File Setup For Uploading Sign Designs
Guidelines for all file types:
|
TIPS: Do not paste small or low resolution images in your design file Low resolution images will not print clear. This includes images copied off the internet.
The best way to determine quality of printing:
1 foot equals 12 inches To figure out size in inches, multiply width and height, separately, in feet by 12. This gives you size in inches. All files should be made to 150dpi and the canvas set to the actual sign size (in inches). Greater sizes are acceptable. Lesser sizes will usually need improvements before printing. We will accept any file for review If your file is not accepted for printing, you will not be charged nor are you obligated to buy. We will email you if there is a problem with your file. At this point you can choose to submit a different file or cancel your order for a full refund. When creating graphics for clear products any white elements will be printed in white ink, and to this effect, please submit files that are transparent (PDF, PSD, TIF, EPS, AI) as opposed to JPG, which will flatten to a white background, rendering any white elements intended to be printed indecipherable from the background. |
Set canvas/page size (image size) to real sign size in inches. Example - if you creating 3'x8' vinyl banner, set your canvas size to 36.25" inches by 96.25" inches. Click to download File Size Templates
Set the file resolution to 150 dpi (or greater).
Set the Color Mode to CMYK.
Artwork submitted in RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or other color modes might affect the appearance of those colors in the final print.
Include bleeds:
Please make sure that your design files clearly indicate the bleed area to ensure that no important portion of your artwork is cut and no unprinted edges occur in the final trimmed print. The bleed value should be added to each edge of the design. Using a 9"×24" example sign, the total file size of Design + Bleeds would be 9.25"×24.25".
All Single-Sided products require bleeds of 0.125" (⅛ of an inch)
All Double-Sided Banners require bleeds of 0.375" (⅜ of an inch)
All Double-Sided Yard Signs require bleeds of 0.25" (¼ of an inch)
All Pole Banners require bleeds of 0.375" (⅜ of an inch)
Include background color in your file.
Multi-page PDFs are no longer allowed. A 2-page PDF having designs for each side of a 2-sided Coroplast sign, for example, should be separated into individual PDFs that can be uploaded separately for their respective sides.
When ordering custom sizes, select the next largest size available in the dropdown menu. Don't forget to leave a note that specifies your desired printed size. As an example, a banner with a finished size of 3.5'×6.5' (42"×66"), you would select the 4'×6' (48"×72"), and add an instruction that the sign be finished at a size of 42"×66".
For contour cut orders, please make sure to also select the next largest size available, then indicate in the notes what the final printed size should be and if you need the contour cut inside or outside your artwork.
We suggest keeping all text, images and logos two inches (2") away from the sign edges.
Preferred file type for printing: PDF, PSD, TIFF (flattened to a single layer), EPS, AI, or high-resolution (150 DPI or better) JPG. Other file types may not be accepted by the system.
Click on this link to download standard vinyl sign and banner sizes file templates for use as a start in your own design software.
Files our printers like
TIFF Files: Set the resolution to 150dpi at full sign size in inches. Flatten the file before saving it at 100% quality.
Do not compress or optimize the file. As a general rule TIFF files less than 1MB in size do not print well.
JPEG Files: Set the resolution to 150dpi at full sign size in inches. Save it at 100% quality. As a general rule JPEG
files less than 1mb in size do not print well.
PSD Files: Set the resolution to 150dpi at full sign size in inches. Flatten the file before saving it at 100% quality.
Do not compress or optimize the file. As a general rule PSD files less than 1MB in size do not print well.
PDF Files: Convert all text to outlines. Expand all fills and strokes. All PDF's should be single-page files.
EPS Files: Convert all text to outlines. Expand all fills and strokes.
AI Files: Convert all text to outlines. Expand all Fills and Stokes.
Software
Photoshop Flatten the image. Make sure your file contains only one final background layer. Save as a PDF, JPG, TIFF or PSD file.
Illustrator Convert all text to outlines. Expand all Fills and Stokes. Save as a PDF file.
Corel Products Save your Corel file as a PDF, EPS or high resolution (150dpi or greater) TIFF or JPEG. Corel files can not be processed or printed.
Publisher Save your Publisher file as a PDF or high resolution (150dpi or greater) TIFF or JPEG. Publisher files can not be processed or printed.
Word Try to avoid sending Word files, they usually can not be printed. If Word file is all what you have, add a border proportional to your sign size and make your design inside that border only. When uploading your Word file, include all Fonts used in the files in upload.
Most Office products limit the artwork/page size making it less suitable to design a sign. Try converting your file to a high resolution PDF or TIFF and our pre-flight department will review your file. It may be possible to enlarge your design for printing.