10-15% brighter to compensate.
Q: Why can't I use rich black? What should be used instead?
A: Avoid using rich blacks as these can lead to color inconsistencies. Where possible, please use pure 100% black (K) – especially for text, card backs or other components where color consistency is essential to gameplay.
In the CMYK settings, you can achieve pure black with the following color settings: C: 0% M: 0% Y: 0% K: 100%
Q: Do you have box templates available?
A: Just tell us your box size and we will get a template to you as soon as possible.
Q: What is margin and how much of it do I need?
A: Margin is the area between the main content of a page and the page edges. Including a margin on your documents mean you won’t risk having your words or images unintentionally cut off.
All Files: a minimum margin of at least 2mm is required on all printed components.
Q: What is bleed and how much of it do i need?
A: Bleed (also known as trim) is a printing term that refers to the artwork that goes beyond the edge of the die-lines for your component. Artwork and background colors are extended into the bleed area. After trimming, the bleed ensures that no unprinted edges appear in the final trimmed document.
– All Files: Requires at least a 2mm bleed on each side, with the following exceptions:
– Game Boards & Boxes: Require 18mm (3mm bleed + 15mm wrap). These 2 components need extra bleed so that it can be wrapped around the edges.
– Punchboards and Sticker Sheets: Every individual token or sticker will required 2mm of bleed and 2mm margin
Q: Does black and white printing allow for various shades of gray as well?
A: I am wondering if I choose to print components only in “black and white”, if I can also have various shades of gray on the components as well.
Q: Should I submit my cards by the sheet or individually?
A: We prefer to receive your cards as individual PDFs. We will lay them them out when the time comes.
Production
Q: Do you have a queue of projects waiting to be manufactured?
A: No, there is no queue or waiting list. We are manufacturing dozens of projects concurrently at any given time. As soon as you sign a contract, we will get started on your project! Our busiest time of the year is spring and summer (March-August) before projects need to ship for Gen Con and Essen Spiel. If you need your game to be finished in time for Gen Con, Essen Spiel, or another specific event, please be sure to discuss this with your Account Manager as early as possible. Also Tokyo Game Market, just ask us in advamce.
Q: If I design a unique component, will you be allowed to produce that component for another client?
A: Conventions are hard deadlines. If you are late by a single day, you miss the entire show. Since the stakes are high at various game conventions, we recommend that you plan to finish your game project an entire month before the start of the show. An extra month will give ample time for you to plan around unexpected issues such as shipping delays.
Every game has a different timeline so please check with your account manager on your specific situation.
Q: Once I sign a contract with InkPlay, can I still make changes to my game?
A: We have an exclusive design policy at Panda meaning we will not re-use the following for another client:
any custom artwork (box, card, game board graphics, custom dice faces, etc)
plastic injection moulds (any moulds that were paid for by the client including miniature figures and vacuum trays)
custom component shapes (unique component shapes, more complex than simple geometric shapes in any material)
However, a client may not claim exclusive design rights to the following:
custom sizes of standard components (ie. cubes or meeples created in a unique size)
colors or combinations of colors (ie. a unique color choice on a standard component)
production methods or materials (ie. creating components from metal or other uncommon materials)
Q: Can some of the games in my order be a "Kickstarter exclusive" version? What types of changes can I make?
A: Yes. For instance, if you order 3000 games and want 1000 of them to be a kickstarter-exclusive or premium version, we can do that. To keep your costs low, try to limit the changes to either adding extra components and/or making aesthetic changes to the existing components. Avoid changing the structure of the components themselves. For instance, you might choose to add a gold foil or metallic ink effect to the box for the premium version of the game. But if you want a different box size entirely for the premium version, that will not be cost efficient. Similarly, let’s say your game has 90 cards. You might choose to add 10 extra cards of the same size and material to the premium version, which would be cost effective. But if you decided to change the card size or material for the premium version, that would not be as cost effective.
Q: Will all of my games be defect free?
A: While we strive to achieve a 100% defect-free rate with all of our projects, our production process involves many steps. We do check every game one by one.
Our historical defect-free rate has been above 99% per production, and you can expect a similar result for your print run. This means that on a print run of 1500 units, there might be up to 15 games that have defective components.
We pride ourselves on our excellent track record, and we will provide extra components free of charge in a separately marked carton to assist you in your efforts in dealing with these rare issues.
Q: How long does it take to complete a project?
A: This is what a typical production schedule looks like:
We are faster than most manufacturers. We estimate 3- 6 weeks from start to finish if all files are properly submitted. It does depend on the job though, if complex components are needed it will take longer.
Air freight is available for smaller games which could be 1-2 weeks. Allow 4 to 7 weeks for freight Shipping to North America or Europe
Quotes
Q: Can I add a particular component to a subset of the total games in my order?
A: Yes. Just discuss your needs with us.
