After an order is placed, the customer must provide a timely response to all Comix Wellspring email messages, telephone calls, or other communications. The customer acknowledges that failing to provide timely responses to inquiries can significantly delay the production process and delivery window.

If Comix Wellspring does not receive communication from the customer for 14 or more calendar days, the project will be considered abandoned, the customer will forfeit all funds received, and Comix Wellspring may, at its sole discretion, decide whether to resume the order.

Comix Wellspring requests that, if more than one person or organization is involved in the project, the customer appoints a single point of contact who is readily available to answer questions from Comix Wellspring and who is authorized to make decisions about the project. If the contact person is unavailable for more than 24 hours, the customer should inform Comix Wellspring and provide an alternate contact person, who will be considered the main point of contact until the customer informs Comix Wellspring otherwise. However, Comix Wellspring may consider directives issued by any involved person or organization to be final and binding and act upon those, with the customer being fully responsible for any charges, fees, delays, or other consequences of that directive.

If Comix Wellspring has alerted the customer, via email or telephone, of potential issues with the files provided for a project and the customer does not respond within 7 calendar days, Comix Wellspring may, at its sole and final discretion, print the project “as is,” which will typically result in less-than-ideal results and will void the customer’s right to refund or reprint.

Comix Wellspring reserves the right to determine the contact method for any and all client contact that it deems, in its sole and final opinion, to be the most effective, even if the client requested a particular contact method. Comix Wellspring may also change how it contacts customers at any time and without notice. Customers must maintain a valid and working email account and telephone number for the project's duration. All customers consent to electronic notification for any and all client communications. Comix Wellspring is not responsible for lost, damaged, or misdirected messages or messages inadvertently flagged as “spam” or junk. For the duration of the project, the customer should carefully monitor his or her voicemail box and all folders in his or her email account, including “spam” or junk mail folders, and promptly respond to any inquiries from Comix Wellspring representatives. The customer is responsible for returning all messages Comix Wellspring leaves.

Comix Wellspring guarantees the product price and delivery fees listed on all quotations issued by Comix Wellspring for 30 calendar days from the date indicated on the written quotation for the party and project named, even if published prices or costs change. For the quotation to be valid, all specifications must remain identical to the quotation provided, and the order must be from the party and project named on the quotation. Any change to any aspect of the quoted specifications, customer name, or project name or description will render the original quotation void. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to adjust pricing to current rates, including pricing on aspects not directly affected by the change requested by the customer. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to decline printing any project at any time for any reason, including quotations that are still valid. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to correct quotations resulting from typographical or technical errors.

Quotations from Comix Wellspring are considered confidential and privileged communication between the customer and Comix Wellspring. They may not be shared with any third parties or published in any form without written permission from Comix Wellspring.

From time to time, at its sole and final discretion, without notice and for various reasons, Comix Wellspring may issue quotations that contain pricing limited explicitly to the 30 calendar days immediately following the date of issue, pricing that is capacity-controlled, or subject to blackout dates. In such cases, pricing may vary significantly from quotations issued at different dates and remain valid only for the listed periods and conditions.

Comix Wellspring reserves the right to charge customers for increases in government-imposed fees, taxes, tariffs, duty fees, or other fees or costs imposed by governmental or quasi-governmental bodies.

If a customer wishes to make changes to an order after accepting a quotation, a written change order must be submitted by the customer and accepted by Comix Wellspring. Verbal quotations and change order requests are never guaranteed.

Services Included with Your Order

• Imposition: We arrange individual comic book pages onto larger printing sheets to optimize paper usage and press efficiency. This ensures correct page order and alignment when folded and bound. Please submit your book as individual pages, combined into one PDF, or as individual JPGs labeled with the book title and page number.
• Ensuring Print-Ready Files: We meticulously review files to confirm they meet the following criteria:
• Bleeds: The artwork extending to the edge of the final trimmed page has a bleed area extending beyond the trim line.
• Sizing: Files are created using the correct dimensions for printing.
• Resolution: All images and graphics are set to a minimum resolution of 300 DPI to achieve crisp, high-quality prints.
• Color Mode: Files are set to CMYK color mode to maintain color accuracy.
• Layer Flattening: All files are flattened to prevent issues with unexpected transparencies or font substitutions during printing.

