|
|
Questions concerning
designing artwork (Scroll down for
questions concerning sending LG artwork)
What programs can I use to create files? CorelDraw, Illustrator, Freehand (PC Only), Quark
Xpress (Mac only), & Photoshop. Vector Graphics are needed for text when
using Ultra High Resolution production. Adobe Photoshop is used for the final output and therefore
is the preferred program when receiving files. However, it is important to
keep the PSD in layers and include any support files. What scale should I design my artwork? Use the templates available on our website under
the Prepress/Production section. They
have the correct bleeds and are the correct size, scale and dpi. What DPI should I use to scan photos? Standard and High Resolution: Ultra High Resolution (self-adhesive and transit
production): Original art is always helpful if it can be
provided. Camera ready art is preferred so that we can scan it at the proper
dpi if needed. Should I indicate PMS colors? Yes - Coated PMS colors. Without the specific
colors indicated we have no reference color to use and will not be able to
process your job. If PMS colors are not provided and a reproof is required
for color, there will be an additional charge. Can you print any PMS color? Not all PMS colors are 100% matchable using four
color process. Why would I have to reproduce a good quality piece
of art after the customer has already approved it? If a file contains parts that will not print
cleanly when enlarged, those parts have to be redone. Ex. A bitmap placed
into a Corel file as a logo, this will produce an acceptable output on a
desktop printer, but can not be enlarged. What is the recommended dpi for producing a vinyl
billboard? Vinyl jobs can be printed at several different dpi
settings depending on the equipment used. LG offers 9 dpi for standard
resolution, 70 dpi for high resolution, and up to 360 dpi for ultra high
resolution. Please note that ultra high resolution has a minimum of 100 dpi
but is capable of printing 360 dpi actual size if the proper art is provided. All proofs are output at 300 dpi. Logos and Line art Scanning logos and line art requires a much higher
scan resolution than photographs. Today's imagesetters are capable of
outputting at 2400 dpi and higher. For our printing, a scanned logo should be
at least 600-1200 dpi. But my scanner only goes to 300 dpi! Well here's a great tip for making great scans of
logos useable for standard and high resolution production. Set your scanner
to 150 dpi, then set the scale percentage as high as it will go (usually
about 400% on a 300 dpi scanner). This will result in a 150 dpi image about
4-6 times as the size needed on the art, so that when you place it on the art
you have to scale it down multiplying the resolution, and you end up with
about a 600-900 dpi scan. It cleans up a lot of the rough edges, gets rid of
"The Jaggies". TRY IT ! For ultra high resolution production, art created
in vector format is a higher quality output than a raster image in PhotoShop.
The raster images in PhotoShop are dpi sensitive and require a bare minimum
of 100 dpi at actual printed size to maintain integrity. What kind of
computer do I need to use? We don't care what kind of computer you use, all
that really matters to us is which program and file format you saved it in.
Save your files using standard file formats such as EPS, Tiff, etc, and avoid
using TrueType fonts. What kind of
computer program do I need to use? Standard and High Resolution: Ultra High Resolution: What do the
following file extensions mean? PDF -
Adobe Acrobat Reader file; Best used for referance art. Questions concerning sending artwork to Lamar Graphics How can I send a file to Lamar Graphics? E-mail, FileSwap, which is our FTP through Internet access, or mail courier. Note: Mac files must be “stuffed” when using File Swap or email. Do I need to convert text to curves? Yes. This
eliminates any changes that may occur when files are opened on another
computer, and eliminates the possibility of missing fonts (allowing the order
to be processed on time without delays) However, please include all fonts so
that changes to text can be made if necessary. Does LG need a hardcopy? Yes. Please
include a hardcopy of the final version to use during the production process.
.jpg or .pdf files are needed for reference if no hard copy is sent. Can I send you a color printout to use for color matching? Yes, you must note that your print is color
accurate and to be used for matching output. Should I convert images to CMYK? No. Please do not convert your image to CMYK or
include imbedded profiles. RGB photos are acceptable. At the time of
production they will be converted to CMYK. What software is available for MAC/PC cross
platforming? Adobe Photoshop is a very reliable PC/MAC program,
however Freehand, QuarkXpress and CorelDraw are also available for both
formats but font issues arise when going from PC to MAC or visa versa. It is
best to build your image in your layout program and save it as either a TIFF
or EPS, both can be read using the PC or MAC. When using Ultra High
Resolution we prefer vector format. Note to Mac users: We operate on a PC network, so
please include the proper file extensions. What disk capabilities does LG have? LG can accept a 100 Meg Zip, 1 Gig Jaz, CD, or
floppy. What types of material can LG scan from? LG can scan an image from a slide, transparency,
negative, photo, and certain printed material. What are some of the problems you have printing
digital files? The largest hurdle we have with printing digital
files is missing fonts. If you use special type on your artwork you have to
send a copy of the font used. A postscript font consists of two parts, a
screen part (for viewing on screen), and a printer part (for the printer). A
trutype font consists of only one file. Truetype is typically used for PC and
Postscript is typically used for Mac. The second obstacle is that not enough information
was scanned in, or included on the disk. We can not add to the resolution
without deteriorating the image. Include the original slide or photograph and
we will scan it at no extra charge to you. Just include the original
art/photograph/slide to be scanned with your order. The third obstacle is art that is not proportioned
correctly. To scale up artwork, it has to be in proportion. For example, a
12' x 24' board cannot be scaled to a 14' x 48' board without major changes. Forth is photo manipulation by outside artist with
no quality match-print provided. Color matching is only possible when a color
target is provided. Yes, you can send us color process files using the Internet and Adobe Photoshop. Save your color process images as a "Photoshop
EPS" file, and use the "JPEG Encoding" option. Note: Ultra High Res files are too large to send any method except overnight. If you can send the file via email or fileswap, it is too small. Remember, these files must be scanned at 1"= 1' @ 1200 dpi MINIMUM. |
