What is Production-Ready Vector Artwork?

Image Marketing produces on commercial-grade printing equipment. Any artwork files that you submit must originate either in a Vector-based application such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw, or be high resolution raster/bitmapped from Adobe Photoshop. Frequently files are saved as PDF, but may also be submitted in their native applications of Illustrator or Photoshop.

Make certain that you check these requirements before sending us your file.

  1. Does the filename end in: EPS, AI, PDF, PSD, SVG? We do not accept MS WORD, or MS PUBLISHER files. If you are using Canva or Inkscape online applications, please contact us as soon as you can to see if those files will be acceptable. They will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  2. Raster/Bitmapped files in JPG/JPEG, PNG, TIFF format must be high resolution of 300dpi/ppi or higher at 100% size. Files must originate from high-resolution applications. Please do not simply change the filename extensions; errors will occur and can corrupt your file.
  3. Have all the colors been converted to CMYK? Spot Colors, HTML Colors and RGB Colors can have unintended results during the printing process.
  4. Have all the fonts been converted to Outlines?
  5. Have all pages been oversized to allow for bleeding along the edges of the finished page? We have templates available for your use.
  6. If using Photoshop, in addition to the quality being at least 300dpi, are the final dimensions at least 100% of the finished size?

Should you have any questions at all, or need additional guidance, please do contact Image Marketing. We will be happy to guide you through the process.

For additional examples and advice, please visit our Artwork Tips Blog

 

GENERAL INFORMATION


ARTWORK: Email artwork to Denise@ShopImageMarketing.com

ORDERS: Email orders to Denise@ShopImageMarketing.com

SPOT COLOR IMPRINTS: Imprinting may be limited to the number of colors that can be printed on an item, with the first color being included in the base price. Usually it is 1, 2, or 3 colors maximum. There is a charge for each color's setup and each color's running/printing. Black and white production-ready art is required. Multi-color art must be color separated. Not all colors are available as standard ink colors. Many manufacturers offer color-matching for an additonal fee. Please refer to the "PMS" definition.

4-COLOR PROCESS IMPRINTS: Also referred to as full-color printing or digital printing. It is best used when there is a large amount of color in a logo. Not all products can be imprinted with full color. Cost of setup is dependent on the product to be imprinted. Artwork must be CMYK, and no less than 300 dpi at 100% actual size or larger. Exact color matching is not possible with this process.

BLEED: If imprint is to be printed to the edge of an item, art must extend off the edge by 1/4" per edge. The page size must be increased accordingly. Please call for assistance.

ARTWORK FILE TYPES AND PREPARATION: Digital files must be compatible with the following programs and formats. Please follow specific instruction for each program. Screens must be between 15% and 65%. All text must be converted to outlines.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR: Vector art (created or drawn) without any placed images. File types EPS, SVG or PDF.
ADOBE INDESIGN: Multi-page vector art (created or drawn) with placed images. File types EPS or PDF.
QUARK XPRESS:
  Multi-page v
ector art (created or drawn) with placed images. File types EPS or PDF.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP:  Bitmap/Raster art. File types JPG (at 300 dpi or higher) or PDF.
COREL DRAW:  Vector art. File types EPS, SVG or PDF.

Files that cannot be accepted: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Corel Draw native, other word processing software, other graphic design software.

Files that might be accepted, evaluated on a case-by-case basis: Canva, Inkscape.

LESS THAN MINIMUM ORDER CHARGE: The first column amount is usually the lowest quantity that can be produced. Certain manufacturers will produce less than that amount for an additional charge. Each maunfacturer will have their own charge, and may have an absolute minimum fee for the entire order.

OVERRUNS / UNDERRUNS: The difficulty of manufacturing/printing exact quantities causes a customary 5-10% overrun or underrun. Most manufacturers will charge accordingly for overruns and underruns. If no overruns will be accepted, order must clearly state "No Overruns.", and there may be a charge for this. If no underruns will be accepted, order must clearly state "No Underruns", and there may be a charge for this. In certain circumstances, this request may not be possible.

CANCELLATION OR CHANGE TO ORDER: If cancellation or changes need to be made after the order is sent to production, a minumum $100 charge plus all costs incurred up to that point will be charged to the client. Many times production may already be processed or imprinted.  Image Marketing reserves the right to bill for all charges.

PRICES: Please consult Image Marketing for current pricing prior to placing an order. Natural catastrophes and worldwide economic conditions may result in unforeseen price increases over and above any published prices, whether online or in a physical catalog.

TERMS: All orders must be pre-paid upon order approval. Any adjustment in price due to overruns or increased shipping charges will be expected at time of delivery. Image Marketing assesses a $2.50 rebilling fee for each 15 days payment is delayed. Cash, Checks, and Credit Cards are accepted. A secure link will be emailed to you for credit card payments.

RUSH ORDERS: In some cases, production time can be shortened to meet deadlines. However, be aware that significant charges will apply. For example, a $50 flat fee or a 20% to 100% additional fee. Each production type and manufacturer will have different requirements. In addition, there may not be time for any proof, whether physical or virtual, to ensure proper imprint. The client will bear full responsibility for any inaccuracies due to reduced production time. Additionally, some manufacturers require next day shipping, on top of their rush time. The client will be responsible for these extra charges. *Please note, production times have increased substantially and many rush services have been eliminated. Freight services have also increased their delivery times by 1-3 days.*

STANDARD PRODUCTION TIME: Each product and manufacturer will have their own production time. Typically, when produced domestically, it will be 5-15 working days, plus shipping time. Overseas orders can be 2-6 months in production. *Please note,  production times have increased substantially and many rush services have been eliminated. Freight services have also increased their delivery times by 1-3 days.*

SHIPPING COSTS: Most orders will incur a shipping charge, which brings the product from the manufacturer to the client. In all cases, production will be done as close to the client's final destination as possible, given all the parameters necessary to successfully complete production.