Additional Service Fees

• File Preparation: A $100 per hour design fee is applied to projects requiring extensive prepress work, including:
• Bleed Setup: Adding bleeds to files lacking them, usually by adding a border around the artwork.
• Numbered Covers: Setting up automatic numbering for comic book covers (additional fees may apply for complex numbering formats).
• Additional Services (Hourly Rate): Certain services are charged at our standard hourly rate, including:
• Foil Work Setup: Meticulously preparing files for foil printing effects, ensuring artwork meets minimum outline thickness requirements (typically 2 pt).
• Payment will be invoiced post-order.

What We Don't Do

• Artwork Manipulation: We do not add text, edit existing artwork, or modify colors within your files.
• Flattening Files: We maintain layered files whenever possible to preserve editing capabilities.
• Post-Proof Page Reordering: Page reordering must be communicated before sending files for proof to avoid delays and ensure accuracy.
• Spine Design and Typesetting: We recommend working with a graphic designer for spine design and typesetting services.

Schedule

• Our prepress team operates from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Server and Reorders

• We securely store approved comic book files on our servers for 12 months. During this period, reordering printed comic books is easy; if no page updates are needed, you do not need to resubmit files.

Communications SOP

• Initial File Review:
• Upon receiving files, our prepress team conducts an initial review to assess print readiness.
• Clients will be promptly notified via email or phone if any issues are identified.
• Detailed instructions will be provided for addressing flagged issues or requesting additional services if needed.
• Proofing Process:
• Once files are deemed print-ready, customers will receive digital proofs for review.
• Proofs will be emailed with a link to an online approval form.
• Customers are encouraged to review proofs carefully and provide feedback within the 7-14 business day timeline. After this period, our prepress team will proceed with final production. Changes cannot be made once proof is approved, and printing has started. Additional fees may apply for post-approval changes.
• Proof Approval and Revisions:
• Revisions requested within the scope of our standard prepress policy will be implemented at no additional cost.
• Revisions requiring services outside our standard offerings, such as extensive design changes, may incur additional fees.
• Our prepress team will communicate any additional fees for requested changes, providing a detailed breakdown.
• Clients can choose to approve the additional fees and proceed with the revisions or decline and proceed with the original proofs.
• Production Updates:
• Customers may request updates on the status of their orders throughout the production process.
• Final Approval and Delivery:
• Once final proofs are approved, customers will receive confirmation of production commencement.
• Upon completion, clients will be notified of shipment details, including tracking information.
• Our team remains available to address any post-production inquiries or concerns.

By uploading, submitting, or otherwise transmitting files to Comix Wellspring, you certify that the files are virus-free, do not contain any malicious code or functionality, and that all files uploaded are related to your project and are required to print the project.

Prohibited Actions:

• Sharing or linking to file paths of file uploads, including but not limited to “hotlinking,” is strictly prohibited, except as necessary to review and approve proofs.

Bandwidth Costs:

• Comix Wellspring reserves the right to bill the customer for bandwidth costs for file access that is not related to the review and approval of files, in Comix Wellspring's sole and final decision.

File Management:

• Comix Wellspring reserves the right to remove or rename uploaded files at any time, for any reason, and without notice.

By entering or providing Comix Wellspring with your credit or debit card number and related billing information, you consent that this equates to an electronic signature that authorizes Comix Wellspring to charge your account immediately and any future additional charges or penalties.

If you initiate a chargeback against Comix Wellspring and the dispute is eventually decided in Comix Wellspring's favor by the financial institution, we reserve the right to charge you a fee to cover the costs associated with the chargeback. This includes but is not limited to, penalties levied against us by the credit card issuer and the time spent by our staff to research and resolve the issue.

