Artwork requirements
Where possible use Adobe Illustrator to create the artwork but, due to the print systems we have in place, please do not save as anything newer than cs5. There are two methods described below please use the one you are most comfortable using.

Adobe Illustrator:

• Create a single artboard that is the same width as all the panels in your job combined (you may need scale by 50% or 25% depending on the number of panels) by the height of one individual panel.

• Create guides to show the individual panels

• Create separate files for items such as table attachments and freestanding table

• Save the file as a high resolution .PD

• Select the illustrator default setting in preset

• Check that in the compression tab all 3 options are set to ‘do not down sample’

• Create separate files for items such as table attachments and freestanding tables.

Please note .PDF proofs are not accepted unless fonts are outlined.

 

Indesign:
We advise that you do not use Indesign to create artwork for large format displays however, if you are to use this software please DO NOT create multiple pages. These are not compatible with our 'rip and cut' software.

• Create a new document with only 1 page that is the same width as all the panels in your job combined (you may need scale by 50% or 25% depending on the number of panels) by the height of one individual panel.

• Create guides to show the individual panels.

• Export the file as a .PD

• Check that in the compression tab all 3 options are set to ‘do not down sample’

• Create separate files for items such as table attachments and freestanding tables.

 

Photoshop:
Adobe Photoshop is an image editing application rather than a layout package. Therefore, where possible, we encourage customers to avoid creating artwork entirely in Photoshop, instead use the software to create elements that are then imported into Illustrator/Indesign.

 

Other file formats:

• If you are using any other software not listed above please call us so that we can advise on the best method to create the artwork.

• All fonts must be outlined prior to output to reduce errors

• Embedded all images or ideally, include them in a zip folder

• Ensure That Overprint is not enabled on anything you wish to be visible

• Try to avoid mixing vector and raster colours. For example, if you create a logo with a coloured background in Photoshop do not add this logo into Illustrator and set the Illustrator background with the same colour values, some printers treat the two formats differently which gives two slightly different background colours. Instead create the Photoshop elements with a transparent background or create the entire stand background in Photoshop, import this into Illustrator and add other elements such as text from there in Illustrator.

 

Special features:

• Cut-outs in graphics should be shown as a 100% magenta spot colour with the name CutContour

• Spot white ink (for clear media) should be a 100% Cyan spot colour with the name Spot1. Anything created with this spot colour should have overprint fill / stroke enabled.

 

Fonts:
All fonts must be outlined prior to output to reduce errors. Please do not use Photoshop to layout text.

 

Blacks:
In order to achieve full saturation please set all black elements to 20c 20m 20y 100k.

 

Gradients:
Treat graduations as images and create them in Adobe Photoshop (add gaussian blur for better quality). Graduations in Illustrator across large pop-up stands will create visible banding.

 

Printing process:

• Please make us aware of any critical colours on the artwork with specific Pantone references for these colours, unless we are aware of these before production, we cannot check or amend the artwork.

• Due to the printing and finishing process it is not possible to match the colour and surface finish of other literature such as brochures and flyers.

• You should supply a flattened low resolution proof of your artwork in a format such as a .JPG image (not a .PDF) this allows us to check the artwork has opened correctly on our system

• Once artwork is received by us, we treat this as ready to print artwork and will put it into production as soon as we have space in our production schedule unless a printed or .PDF proof has been requested. It is therefore essential that you have checked over your artwork for errors before sending and notify us if you require a proof.

 

File formats:

• Our standard file format is Adobe Illustrator .AI or .PDF

• Any files sent in a format will be converted by us, which can cause errors.

• Any additional correction work created will incur additional charges and may affect our ability to meet deadline

• All artwork must be accompanied by a printed proof to allow us to reference check against the supplied artwor

• Digital proofs can be accepte

• It is your responsibility to ensure artwork is supplied in CMYK format with all Pantone swatches converted to CMYK prior to sending.

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Additional information:
Multi-panel artwork should be supplied as one complete image and not multiple images. Do not include any bleed areas.
 

Where possible try to avoid text on panel joins.

 

All images should be a minimum of 75dpi at full size. Therefore artwork should be set at 1/4 scale and a minimum of 300dpi. The higher resolution the better the print quality.

 

All linked and embedded images.

All fonts (in Mac, Adobe or Postscript format).

 

By submitting artwork to use we assume files have been proof read and approved prior to submission. Therefore we will send the files directly to print after going through only a basic check against the proof supplied.

 

If we find errors within the artwork we will give you the option of re-submitting artwork or authorising ourselves to carry out alterations at a cost of £50.00 + VAT per hour. If new artwork is supplied our standard turnaround time will apply from receipt of the revised artwork. If we redesign your artwork we will submit a proof for approval and our standard turnaround time will apply once we receive approval of the artwork.

 

Please note that whilst we try to prevent incorrect artwork from being printed, we are not responsible for any errors within the artwork you supply.

 

Large format printed graphics are printed using an 8 colour process similar to that used in 4 colour processes, therefore it is difficult to exactly match litho or spot colour items.