Guidelines for submitting artwork

Software Applications:  PC platform (preferred) or MAC

Acceptible Programs:  Flexisign Pro Ver. 8.0 (preferred) Adobe Illustrator Ver. 7.0 (preferred), Corel Draw Ver. X3 (preferred), Adobe Photoshop and/or Creative Suite Ver. CS2.

Acceptable file formats:  Vector based PDF is the preferred file format.  All of the above preferred programs and file formats are the primary choice.  If you are using one of them to create your artwork, you may submit the native file provided that all fonts are converted to curve first.  Please call and confirm version compatability before submitting native files.  If bitmap based artwork (ie: photoshop) is your only option then please submit one of the following formats in order of preferance PDF, TIFF, PSD, JPG - all bitmap artwork MUST be saved at 300 DPI or greater, no less than 1/4 scale and uncompressed.  Please note that a JPG format is by definition a compressed format and is the least desirable.  Please see THIS PAGE for a word about JPG's.

Unacceptable Programs and File Formats:  Word®, Publisher®, Powerpoint®, Excel® or any other Microsoft® program.*  File formats below 300 dpi, DOC, GIF, XLS, PPT and PUB.  FILES CREATED IN ANY MICROSOFT® PROGRAM MUST BE CONVERTED TO PDF FORMAT USING ADOBE ACROBAT® BEFORE SUBMITTING THEM FOR SIGN MAKING.  DO NOT USE ANY INTERNAL CONVERSION FILTERS TO CONVERT FILES TO PDF FORMAT.  IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONVERT THE FILES WE MAY BE ABLE TO CONVERT THEM FOR YOU.  HOWEVER, ARTWORK SETUP FEES WILL APPLY.  PLEASE CALL FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON SUBMITTING FILES IN ANY OF THESE FILE FORMATS.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN ANY ARTWORK INTENDED FOR USE ON WEB PAGES OR SMALL PRINTED ITEMS SUCH AS BUSINESS CARDS, STATIONARY, ETC. BE USED FOR SIGNS BECAUSE OF THE LOW RESOLUTION AND?OR SIZE OF THE ARTWORK.

Bitmaps and Photos:  Any linked or embedded bitmaps or photos must be in either TIFF or EPS format.  TIFF is preferred.  The original or native files must be submitted as well to head off possible file conversion problems.  If you have a scanned graphic or photo, please include the original scanned image in a TIFF format at 300 DPI or better.  Scanned line art must be at 800 dpi or better.

Color photos:  Color photos must be submitted in RGB mode with no embedded color profiles.  Please submit in TIFF or PSD (Photoshop) format only.  If a clipping path is used, the photo must be submitted in EPS format.  Remember all photos must be at 300 dpi or greater.

Fonts:  All fonts in your artwork MUST be converted to curve before submitting it to us.  Or in the case of bitmap art, the image must be flattened.

Proofing:  Please submit a sample of the finished artwork with the files you send.  This can be done as a low res JPG (75-100 dpi) or an actual paper print out.  If the submitted artwork is in color, the sample must be in color.

Transfer standards:  Artwork can be submitted via email, FTP (your site) or using an on-line file transfer service.  If submitting on media please use any of the following in PC format only:  CDR's, DVD's or Flash drives/USB drives etc.  NO FLOPPY DISKS.  Please DO NOT zip multiple files together.  The file must be in the required file format and uncompressed. 

If you have any further questions about submitting your artwork, or if you wish to use our graphics design services, please call us at the phone number below. 

Thank you.

* Microsoft® uses their own proprietary file formatting which is not generally compatible with programs and file formats accepted as standard in the printing and graphics industry.  In order to use artwork created in Publisher® for example, it must first be converted to a PDF document using Adobe® Acrobat®.

                253-804-8272