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Preparing Artwork for Vinyl Plotter Output - Help !
To output vinyl lettering, your design needs to be vectorized. Most digital images are made up of pixels, but vector images are made of smooth contour lines. To ensure that your artwork is usable, please refer to the FAQ below and follow the prescribed steps...
I created my design in Illustrator, can I send it as an .AI file?
Please follow these last few steps:
Select> All
Type> Create Outlines
Save As a .PDF, and send it to: [email protected]
I created my design in InDesign, can I send it as an .EPS file?
Try saving your file as a .PDF and send that instead. If this is not possible then yes, an .EPS file will work.
I created my design in Adobe Photoshop, can you use that?
Do not flatten any layers you may have created. Save the file as a .PSD (Photoshop Document) and send it to [email protected]
Important: If you have used a rare or special typeface in your design, please send the font file as well. Fonts are typically found on a Mac in the System>Fonts folder and on Windows in the Windows Fonts folders. Fonts will have the file extension .ttf or .otf.
I have a .jpeg/.gif/.tif or other pixel-based image of my design, how can I vectorize it?
Good question! You can try to open it up in Adobe Illustrator and use the Live Trace function. This tool is tricky and has mixed results often. Try to trace the highest possible resolution image of your design. If Live Trace doesn't work, you can trace the image by hand using Illustrator's drawing tools.
Or:
Send us the highest resolution image you have and we will see what we can do. Please note that we do charge a one- time fee for vectorizing artwork. We will provide you with the vector files so that you can use them again without repeating this tedious process.
I have a .jpeg/.gif/.tif or other pixel-based image of my design, and I'm not much for computers. Can you use it?
Send us the highest resolution image you have and we will see what we can do. Please note that we do charge a one-time fee for vectorizing artwork.
I have a printed, hardcopy of my design, what do I do?
Scan your artwork at a high resolution. Import it into Illustrator and give the Live Trace function a whirl. With high resolution images it is a fairly reliable tool. You can also just send us the scan file and we will vectorize it for a one-time fee.
Or, simply deliver the design to us and we will scan, trace and vectorize your artwork for a very reasonable rate.
I have a sketch of my design, what do I do?
Same as above.
All I have is a MS Word file! Can you use that?
Probably. Send it over, indicate which fonts were used and in the case of specialized fonts, send the font file as well.
I have no design whatsoever!
We would be happy to layout a design for you, or even prepare original artwork. Fill out a Quote Request Form or an email describing what you have in mind. Tell us the text, desired dimensions, if there is a typeface or colour you have in mind, let us know. We have decades of graphic design experience and can take it from there.
Also, there is....
Sign Design Help !
You know you need a sign, but what kind? The Sign Chef's Guide should help determine your needs; what size, style, the message you want to send, and how.
Typography Help !
Figure out a Font:
http://www.flippingtypical.com
Find a Font:
http://www.identifont.com/
Free Font Frenzy:
http://www.dafont.com
City Signage Permits - Help !
Do you need one? Read the bylaw here. In most cases a permit is required, and we can help with that too.
Installing/Applying Vinyl - Help !
Preparing Artwork for Vinyl Plotter Output - Help !
To output vinyl lettering, your design needs to be vectorized. Most digital images are made up of pixels, but vector images are made of smooth contour lines. To ensure that your artwork is usable, please refer to the FAQ below and follow the prescribed steps...
I created my design in Illustrator, can I send it as an .AI file?
Please follow these last few steps:
Select> All
Type> Create Outlines
Save As a .PDF, and send it to: [email protected]
I created my design in InDesign, can I send it as an .EPS file?
Try saving your file as a .PDF and send that instead. If this is not possible then yes, an .EPS file will work.
I created my design in Adobe Photoshop, can you use that?
Do not flatten any layers you may have created. Save the file as a .PSD (Photoshop Document) and send it to [email protected]
Important: If you have used a rare or special typeface in your design, please send the font file as well. Fonts are typically found on a Mac in the System>Fonts folder and on Windows in the Windows Fonts folders. Fonts will have the file extension .ttf or .otf.
I have a .jpeg/.gif/.tif or other pixel-based image of my design, how can I vectorize it?
Good question! You can try to open it up in Adobe Illustrator and use the Live Trace function. This tool is tricky and has mixed results often. Try to trace the highest possible resolution image of your design. If Live Trace doesn't work, you can trace the image by hand using Illustrator's drawing tools.
Or:
Send us the highest resolution image you have and we will see what we can do. Please note that we do charge a one- time fee for vectorizing artwork. We will provide you with the vector files so that you can use them again without repeating this tedious process.
I have a .jpeg/.gif/.tif or other pixel-based image of my design, and I'm not much for computers. Can you use it?
Send us the highest resolution image you have and we will see what we can do. Please note that we do charge a one-time fee for vectorizing artwork.
I have a printed, hardcopy of my design, what do I do?
Scan your artwork at a high resolution. Import it into Illustrator and give the Live Trace function a whirl. With high resolution images it is a fairly reliable tool. You can also just send us the scan file and we will vectorize it for a one-time fee.
Or, simply deliver the design to us and we will scan, trace and vectorize your artwork for a very reasonable rate.
I have a sketch of my design, what do I do?
Same as above.
All I have is a MS Word file! Can you use that?
Probably. Send it over, indicate which fonts were used and in the case of specialized fonts, send the font file as well.
I have no design whatsoever!
We would be happy to layout a design for you, or even prepare original artwork. Fill out a Quote Request Form or an email describing what you have in mind. Tell us the text, desired dimensions, if there is a typeface or colour you have in mind, let us know. We have decades of graphic design experience and can take it from there.
Also, there is....
Sign Design Help !
You know you need a sign, but what kind? The Sign Chef's Guide should help determine your needs; what size, style, the message you want to send, and how.
Typography Help !
Figure out a Font:
http://www.flippingtypical.com
Find a Font:
http://www.identifont.com/
Free Font Frenzy:
http://www.dafont.com
City Signage Permits - Help !
Do you need one? Read the bylaw here. In most cases a permit is required, and we can help with that too.
Installing/Applying Vinyl - Help !
The Hinge Method: