Artwork Guidelines
Uploading Designs
For uploaded designs we have some guidelines to ensure the best quality.
File prep is optional, feel free to upload your design as is and if needed we'll make any necessary modifications before sending your proof. However please understand that if your artwork file is too small/low resolution, our artists may not be able to scale your image to the proper size without loss of quality. Refer to Vector vs. Raster Artwork for more information.
Low Resolution:
If your uploaded design is of too low resolution or will have poor print quality, we will need to obtain better artwork. We will request you to send us a better copy and/or provide you a quote to recreate your artwork at the proper size. These issues will be addressed during the proofing process.
Contour Cuts:
Our designers will take care of creating your cutlines, so you don’t have to worry about it. Your proof will be sent to you within 1 business day of checking out.
We have a minimum width of 0.1” for contour cut pieces. If your design does not meet this requirement, we can increase the overall size of the graphic or create an offset path cutline.
Samples:
Below are links to different Templates/Sample files for reference. You can also paste your design into these templates for submission, follow the instructions..
*Note You do not need to use these templates, though they are helpful for some customers.
Design Online
Our powerful and free online design tool is packed full of features. You can build your design from scratch, add text, shapes, color, clipart symbols and icons. You can upload your logo, photos or any image into the designer and change the size/shape and place it into your design. If you upload vector artwork into the designer, you can even change the colors and edit the artwork inside the designer.
Please be aware that if you are uploading images into our online design tool for your design, vector images are recommended where possible, but raster images are also acceptable. However, print quality of raster images depends on the size of the file you are uploading compared to the size of your product. When submitting your design from the online design tool, please review it carefully before submitting. The preview is your proof. You can also download your design before submitting in order to review it more easily and check for any errors.
Design for Me
When you don’t have print ready artwork, you can either use our design online tool, or have us design it for you. Once we’ve collected information from you about your design, our team will create your design for you. You will receive your online proof within 1 business day of checking out.
Our Design for Me option is meant for sign layouts and less complex designs. It is not intended for creating logos or complex layouts. Therefore we limit this option to 280 characters, up to 2 logo/image placements, the insertion of typical sign symbols/elements, and basic design elements such as background colors, borders, shadowing, etc.
If you need a logo designed, or your layout/design is more involved than our Design for Me option allows, please checkout our Design Services instead. Here we can gather your request and prepare a quote for your design or logo.
Should you choose the Design for Me option, and your request is more complex than allowed, we will inform you of your options before starting your design. Typically these options will be to have us simplify your request to fall within the Design for Me limits, or provide you with a quote for the additional charges your design will require.
Proofing
Within 1 business day of checking out, we will send you an online proof of your design for your review. After you have carefully reviewed your proof, you can approve it or request changes. We include (2) rounds of revisions at no additional charge to you. What this means is, if you aren’t satisfied with the first proof you can request changes. We will send your 2nd proof within 1 business day from you change request. Should you want to make more changes to the design, you will be able to request changes for a second time. Again, we will send your 3rd proof within 1 business day from your change request. After reviewing your 3rd proof, should you want to make additional changes, there will be additional charges. Because of the nature of design, these additional charges will be quoted on a per job basis.
Vector VS. Raster
Vector vs. Raster Artwork File Types
What is vector art?
Vector images are infinitely scalable graphics made up of geometrical paths, lines and shapes.
What is raster art?
Raster images are made up of a fixed number of dots (or pixels) and may not be scaled up (i.e., made larger than the original size) without loss of image quality.
What is the difference between vector art and a raster image?
A raster image (such as a photo) sized to 600x800 pixels is made up of 600 pixels (or small dots) across and 800 pixels from top to bottom. Trying to make this photo larger will only stretch those pixels, not add more, thereby losing the crispness of the original image.
Can I upload raster artwork for my product?
Vector artwork is always preferred where available. If your artwork contains raster images, 150-300 dpi at full size is recommended for best print quality, 72 dpi is the minimum. If you are uploading images into our online design tool, vector images are recommended where possible, but raster images are also acceptable. Be aware that the print quality of raster images depends on the size of the file you are uploading compared to the size of your product. If you are receiving a proof for your order, we will notify you of any low print quality issues if necessary, and you will have an opportunity to adjust your artwork prior to production.
Color
Can you print in RGB?
No. Files submitted to us in RGB will have to be converted to CMYK in order to print.
RGB is an additive process that uses Red, Green, and Blue light to achieve a color. It is considered additive because one must add all three colors together to achieve white. It is used for Monitors, TV's, Phone Screens, etc. Unfortunately, it is not physically possible to print in RGB because mixing Red, Green, and Blue ink (pigment) would actually create a kind of brown color, not white as it does with the light in your computer monitor.
CMYK, on the other hand, is considered a subtractive process because, in order to get white, one must remove all color to allow the white to show through from the substrate material underneath it all.
It's also important to consider that RGB has many more color possibilities than CMYK. Never will colors on your monitor or screen match printed CMYK colors exactly. If color matching is critical, we suggest you use Pantone Solid Coated Colors in your file and order notes. With these colors, we can compare the printed graphics to our Pantone Book Standards here and get as close as possible. Here is a link to the Pantone Color Chart.