Artwork Setup Guide
Setting Up Your Artwork Canvas
For customers not familiar with creating artwork for large-format print, we have created this guide to make sure your designs can be processed and printed as quickly and accurately as possible.
Canvas Size
When creating your design canvas, the most important thing to remember is that your artwork should be setup at an equal proportion to the print you are ordering. If your order is for a banner with a 3:1 proportion, your artwork should perfectly match this.
It's often best to use a smaller scale, such as half-scale or quarter-scale as this can reduce filesize. Also, many design applications have a maximum canvas size that do not allow canvases over a certain size.
For instance, a 5m x 1m design could be created like so:
Scale | Artwork Canvas Size | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100% (Full) Scale | 5000mm x 1000mm | ||||
50% (Half) Scale | 2500mm x 500mm | ||||
25% (Quarter) Scale | 1250mm x 250mm | ||||
10% Scale | 500mm x 100mm |
To calculate the canvas width and height you'll need for a smaller scale, simply take your full-size measurement (eg. 5000mm) and multiply it by your desired scale. We've included these below:
Scale | Fraction | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
50% (Half) Scale | 0.5 | ||||
25% (Quarter) Scale | 0.25 | ||||
10% Scale | 0.1 |
So, for a quarter-scale design:
5000 x 0.25 = 1250
Bleed
All artworks should be supplied with at least 5mm bleed (when scaled to full-size). This ensures your printed design can be hemmed or trimmed with no white edges showing.
Colour Mode
All artworks should be created in CMYK colour mode. Artworks sent to us in RGB mode will be converted to CMYK by our pre-press system, and will nearly always render unsatisfactory results.
For Roller Banners
The easiest way to create your Roller Banner artwork is to use our pre-made templates, which are available for you to download. These are setup at the correct proportion, and also include guides to ensure your design fits perfectly in the unit.
However, if you need to create your Roller Banner canvas yourself, please make sure to get the width and height correct as these come in a variety of sizes.
Roller Banners also require an additional section at the bottom of your graphic, which will be rolled into and hidden within the unit mechanism. This area is very important and can vary in size, depending on the model of unit you will be using. For our units, the height of this area is 150mm, so typically the height of the graphic will be 2150mm. This 150mm section should be kept free from any important content (text, logos) and only used for background images and colours.
Notes
Pantone Colours
If you wish to use any Pantone colours, these must be included asembedded colours in your artwork and we request that you inform us which
colours you have used.
Overprint
Please beware of setting any text or objects to overprint. As we do not proof-check artworks before printing, overprinted objects can cause serious issues and may only be noticed by you when you receive the finished item.
Rich Black
To achieve the richest, deepest black possible in your design, we recommend using Pantone Process Black Coated. If you are unable to use Pantone colours, we recommend using CMYK values of 50%C, 50%M, 50%Y, 100%K. If 100%K alone is used, the richness of the black may not be satisfactory.
Outlining Text
While artworks saved as PDF will often not cause any font issues, we request that you outline any text before sending your file(s) to us. This is usually necessary when using fonts with restrictive embedding licenses or if your design software does not natively export to PDF.
Saving & Exporting Your Artwork
File Formats
We strongly prefer artworks to be supplied in PDF format, though we also accept EPS, AI, TIFF and JPG/JPEG.
Bleed & Crop Marks
When exporting your print-ready file, make sure you include your previously added bleed as well as crop marks. These will ensure the cut position of your design is correct.
Design Separation
Each design should be either a separate file (preferred), or a separate page within a PDF.
File Naming
Each design/file should be named to include the width and height of the design, as well as a brief description, such as:
3m x 1m - Ice Cream Shop.pdf
If you have an order that contains multiple designs at the same size, please also include the quantity required of each design in the filename:
3m x 1m - Coffe Shop x 5.pdf
3m x 1m - Hair Salon x 2.pdf
Check It
One you have exported your print-ready file, we strongly advise opening and checking it yourself before sending it to us. We do not provide proofs, so any hidden issues in the supplied artwork will likely not be picked up by us.
By checking the file, you'll be able to quickly recognise any errors and rectify them before uploading the file to us. Please note, if we receive artwork containing any issues or problems, this can delay your dispatch date.
Uploading Artwork
Once you have placed your order online with us, you will be prompted to upload your files through our upload service, WeTransfer. However, if you experience any problems with WeTransfer, please try uploading your files with MailBigFile.
Have Some Questions?
If you'd like to contact us regarding your artwork, please email our studio or call us on 01172 448300 and ask to speak with a member of our studio team.