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Home About Us Products » Signs » Large Format » Carved Signs » Banners » Printing
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File Submission
● .jpg ● .ai ● .eps ● .tif There is a setup charge for Word documents. Publisher or PowerPoint documents must be converted to .pdf prior to submission. We do support other file formats, contact us for information. INFORMATION ABOUT DIGITAL FILES SUBMITTED FOR PRODUCTION ● Please convert all text to outlines before submitting art for production. ● There are two general types of digital files: Vector files and Bitmap files. Vector File: A vector file means that the images it contains are defined by lines around the perimeter of each letter or object, analogous to a cookie cutter. Vector files are 'infinitely scalable', that is, they can be enlarged to any size with no loss of resolution. Vector files are usually .ai, .eps or . pdf. Uses ● Traditional graphics: Vector art is the ideal file format for creating files for traditional graphics. The process used to create traditional graphics requires that every image be outlined so that the vinyl cutter can cut the various pieces. With a vector art file, this is extremely easy to do. ● Digital graphics: Vector images also work great for digital graphics as long as the desired result is not a photo-realistic image. Color Issues ● The colors in a vector file can be changed or adjusted relatively easily. Either the entire image or just a portion of the image can be manipulated. Advantages ● Images can be enlarged to any size without sacrificing quality. Because the art is resolution independent, meaning that there are no dots being used to create the image, there is nothing to limit its enlargement capabilities. Images can be reproduced at any size while maintaining crisp outlines and details. This makes them the ideal choice for type and other bold graphics, such as logos, which require clean lines that can be scaled to any size. Disadvantages ● The biggest drawback to consider when working with vector graphics is that creating a complicated or photo-realistic image is very difficult and time consuming to do. Bitmap File: A bitmap image consists of many tiny 'bits' of color arranged to make an image as with the pixels of a digital photograph. The greater the 'dots per inch' (dpi), the better the image. The optimal resolution of finished work is 300 dpi for posters and trade show materials. This means that files submitted for production must have sufficient dpi that they will still be at least 300 dpi at full size for optimum image quality. Bitmap formats include .jpg, .pdf, and .tif Uses ● Digital graphics: Bitmap images are great for digital printing. They have the ability to produce both very detailed and photo-realistic or very simple images. ● Traditional graphics: Bitmap images can only be used for traditional graphic production if they are converted into a vector art file. To do this, the file is sent through a program that attempts to trace the lines it sees in the bitmap file. This will only work with simple images and still often requires clean-up, especially when type is present. Color Issues ● CMYK or RGB files are acceptable. The Graphics Department will make sure and convert the images into the correct color space for the specific output devices. Keep in mind that using one of the generic color spaces provided on all PC and MAC computers will ensure accurate color conversion . The recommended color spaces are RGB S, color match RGB.ICC or PhotoShop 5 CMYK defaults. ● Adjusting the color of a bitmap image can be very difficult to do. In most cases, the color of one object can not be adjusted without shifting the color of the entire image without extensive work to isolated areas and feathered selections. Advantages ● Accurate photo color management in PhotoShop. ● It is possible to create photo-realistic images with bitmap files. ● Preexisting artwork can be scanned (photos, slides, original artwork) to create a bitmap image. These can be produced either by themselves or combined to create a collage depending on the desired result. Reliability—what you see at 100% is what you get. Disadvantages ● Manipulating a bitmap image can be very difficult to do. Although there are potentially thousands of individual pixels in each inch of the graphic, they all combine to form one single image. Isolating an individual pixel from all of the others is virtually impossible to do. This makes changing the layout, or removing from or adding to the image, a very time consuming and potentially difficult task. The more detailed and intricate an image is, the harder it is to do any kind of manipulation. Any changes that are made may be obvious if they are not done correctly. ● The file sizes of bitmap images can be very large, especially for mural panels and other large graphics. Information must be stored for every pixel in the image, which means that the larger the image is, the more information will be required from the scanner and the larger the file size will be. ● Image enlargement is limited by the original size at which the file was created. If a file is produced at a size that is larger than its resolution will allow, the quality will decrease. Printing a low-resolution file will result in pixilation—large pixels that produce very coarse-looking output. As mentioned earlier, the eye eventually loses its ability to see the individual pixels if the resolution is high enough. Conversely, when a small bitmap image is enlarged, the pixels become more apparent to the eye. These low resolution images look "choppy" or "built from blocks." Although vector and bitmap images are very different and have distinct advantages and disadvantages, neither format is better than the other. Which format you decide to use to create your graphics largely depends on the final result you are looking for. Many times you will use a combination of both file types. |
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