Guidelines
Avoid Delays
Production delays can occur when art is provided in the wrong format. Please contact us if you have any questions about your digital files or our requirements.
Digital Files - Compression Suggested
CAUTION: Sometimes files get garbled or corrupted over the internet. Using file compression usually helps eliminate the problem. Compressed files upload & send faster with less chance of transfer interruptions and problems. We suggest compressing files before uploading or sending via e-mail attachment using:
Providing Artwork
We would appreciate a faxed copy of the art so we have something to compare your transmission to. Whether your art is PC or Mac format, separately e-mailing as an attachment or uploading on this site is probably the best way to send it to us. Send to our art department at: Art department.
Image Resolution
In graphic draw programs, resolution does not apply since vector graphics are not dependent on number of dots per inch. Resolution should be 300 dpi if color and 1200 dpi if Black/White when sending a tif graphic. Normally 600 dpi is preferred.
Colors
When assigning color to art or text, please use a Pantone color, also called a spot color. If you know your job will be prepared using a 4-Color Process method, artwork should be in CMYK (not RGB). All one color art can be created in black if you advise imprint color at time of order. You should avoid selecting a "computer color" as the color you see on your monitor will not be the same color on your imprinted products.
Unuseable Artwork - Non Graphic Creation Programs
Artwork created or placed in the following programs will not be useable without our graphic department modifying or recreating it. There will be an additional charge for this service.
- Adobe PDF
- Excel
- Page Maker
- Power Point
- Quark Xpress
- Any Word Processing program (i.e. Microsoft Word)
Requirements
Accepted Software Programs
Illustrator
Thur 9.0
PC |
Used for creating logos and graphics as vector images. All type (fonts, text) must be converted to outlines. HINT: Work with a copy of your file. Save your original. Select text, go to Type in menu bar, down to Create Outlines and you're done!
Save file as an Illustrator, AI or EPS format. |
Corel Draw
Thru x3
PC
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Used for creating logos and graphics as vector images. All type (fonts, text) must be converted to curves. Save file in the AI format. |
Photoshop
Thru 7.0
PC |
Used primarily for modifying/retouching photos, grayscale, halftones or process work. Most work begins with a scanned or placed (from another program) image and all files created through photoshop are raster (bitmap) images that can't be sized. See Vector and Raster description and graphic examples above. Quality is not acceptable for most decorating processes .
High Rez file B/W @1200 dpi, TIFF or EPS
High Rez file CMYK @300 dpi, TIFF or EPS
Spot or PMS COLORS can't be separated. Photoshop is only acceptable for one color or 4-color process. |
Digital Artwork
Digital artwork is preferably created in a graphics draw program and ready to use with no changes required. It is artwork that is provided to us at high resolution, at least 100% size and ready for color separation if more than one color is to be printed.
Logos must be provided in the proper format as we are not authorized to recreate a registered or trademarked logo. Our graphics department can prepare artwork from scratch in the proper format. We can provide our conceptual ideas or work from your sketch or idea. Cost of this service is $60.00 per hour and quoted prior to work beginning.
Graphics taken from a Web Site are not Acceptable in any format.
Other Submission Formats
- Removable Media
- PC: 3.5" Disk, CD , DVD, or Email.
You can also print out your artwork (color separated if needed) with at least 600 dpi and send the hard copy to us via UPS or mail. Please Contact Us for instructions.
Font Information
Although we have a large font database it is impossible to have all available fonts. Please convert all text to outlines, curves or paths. WARNING: Once fonts have been converted, you can no longer edit the text as it now becomes a graphic-no going back! HINT: Save your original file, create a copy, convert the text and send to us.
We reserve the right to refuse to use artwork that will not meet our imprint quality standards when printed on your selected products. Additional cost may be incurred if our designers need to adjust your art. You will be notified prior to this being done.
We cannot always simplify something that is not simple. Artwork requirements can be frustrating and confusing so give us a call and let us walk you through it or we can talk directly to your graphic designer. It is always easier to create it in the right program from the start as there is not an easy way to convert it later.
Common errors to avoid.
Not converting fonts to outlines, curves or paths
This is mandatory for us to use your artwork without you incurring additional art charges. If this is not done, you would have to send us all of the entire fonts (screen and printer files) that were used in creating your artwork.
Renaming a DOC, TIF, BMP, PIC, or PPT file with a .EPS extension
This does not make the original file into an acceptable eps format. The artwork must have been created and saved correctly in the original graphics program.
Sending art as an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) file
These are read only files that look good on your monitor but can't be used for our imprinting processes. Instead, change files to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) if your imprint will be a four-color process. Please contact us before sending these files as your product would have to be produced using a four-color process to avoid art charges. Products imprinted using four-color process are very limited.
It is preferably to change all graphics themselves to defined PMS (spot) colors.
Sending PDF (Portable Document Format) files
These are for viewing only (proof) and can't be edited or used in our decoration processes.
File submitted was not a copy of the original created in a graphics program
The most common graphic creation programs used in the industry are Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDraw. Logos or graphics created in one of these and placed into a non-graphics program such as Photoshop become unuseable for almost all processes. We need the original Vector created artwork to ensure the quality you will expect.
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