If paying via debit card, please be aware that your card may have a temporary authorization or “hold” placed on it. This charge will be returned to you subject to your financial institution’s policies, over which Comix Wellspring has no control. Comix Wellspring is not responsible for such temporary charges or any penalties incurred because of them. To avoid this situation, pay with a credit card rather than a debit card or ensure you have adequate funds in the account linked to the debit account.

Returned checks are subject to the maximum fee allowed by law. Checks may be converted to electronic payments, meaning the funds may leave your account immediately. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, the account balance is due immediately via credit card, U.S. Postal Service money order, or certified cashier’s check. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to revoke check-paying privileges for any customer for any reason permanently.

Physical Proofs:

If the customer opts to deny the physical proof option, Comix Wellspring is not responsible for reprints. Rush orders (under a two-week deadline) will need more time for physical proofs, and customers will receive digital proofs via email, thereby waiving the physical proof option.

Soft Proofs:

Comix Wellspring may provide customers with “soft proofs,” which are electronic PDF files showing the project's final layout, including trim and fold locations, for review and approval. These proofs should be considered an approximation of the final printed appearance. While we strive to match the proofs as closely as possible, they are subject to standard industry deviations. Due to the variability in hardware and software settings, soft proofs should not be considered fully accurate representations of color reproduction.

Approval of Proofs:

By providing any Comix Wellspring representative with written or verbal approval of the proof (generally through an online form approval process), customers consent to provide an equivalent electronic signature indicating their approval of the proof. Changes after receipt of approval may result in additional fees.

Hard Copy Proofs:

Comix Wellspring can offer hard copy proofs for an additional fee, which is not included in the initial quote unless specifically listed. We cannot guarantee color matching or accuracy, even when hard copy proofs are ordered unless a spot or Pantone color has been specified.

Proofreading and File Checking:

Comix Wellspring respectfully asks that files be thoroughly proofread and checked for errors in content and design before submission. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to limit the number of proofing cycles provided at no charge if the customer makes repeated changes or corrections to the text, images, or layout that require additional proofs. Additional proofing may be billed at a rate of $50 per hour, which is subject to change.

Priority and Delays:

Comix Wellspring reserves the right to place projects that have exceeded three proofing cycles due to customer-initiated changes in a lower-priority queue, which will be processed after other projects. Comix Wellspring is not responsible for delays to projects, including significant ones, that result from repeated customer changes. Customers will not be charged or penalized if a proof cycle results from an error on Comix Wellspring's part, but Comix Wellspring reserves the right to make the sole and final decision as to what constitutes an error on its part.

File Integrity:

Comix Wellspring does not warrant that proof files provided to customers are error-free, virus-free, or free from malicious code or functionality.

Comix Wellspring cannot guarantee color accuracy. Files submitted in the RGB color space will be automatically converted to CMYK, which may cause some colors to shift. This occurs because RGB (used for digital screens) and CMYK (used for printing) have different color gamuts, meaning some colors available in RGB cannot be precisely replicated in CMYK. As a result, Comix Wellspring is not responsible for any color changes resulting from this conversion process.

Comix Wellspring is not responsible for maintaining backup copies of any files submitted by customers or for the damage, corruption, or loss of any files submitted by customers. Comix Wellspring will hold digital files for 12 months from the date of submission. After this period, files may be deleted and will no longer be available for reorders or any other purpose.

At Comix Wellspring, we firmly believe in the power of comic books as a medium for practicing free speech and fostering creativity. We are dedicated to providing a non-biased service that allows creators to freely express their ideas and stories through comics, regardless of their ideology. Our primary focus is facilitating an economical and fair trade for all customers, and we do not align ourselves with specific creators' or publishers' ideologies. While we have the right to deny any customer, we strive to adhere to our core principle of providing a non-biased service for creative expression. In rare cases where we encounter content promoting excessive anti-American themes or displaying direct and obvious threats or harm toward people, we may exercise our right to deny it.

