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ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS AND GENERAL INFORMATION
Click here for a handy guide to the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM Please
be aware that colours may appear different on your monitor.
We want to ensure your message or identity is crisp, clean, and consistent. The
quality of a high resolution file can be reduced but a low resolution file
cannot be increased.
Image Programs In Order of Preference
Adobe Illustrator? - (Preferably saved as vector art)
Adobe Photoshop? - (.eps format)
Be sure to read Specific program instructions below for instructions for each artwork program.
We can not accept .jpg, .gif, .doc word files, or any other low resolution
format.
Fonts
If you are using a special font, please include the font when sending your artwork
File Sizes
All Files must be a minimum of 600 DPI (Dots Per Inch) If the image you plan to send
is on a webpage, there is a 98% chance that it is too small for use in printing.
If your artwork is unacceptable. We will clean it up, redraw it, touch it up, and get your approval prior to printing.
We charge $60.00 per hour for this service.
For Your Information
Promotional Product manufacturers have their own unique terms. Since you
may not already be an expert, we are here to make sure your order gets completed
without a problem, but in case you wanted to know the lingo, here are some of
the most frequently used terms that apply to promotional products.
Screen Printing /
Silk-Screening
An image is transferred to the printed surface by ink, which is pressed
through a stenciled screen and treated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Film
positives are put in contact with the screens and exposed to light, hardening
the emulsion not covered by film and leaving a soft area on the screen for the
squeegee to press ink through. Also, you must create a different screen for
every colour you print, and then screen each colour separately allowing drying
time in-between.
Embroidery
Stitching a design into fabric through the use of high-speed,
computer-controlled sewing machines. Artwork must first be "digitized," which is
the specialized process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or
thread. The digitizer must actually recreate the artwork using stitches in order
to make the embroidery tape that?s used to sew the design.
Deboss
Achieved by depressing an image into a material?s surface so that the
image sits below the product surface.
Emboss
We Impress an image in relief to achieve a raised
surface
Hot Stamp
Setting a design on a metal relief die or plate, which is then heated and
pressed onto the printing surface to achieve a deboss.
Etching
Using a process in which an image is first covered with a protective
coating that resists acid, then exposed, leaving bare metal and protected metal.
The acid attacks only the exposed metal, leaving the image etched onto the
surface.
Laser or Foil Stamp
Applying metallic or coloured foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper
surfaces. Usually with a deboss.
Die-casting
Injecting molten metal into the cavity of a carved die (or a
mold)
Die-striking
Producing emblems and other flat promotional products by striking a blank
metal sheet with a hammer that holds the
die.
Colourfill
Screen printing an image and then debossing it onto the vinyl?s surface,
or filling a cavity with colour.
Pad Printing
A recessed surface is covered with ink. The plate is wiped clean, leaving
ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then pressed against the plate,
pulling the ink out of the recesses, and pressing it directly onto the
product.
4-colour Process
A system where a colour image is separated into 4 different colour values
by the use of filters and screens (usually done digitally). The result is a
colour separation of 4 images, that when transferred to printing plates and
printed on a printing press with the coloured inks cyan (blue), magenta (red),
yellow and black, reproduces the original color image. These four colors can be
combined to create thousands of colors just as your computer printer
does.
Laser (Engraving)
Art or lettering is cut into a material by a laser beam that vaporizes
the portion exposed through openings in a template. Used mostly with metal or
wood.
Sublimation
Dye transfer process where the image consists of a coloured dye
permanently embedded into the material surface of pores. Used to imprint
messages, graphics and photographs on a variety of items, primarily mouse pads,
mugs, T-shirts, caps, and trophy medals.
Decal
Artwork is produced on a transparent decal, then applied to
product.
Offset Printing
A process of transferring ink from a metal printing plate to a
rubber-covered cylinder. Used on more complex artwork and for higher quantity
runs.
