We’re good, but a final product is only as good as the quality of the source artwork. To ensure accuracy and avoid delays when reproducing your artwork, we ask that you follow our guidelines.
We strive to produce the highest quality large-format printing in the industry. Large-format digital output has its unique requirements to achieve optimum results. We have many years of experience in digital imaging and provide this information to help you get the best results without incurring additional costs or unnecessary delays. Careful adherence to these guidelines will ensure complete success.
Feel free to pass this information along to your design firm, advertising agency, or architect or have them visit our website. And don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance…we’re here to help!
- PC based files
- AI or EPS file format
- No JPG, TIFF or Bitmaps.
- Convert all text to paths or curves.
- Artwork must be in “Vectorized” or “Line” form.
We strive to produce the highest quality large-format printing in the industry. Large-format digital output has its unique requirements to achieve optimum results. ES&A Sign and Awning Co. has many years of experience in digital imaging. We have provided this information to help you get the highest quality results without incurring additional costs or unnecessary delays. Careful adherence to these guidelines will ensure complete success.
Please submit art on CD ROM or DVD discs. Files may be sent electronically via e-mail (if under 5MB) or via our FTP site. Please call for additional information when utilizing our FTP server.
Submitted files should be professionally created at full size in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia FreeHand and saved as native files (.psd, .ai, or .fh_ extensions, respectively). In many instances, PDF documents may be submitted, if prepared properly.
Please call for additional PDF workflow information. Files created in other applications may be acceptable, but may be subject to additional preparation charges.
Artwork which exceeds the pasteboard dimensions in Illustrator or FreeHand may be scaled down, but please indicate the scale (50%, 25%, 10%, 1″= 1′, etc.).
Any document containing text should have all text elements converted to outlines, or paths; doing so will avoid font conflicts—a major source of delay for many jobs. Remember to save a copy for yourself without converted text just in case last-minute edits are necessary. Avoid complex blends and paths, and any transparency effects in Illustrator or FreeHand; these effects can cause major delays, or even prevent a file from processing at all.
Spot or Pantone colors should be converted to process-color equivalents. Black should be built using 100% black, 60% cyan, 50% magenta and 50% yellow to provide optimum density.
Imported art elements should be linked, not embedded. Remember to update links and supply them along with the file to be output. When submitting Photoshop files, flatten the image and delete any extra alpha channels, if necessary. Furnish some form of color proof to match to, created from the submitted file and indicate any Pantone colors used.
Supply all full-color files in CMYK color space. Any artwork or imagery which extends to the edges of the finished piece will require bleed. Contact ES&A to determine how much bleed will be necessary for your project. Crop or trim marks should indicate the finished size of the piece.
Graphics for backlit applications will change color when they are illuminated. Please instruct us as to which lighting choice you wish to have the color matched.
Daytime non-illuminated (color will be lighter at night).
Nighttime backlit (color will be darker during daylight).
Image resolution of raster art should be given careful consideration. The final size, quantity, application and intended viewing distance determine the required image resolution and which printer will be used to produce the finished item.
Small images — 18″ x 18″ or smaller: 200 pixels per inch minimum resolution.
Medium images — 48″ x 48″ or smaller: 100 pixels per inch minimum resolution.
Large images — exceeding 48″ x 48″: 50 pixels per inch minimum resolution not to exceed 100 pixels per inch maximum resolution.
Grand format images — exceeding 16′-0″: 25 Pixels per inch. When creating files for output, keep in mind that Photoshop has a 30,000 pixel limit in any one direction (horizontal or vertical).
Please contact us if you have questions regarding our image resolution requirements.