Artwork Guidelines

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, DVD, USB thumb drive, or sent via e-mail. Please call for additional information.

Submitted files should be professionally created at full size and saved as vector files (.ai, .eps, .cdr, .pdf, .svg).

Files created in other applications may be acceptable, but may be subject to additional preparation charges.

Any artwork containing live text should have all text elements converted to curves (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; these effects can cause major delays, or even prevent a file from processing at all.

Please include all RGB or CMYK colors with Pantone equivalents, or embedded Pantone colors. Black should be built using 100% CMYK black to provide optimum density.

When submitting Photoshop files, flatten the image OR submit as high resolution .TIF or .JPG file formats with CMYK color embedded. Furnish some form of color proof to match to, created from the submitted file and indicate any Pantone colors used.

Any artwork which extends to the edges of the finished piece will require bleed. Crop or trim marks should indicate the finished size of the piece. Please don’t hesitate to contact ES&A for any additional artwork questions.

Digitally printed 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.

Printed colors tend to appear lighter at night, and more saturated during daylight hours.

PSV (Pressure Sensitive Vinyl) come in stock colors and will be more true when illuminated at night, and tend to appear brighter than printed graphics. Please see your representative for a PSV color book for picking color choices for your sign project.

Image resolution of raster (or bitmap) art should be given careful consideration. The final size, quality, application, and intended viewing distance will determine the required image resolution.

Small images — should be at a higher resolution, set at full scale file format, for close-up viewing.

Larger images — should be at a lower resolution, set at larger full scale file format, for further away distances.

Please contact us if you have questions regarding our image resolution requirements.