• I am part of an MIT student organization. How can I receive my free posting on Infinite Display?

  The free per-semester allocation allows one post for three consecutive days in the Student Zone. If your order is for more than three consecutive days in the Student Zone, your free allocation will consist of a $30 credit on your order. Posting during the summer uses your fall semester allocation, and posting during IAP uses your spring allocation.

Print and Copy

• Which binding choice is right for my project?

  The choice of binding depends on how a document will be used. Plastic comb or coil bindings are efficient and economical choices that allow a document to open and lay flat. Adhesive tape binding gives a more compact look to a document, comes in a variety of colors and can have lettering printed on the spine.

• What type of scanning services do you offer?

  We have high-speed, high-quality scanners for work dropped off to us. We have self-service tabletop scanners in Building 11-004 for scanning prints and short documents.

• What is the largest size print I can get without using the large-format option?

  We can print up to 13” x 19” in both color and black and white.

• How do I get my files to you?

  When you use our online printing system, you'll be able to upload your files and see an online proof of those files right away. If you have questions about file format, please feel free to contact us.

• Do you print business cards?

  We print MIT-approved business cards at affordable prices, and we are happy to print customized business cards that you have created. You can find more information on pricing here.

• Are you able to print with bleeds?

  We can print documents with bleeds for you. A document that bleeds has printing or coverage right to the edges of the paper. Careful design in creating the document will help eliminate any potential problems in production.

General Services

• What types of file formats do you accept?

  We would prefer to work with an Adobe PDF file in most cases. Native application files such as those created in Adobe InDesign may produce varying results when opened on a computer other than the one they were created on. If you submit a file through our online submission form, a print-ready PDF of your file can be created instantly.

• Is Copytech dog friendly?

  Yes, you're welcome to bring in your dog when you visit our location in 11-004. We love visits from our canine friends (and sometimes even have treats for them)!

• I am organizing a conference. Do you provide any services that could help?

  We can help acquire any event-related materials (name tags, binders, note pads, etc.) and can print all your conference content in color or black and white. We can also assemble the materials into binders and deliver to the conference site.

• How long my job will take?

  When you submit an order, please ask for an estimated time for completion. If you have a specific deadline, please let us know and we will make every effort to accommodate your request.

• How can I check on the status of my order?

  You can check on the status of any order by contacting us by e-mail or phone. You can also check on the status of a submitted order through our online ordering system. Simply log in and use the order number provided to you when the work was submitted.

• Can I get a quote on my order?

  You may ask for a quote any time. Send us the details by phone or e-mail. Our online ordering site also provides live quoting for your print items.

Infinite Display

• What kind of files can I submit to Infinite Display?

  Your slide submission must be either a JPG or PNG file. No other file formats are acceptable. At this time, we do not accept video files for posting.

• What is a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and why is it important?

  Infinite Display's projectors and flat-panel displays have widescreen dimensions similar to the HDTV images on TV. The width-to-height ratio of these widescreens is 16:9, referred to as that screen's aspect ratio. Widescreen displays give you plenty of screen space to design your messages. 

• How often is my image displayed?

  We display each image for 15 seconds. The display policy is one slide per customer/event per day. There are never more than 25 slides running per day to provide maximum exposure.

• Are there any discounts for posting a slide for an extended period?

  When you post an image for seven consecutive days, you receive two of those days free. If you post for 14 consecutive days, you would receive four of the days free, and so on.

Thesis Printing

• Where can I print my thesis?

  There is a MIT Athena thesis printer at our location in building 11-004. Students are allowed to print their two Institute-required copies on this printer at no cost. Additional copies should be produced at your own cost. MIT Copytech offers quality thesis printing options and all supplies at highly competitive pricing.

• What is the thesis paper requirement? Where can I buy the paper and how much does it cost?

  MIT has strict requirements on the paper used for your original copies. The paper in the thesis printer at our location in building 11-004 meets all of the paper requirements for MIT thesis submission. In addition, you can purchase thesis paper by the sheet or ream (500 sheets) from our location in 11-004.

• What are MIT's requirements for the original copies I need to pass in?

  Please review MIT's specific requirements for the creation and production of an MIT thesis.

• Does the Athena thesis printer print in color?

  The thesis printer in building 11-004 does not print in color. MIT Copytech offers color printing of your thesis at highly competitive pricing.

Course Readers

• Why is copying course readers strictly prohibited?

  The original purchased copy had payments made to the rights holders of the content for usage in that one copy. To further reproduce the content without paying royalty fees is a violation of copyright laws.

• If the materials I am assembling are all public domain or out of print, do I still need to go through the permissions process?

  If you can determine the content is public domain, you do not need to go through the permissions process. In the case of out of print materials, you are still required to confirm with the rights holder if the material is truly out of print before using that material. Notification from the publisher that the material is out of print is the only acceptable verification.

• If I am offering an electronic course reader for my students to download, do I still need to get permissions on the content?

  All content used for a class, either in paper or electronic format, must be cleared for use by copyright owners of the material.

• I'm putting together a course reader. How can I find out how much it will cost?

  You can submit a listing of the articles in the planned document. We will check on any that need clearance and we will determine the total cost to produce the document.

Printer and Copier Management

• Why would I enlist in a copier program instead of managing it myself?

  The benefits of using a copier program include correct sizing of devices to meet your needs, aggressive volume purchasing power and better time management of office staff responsibilities. Some programs will negotiate acquisitions, manage all maintenance and supplies, place service calls and handle internal chargebacks to accounts through SAP.

• What does an “Invalid ID” error message signify when I swipe my ID on an Omega touch screen?

  This error means that there is problem and you will need to visit the Card Office to determine the cause.

• How would I go about getting a copier for my department?

  Contact Ryan Michael Haggerty at 617-324-3361 or ryanha@mit.edu . Ryan manages the MIT Copytech copier/printer programs and will work with you to tailor a solution to meet your needs.

• Do I have to pay for my prints on Athena printers?

  MIT allows students a generous print quota at no cost. Instances of extreme usage may result in charges being assigned to a student’s account.

• Can I print out my file on any Athena printer?

  Students can scan, copy and store files at any Athena printer equipped with a card swipe device. You can output a document at any location on campus by swiping your activated MIT ID and selecting the file from your personal folder.

• Are there any coin-operated copiers on campus?

  There are self-service copiers in our building 11-004 location where you can pay cash for your copies. In addition, there are 24-hour coin-operated copiers in the MIT Libraries. In our East campus Copytech Center (E52-076) there is a 24-hour access self-service printer and copier accepting TechCASH .

Billing and Chargeback

• When can I expect to see charges show up on my statements?

  MIT Copytech processes all charges, credits and reconciliations monthly, near the end of the month. If you have any questions on a charge, please contact us at 617-253-2806.

• How do I get backup for a charge I received?

  If you are in need of backup or clarification of any charge from MIT Copytech, fill out our contact form or call us at 617-253-2806.

• How can I pay for my order?

  All MIT Copytech locations accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, MIT Procurement Cards, TechCASH and MIT requisitions using approved cost objects.