As a print service for comic book creators, it is our privilege to support artists in their creative journey and contribute to the flourishing of the comic book industry as a space for free expression and artistic exploration. Our social responsibility lies in upholding the principles of creative freedom and non-biased printing service, ensuring that comic creators can confidently get their comic books printed, regardless of their id.

Due to the custom nature of our products, refunds are only issued for orders that materially differ from the accepted, written quotation or written change order, approved proof, or that arrive damaged due to production and packaging. If Comix Wellspring has adequately packaged the items for shipping and can demonstrate that the damage occurred during transit, the shipping carrier is responsible. In this case, Comix Wellspring may assist the customer in filing a claim with the carrier, but they may not be directly responsible for providing a refund or replacement.

Customers must communicate with Comix Wellspring and provide any necessary information or involvement to submit a claim with the shipping carrier. If a portion of an order arrives damaged due to production or poor packaging, Comix Wellspring may issue a prorated refund proportional to the number of damaged items or reprint and ship, at its cost, additional copies equal to or greater than the number of damaged items.

Comix Wellspring reserves the right to issue a prorated refund, rather than reprinting, on any order, especially those where only a small portion of items are damaged. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to request documentation of any or all damage as a condition of refund or reprinting and to investigate claims it believes to be fraudulent or unfounded thoroughly. Customers must provide documentation of any damage as soon as possible and within 48 hours of receiving the order to expedite the resolution process. This generally includes clear photographs of the damaged items and packaging and any relevant information requested by Comix Wellspring.

Refunds will not be issued after 14 days of receiving the products. Claims for damages or misprints must be supported by proof that the issues occurred due to Comix Wellspring's fault. This includes but is not limited to, clear photographs of the damaged or misprinted items and a detailed description of the issues.

Comix Wellspring cannot be responsible for any direct or consequential losses resulting from the shipping carrier's failure to deliver non-damaged products by a specific date.

If UPS loses items, Comix Wellspring will assist in filing a claim. However, a reprint will only be issued once UPS has confirmed the loss and compensated Comix Wellspring for the shipping.

Full refunds will be issued to orders that Comix Wellspring declines to print or cancel. At its option, Comix Wellspring may request that you return items that have been refunded at its expense or dispose of, donate, or recycle them.

If a customer cancels an order before printing begins, Comix Wellspring may issue a refund at its sole and final discretion. In these cases, Comix Wellspring reserves the right to deduct charges equal to $50 per hour spent preparing the order for press and any other direct expenses already incurred from the total refund amount.

Comix Wellspring generally issues refunds immediately, but the refund may not appear on the customer’s credit card statement for one to two billing cycles. Comix Wellspring is not responsible for the time financial institutions take to return funds to the customer. Refunds issued by check may require 2 to 3 weeks for processing.

Comix Wellspring will only refund orders that are refused for delivery by the customer with written authorization from Comix Wellspring.

In no case shall any refund issued be for more than the total purchase and shipping cost originally charged.

Shipping Address Accuracy:

Comix Wellspring is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate shipping addresses provided by customers. Orders that need to be reshipped, redelivered, or rerouted due to an incorrect or inaccurate shipping address supplied by the customer will result in additional charges.

Delivery of Large and Heavy Orders:

Many of the orders shipped by Comix Wellspring are very large and heavy. Therefore, the delivery driver may, at their discretion, decline to leave the packages unattended at your address. We urge you to consider using a shipping address where someone is available to accept the delivery during normal business hours. Most carriers will make multiple attempts to deliver the shipment before returning it to us. If a shipment is returned to us due to the maximum delivery attempts being exceeded, the customer will still be responsible for the full cost of the order, plus any redelivery fees.

Damaged Items Due to Shipping:

If items arrive damaged due to shipping, please contact Comix Wellspring as soon as possible to arrange for replacements. Comix Wellspring may require you to assist in providing documentation of damaged goods in order to file applicable claims with our carriers.

