Artwork/File Requirements

ACCEPTABLE DISK FORMATS:

All files should be PC compatible.

  1. CD (R/RW) – preferred option
  2. DVD (R/RW)
  3. USB Flash Drives
    For E-Mail files please ensure compression software is used where possible e.g. Winzip, so the file(s) is no larger than 5mb. If larger file(s) please call us before e-mailing.

FONTS AND TEXT:
 
Please convert all text (fonts) to curves or paths and strokes to outlines. If unable to convert text to curves or paths please provide all fonts (.ttf) used on the same disk or with the emailed file.

PRINTED HARDCOPY ARTWORK:

All electronic artwork should have a printed colour copy supplied or provide us with PMS colours to assist with colour matching.

Artwork provided in a printed hardcopy form should be a clean, black and white, laser printed copy (ideally a bromide) printed on non-textured bright white paper at 1000 DPI (Best), 600 DPI (Good) or 300 DPI (Ok). The image should be as large as possible within an A4 area. For multicolour artwork send colour separations with alignments. Printed artwork that doesn’t meet these requirements, e.g photocopies, business cards, faxes, letterheads and inkjet print outs may require additional work and artwork charges to reproduce for your signage.

VECTOR ARTWORK:

Vector artwork uses mathematical relationships between points and the paths connecting them to describe an image. Vector artwork is composed of paths.

We can accept vector artwork in the following formats:

  1. Adobe Illustrator (EPS) files should be written in the PostscriptTM level 2 language.
  2. Adobe Illustrator (AI) files should be written in the PostscriptTM level 2 language.
  3. Adobe PDF (All text converted to paths or curves)
    CorelDraw (CDR)
  4. Freehand (EPS) files should be written in the PostscriptTM level 2 language. (Encapsulated PostScript.)
  5. FlexiSign (FS)
  6. AutoCAD (DXF)

Please do not supply Word, Publisher, PageMaker, QuarkXpress and PowerPoint files or send vector images that are embedded within another file.

Note: If you are sending vector and bitmap (raster) artwork in the same file, send as eps file only. Include a hard copy showing what the combined artwork should look like.

RASTER (BITMAP) ARTWORK:

A bitmap image uses a grid of individual pixels where each pixel can be a different colour or shade. Bitmap artwork is digitally printed.
Please ensure you supply a printed colour copy, or supply PMS or colour swatches for colour matching. Please request a colour proof* if colour matching is critical, as not all colours can be reproduced digitally.

*Supplied colour proofs may incur additional charges.

  1. We can accept raster artwork in the following formats:
  2. Tag Image File Format (TIF or TIFF) without LZW compression.
  3. Adobe Photoshop (PSD) exported as a TIF or TIFF without LZW compression.
  4. Corel PhotoPaint (CPT)
  5. Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG)
  6. Windows Bitmap (BMP)
  7. Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) can be used if no modifications are needed and it is to be digitally printed

Please do not supply Word, Publisher, PageMaker, QuarkXpress and PowerPoint files.

In some cases, for colour correction, the file may be required in the format from which it was originally created in. e.g. PhotoShop, Illustrator.

Note: If you are sending vector and bitmap (raster) artwork in the same file, send as an EPS file, or separate the two into AI (vector) and TIFF (raster).
Put boxes in the vector file showing where the bitmap artwork is to be placed. Include a hard copy showing what the combined artwork should look like. Please do not send raster images that are embedded within another file.

FILE SIZES FOR DIGITAL OUTPUT:

Please ensure your files are of sufficient resolution for the required output size.

All images should be created and saved in RGB mode, 25% scaling at 300ppi minimum, or 100% scaling at 150ppi minimum, in .EPS or .TIFF format.

Examples:    For a 2m x 1 m banner – approx. 35-50 megabytes required.
For a 6m x 3m billboard at – least 100 megabytes required.
For a truck side – over 100 megabytes required.

Images that do not meet the minimum requirements may require additional work and artwork charges to reproduce for your signage.

SCANNING:

Brave Design Ltd can offer scanning services from photographs etc. These are scanned up to 2400dpi. The bigger the original, the better the result.

Our maximum in store scanning size is A4. Anything over this size will need to be digitally photographed or scanned by another service provider.