Pantone Matching System (PMS)
A book of standardized colour usually in a fan format used to identify,
match and communicate colors in order to produce accurate colour matches in
printing. Each colour has a coded number indicating instructions for mixing inks
to achieve that colour.
Personalization
Imprinting an item with a person's name using one of several methods such
as mechanical engraving, laser engraving, hot stamping, debossing, sublimation,
or screen printing, just to name a few.
Set-up Charge Screen Fee Plate
Charge
Usually the cost of making the plate or screen, or embroidery tape.
Usually a one time charge, but not always.
Exact Rerun
Usually there is no setup charge on exact reruns of an order.
PMS Colour Match
Some factories will charge to match a colour exactly.
Paper Proof
A proof of your job on paper usually showing the product to be printed
and a depiction of the imprint. This will usually be supplied without charge to
check for accuracy.
Pre-production Proof
An actual physical sample of the product itself produced and sent for
approval before an order goes into production. We will try to supply an actual
proof where possible and required. This may involve additional costs, due to
extra set-up and transportation costs.
Production Time
The amount of time needed to produce and ship an order, once an order and
artwork have been received, and approved. Our normal delivery time is under 4
weeks, but we can usually deliver within days if required.
Overruns/Underruns
Many print processes result in over and under runs compared to actual
order quantities. In order to avoid embarrassment, we will usually produce extra
in case of damages during production. We reserve the right to ship and bill for
quantities 5-10% over order quantities. Due to production constraints certain
products such as plastic bags may be subject to overs or unders of as much as
20%. We will attempt to ship exact quantities wherever feasible.
Copy Change
Charge to change copy during a production run. Allows combined quantity
prices for different imprints (usually same colour) of the same
item.
Halftone
An image produced by breaking the subject into small dots of varying
intensities of grey ranging from white to black.
Bleeds
Refers to the ability to print right to the edge of the paper. In order
to print to the edge of paper products, usually the printer must use larger
sheets; and then cut them back. Artwork needs to incorporate bleeds.
Mechanical Artwork
The traditional standard for acceptable mechanical artwork that is
"camera-ready black and white" material. For the most part replaced by digital
art files
Vector files
Sometimes called a geometric file and created with tools such as Adobe
Illustrator in the form of vector
image files. Vector image files are easier to modify than raster image files.
Bitmap files
A collection of bits that form an image. The image consists of a matrix
of individual dots (or pixels) that all have their own color (described using
bits, the smallest possible units of information for a computer). Unless these
are in very large sized resolution (600 DPI or better), they are not suitable
for printing.
(PDF) files
Adobe? Portable Document Format preserve the visually rich content of
original files, and are easier to read than HTML content that appears in a Web
browser. Adobe PDF files print cleanly and quickly, and anyone can share Adobe
PDF files, regardless of their platform or software application. This is good to
show the end result you would like, but usually not good for sending artwork
that needs to be printed.
TIFF - Not usable
Tagged Image File Format file: A file format for exchanging bitmapped
images between different applications. This format will not work to use in the
printing process
EPS - Accepted
Encapsulated Postscript file: An alternative picture file format that
allows PostScript data to be stored and edited and is easy to transfer between
Macintosh, Windows machines, and other
systems.
AI - Accepted
Adobe Illustrator File, the very best in quality to recreate your artwork
in the printing process.
JPG - Not usable
Commonly used on the web due to it's excellent ability to compress the
graphic to save webpage load time. Not suitable for use in the printing
process.
GIF - Not usable
Commonly used on the web due to it's ability to reduce the number of
colors an image uses to be viewed to save webpage load time. Not suitable for
use in the printing process.
BMP - Not usable
A low resolution Image format. Not suitable for use in the printing
process.
Doc - Usually Not Usable
Word doc files can only be used if you would like to display typeset
text. Not suitable for use in the printing
process.
Web Pages- Not Usable
As a general rule, if it can be viewed on the web it will not be suitable
for printing.
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