Shipping Liability:

Comix Wellspring does not guarantee delivery dates on any orders. The delivery window given to you is an estimate only, and orders may arrive before, within, or after those dates. Orders may be subject to delay due to a variety of reasons, including but not limited to weather, labor fluctuations, market conditions, and government inspections or delays.

Shipping Methods:

We ship via UPS and the United States Postal Service. Proofs and CWS Bookstore orders will generally ship USPS Priority Mail. You will be charged for the calculated shipping amount plus an estimated $5.00 handling fee to cover the costs of securely packaging your order.

Loss of Items by UPS:

If UPS loses items, Comix Wellspring will assist in filing a claim. However, a reprint will only be issued once UPS has confirmed the loss and compensated us for the shipping.

You use this website and Comix Wellspring products and services at your own risk. Comix Wellspring will not be liable for damages arising from or related to your use of the Comix Wellspring website or from your use of products purchased via the Comix Wellspring website, regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort, strict product liability, or any other theory of damages, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Comix Wellspring may decline to produce any order at any time and for any reason without providing notice. If Comix Wellspring declines an order, a full refund will be issued.

Comix Wellspring will not produce orders where the subject matter content may be forbidden, regulated, or restricted by local, state, federal, or international laws. Comix Wellspring cannot offer official advice or counsel on such matters. Accepting any order by Comix Wellspring does not signify any endorsement or certification that the content is or is not violating any laws or regulations.

In the event any order is seized by governmental or quasi-governmental bodies due to violation of international, national, state, provincial, or local laws, the customer, and not Comix Wellspring, is fully responsible for the materials, including the total cost of the materials and any fines or legal actions imposed. Orders returned to Comix Wellspring due to violation of laws or regulations are not eligible for refunds.

International, national, state, provincial, or local law may require specific industries or professions to list certain licensing, certification, or registration information on printed materials. Comix Wellspring is not responsible for determining if such listings are required or recommended and cannot offer advice or counsel. Further, Comix Wellspring is not responsible for omitting any such listings.

You, and not Comix Wellspring, retain the copyright, trademark, and any other intellectual property rights to the materials or projects submitted to us for printing. Comix Wellspring assumes the role of manufacturer only and does not serve as a publisher or agent.

By submitting your project to Comix Wellspring, you fully warrant and represent, to the maximum extent permitted by law, that your materials do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, including any international rights. It is your responsibility, not Comix Wellspring's, to ensure all materials are in full compliance with such laws. Comix Wellspring reserves the right to request proper documentation for any or all material that demonstrates customers have received appropriate authorization to reproduce others' intellectual property. If any or all of a project is found to be in violation of the intellectual property rights of others, you, and not Comix Wellspring, assume all responsibility for such materials, even if Comix Wellspring requested proof of authorization and approved the project for printing.

The customer agrees to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold Comix Wellspring, its affiliated companies, and their agents, employees, officers, directors, shareholders, and trustees harmless from and against any and all claims (including third-party claims), demands, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses, including actual attorney fees, arising from any alleged infringement resulting from the customer’s use of any materials and/or intellectual property or any claims arising as a result of this agreement.

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy. We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser, including your IP address, cookie information, and the page(s) you visited. We will not sell your personally identifiable information to anyone.

Your payment and personal information are always safe. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best available for secure commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your personal information, including your credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the Internet.

For promotion purposes, we must also adhere to the guidelines of the social platforms on which we showcase promoted content. While we strive to maintain a non-biased service for creative expression, we understand that we must follow specific content guidelines when promoting content on these platforms. Our decisions on promoting specific books are guided by objective criteria, considering physical features, unique art styles, and content that adheres to non-offensive guidelines (avoiding explicit nudity, excessive gore, or hate-driven themes) while promoting diverse voices.

We are committed to being transparent about our content review process and guidelines. In rare cases where content may not align with our guidelines for social platform promotion, we will provide reasoning when requested. We continuously improve our guidelines and review process, striving to balance creative expression and adherence to platform guidelines while promoting a diverse and inclusive comics community.