Q: When should I get a quote?
A: It’s best to submit your quote once you have thoroughly playtested your game and you are reasonably certain about what components you need. Be sure to submit your quote early enough, however, to allow for multiple rounds of revisions as you and your account manager work together to identify the exact components that will be best for your game. If you are planning a kickstarter campaign for your game, submit your quote at least 6 weeks prior to your launch date.
Q: What are Overs?
A: When you place a manufacturing order, our responsibility is to produce enough units to cover your original request. To achieve this, extra units (called Overs) are always produced to account for the fact that some components may be discarded if they do not pass our stringent quality control checks.
Overs up to 100 units may be added to your final invoice as billable completed units. For example, if your original order was 4000 units, we will bill and send you between 4000 to 4100 games.
You may choose to opt out of Overs, but the final quantity produced may be up to 100 units lower than your original order. For example, if you ordered 4000 units and you opt out of overs, we will bill and send you between 3900 to 4000 games.
Q: What is the minimum order quantity?
A: Our minimum order is 500 units. For orders with custom plastic miniatures please contact us. if you have any special requests please let us know.
Q: How long does a quote take?
A: Usually a quote will be done in a few days, depending on the complexity of the job. If you want a faster estimate, please let us know and we can try to accommodate rush requests or ballpark estimates.
Shipping
Q: What type of shipping options do we offer?
A: InkPlay can help to arrange shipping for your order. The most common requests are:
EXW Ex-Works – We palletize and store your completed games at our warehouse in Taipei. Products must be picked up within 10 days of completion.
FOB Taiwan – We palletize and deliver your completed games to the Taiwan port and we also clear customs. Your shipper must arrange for ocean freight, import customs clearance fees, and any additional transportation charges.
CIF [Port of Choice] – We palletize and deliver your completed games by ocean freight to your port of choice. You will be responsible for import customs clearance customs fees, duties, and inland transportation.
DDP WAREHOUSE – We palletize and deliver your completed games all the way to your warehouse. DDP shipping includes all transportation and customs fees.
We can also arrange Floor Loaded (unpalletized) shipments for Full Container Loads upon request, but please let us know early as special reinforced cartons are required for Floor Loaded shipments
Shipping times are approximately 3 to 4 weeks to the West Coast of North America, and 4 to 6 weeks to Europe and theEast Coast of North America.
Q: Do shipping prices include insurance?
A: Yes, when InkPlay arranges your ocean shipments as DDP or DDU, the cargo is covered with insurance from door-to-door at 110% of the value of the per-unit manufacturing cost that you pay InkPlay to manufacture the games.
Q: Why aren't shipping costs included in the manufacturing quote I received?
A: For two reasons. First, there are several different shipping options that you can choose from, and they each have different costs. Second, shipping prices themselves are volatile. They change on a weekly basis. Therefore, we can’t provide you with an exact shipping price for a game that won’t ship for several more months. However, feel free to ask your Account Manager for a shipping estimate, and they can provide you with one.
Q: Can I add extra components to my order that will be shipped outside the game boxes?
A: Yes, absolutely! Just let your sales manager know what you’d like, and we can provide you a price.
Q: Can you ship to a residential address?
A: Yes! We can ship to a residential address. It requires an additional fee for a pallet jack and a lift gate.
We have a number of different shipping options that can be found here:
Q: How many different locations can my order be shipped to?
A: We can typically split your order and ship games to as many as 5 different locations around the world. If you will need your order sent to more locations that that, make sure to let your Account Manager know as early as possible. Please note that splitting your order may increase the per-game shipping cost to each destination.
Q: How much does it cost to ship to a warehouse in North America?
A: This depends on a few factors, including the size and weight of your game box, the time of year, and energy costs. Generally speaking, Please contact us directly about staorage needs.
Wood
Q: How do I submit my custom wood design for quoting and for production? Is there a template to use?
A: For quoting, we really only need to know the size of the custom wood piece, whether you want any silkscreen printed image on it, and whether it needs to be laser cut (your account manager can help you determine if it will need to be laser cut – most custom wood pieces do not need to be).
Q: Do you have standard sizes for wood cubes?
A: The most common sizes are 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm cubes, though we are happy to make larger ones for you as well. We do not recommend anything smaller than 6mm as they become very difficult to hold and grasp.
Q: What's the difference between machine cut and laser cut wood?
A: Most times that we make custom wood bits for your game, it will be machine cut, which is a high quality and cost effective method. There are generally two reasons to use the more expensive process of laser cutting wood in a game. First, if the wood bits have hidden information on them, and it’s very important for every single piece to be the exact same dimensions as the others, we will use a laser cut to ensure the highest possible level of uniformity. Second, if you have designed a wooden token that has undercuts (is too complex to be made by machine), we will have to use a laser. Your account manager will work with you to select the best cutting method for the wood bits in your game.