 

 

COMMON TERMS

Camera-Ready and Production-Ready: artwork that is black and white, is 300dpi/ppi or higher with very clean, crisp lines, and is sized for the actual imprinting dimensions.

Imprint Area: the area on a product, with specific dimensions, in which the imprint is placed.

Setup Charges: the cost to make the artwork fit the printing equipment and prepare the equipment for the imprint of your logo onto the product. Setup may include washing the ink color off of the machine once a product is imprinted.

Screen Printing: an image is transferred to the product surface by ink, which is pressed through a stenciled screen and treated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Film positives are put in contact with the screens and exposed to light, hardening the emulsion not covered by film and leaving a soft area on the screen for the squeegee to press ink through. (Also called silk screening.)

Spot Color: A single, solid ink color that is specified either by name or PMS number.

4-Color Process: a system where a color image is separated into 4 different color values by the use of filters and screens (usually produced digitally, occasionally via 4 physical screens). The result is a color separation of 4 images, that when transferred to printing plates and printed on a printing press with the colored inks cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow, and black, reproduces the original color image. These four colors can be combined to create thousands of colors. Files in RGB format must be converted to CMYK format.

PMS - Pantone Matching System: a system of standardized colors used to identify, match and communicate colors in order to produce accurate color matches in printing. Each color has a coded number indicating instructions for mixing inks to achieve that color.

Bleeds: printers cannot print all the way to the edge of a paper sheet. To create that effect, the printer must use a sheet of paper that is larger than the desired document size. The equipment prints design beyond the edge of the document size (usually 1/8”), then cuts the paper down to the document size.

Paper Proof: an impression of your text or artwork on actual paper so the correctness and quality of the material to be printed can be checked. There is often an additional cost to this process. The lease expensive is a regular black and white emailed or faxed paper proof.

Pre-Production Proof: an actual physical sample of the product itself produced and sent for approval before an order goes into production.

Shipping Charges: the cost to bring the finished product from the manufacturer to your office.

Drop Shipment: an order shipped to more than one location will be charged a fee for each additional destination.

Less Than Minimum: the fee charged for ordering fewer items than the quantity listed as the minimum or first column. This option is not always available on all products.

Etching: using a process in which an image is first covered with a protective coating that resists acid, then exposed, leaving bare metal and protected metal. The acid attacks only the exposed metal, leaving the image etched onto the surface.

Engraving: cutting an image into  metal, wood or glass by one of three methods – computerized engraving, hand tracing, or hand engraving.

Colorfill: screen printing an image and then debossing it onto the vinyl’s surface.

Embroidery: stitching a design into fabric through the use of high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machines. Artwork must first be “digitized”, which is the process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or thread. Even though formats of art such as a jpg, jpeg, png, eps, or pdf are referrred to as digital files, they cannot be used directly on an embroidery machine. A specialist must actually re-create the artwork, turning them into thread stitches. The resulting file tells the embroidery machine how to sew a specific design, in a specific color, with a specific type of stitch. This is the process known as digitizing.

Pad Printing: a recessed surface is covered with ink. The plate is wiped clean, leaving ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then pressed against the plate, pulling the ink out of the recesses, and pressing it directly onto the product.

Debossing: depressing an image into a material’s surface so that the image sits below the product surface.

Embossing: impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface.

Hot Stamp: setting a design on a relief die, which is then heated and pressed onto the printing surface.

Laser or Foil Stamp: applying metallic or colored foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper surfaces.

Personalization: imprinting an item with a person’s name using one of several methods such as mechanical engraving, laser engraving, hot stamping, debossing, sublimation, or screen printing, to name a few.

Die-casting: injecting molten metal into the cavity of a carved die (a mold).

Die-striking: producing emblems and other flat promotional products by striking a blank metal sheet with a hammer that holds the die.

 

USING FONTS IN ARTWORK AND LOGOS

With vector files, why are you asked to “convert all text to outlines/paths/boxes”?

There’s a simple reason for this: It’s an easy way to ensure your text will print as it was intended. If Image Marketing or the production factory doesn’t have the exact font you used when creating your artwork, it will have to substitute another font. This will cause your text to reflow and will surely look different than what you’ve created. You can’t simply give the font you used to the factory. It’s against the law. While this might be common practice, it’s not right. So avoid any legal issues by complying with the request. It’s easy to do – here’s how.

When you still have your copy/words as Text, you will see a baseline at the bottom of the text, as well as a box with “handles” around the entire copy block. Once the change is made, the box will disappear and each letter will have an outline around its edges with points positioned around these paths.

           

 

In Adobe Illustrator:
To make the change, simply select your text with the Selection tool. Go to Text in the menu bar. Scroll down to Create Outlines. If your document has multiple text boxes, you can go to Select > All and then Text > Create Outlines. This will help prevent missed text boxes, which could lead to problems later.

In CorelDRAW:
It’s just as easy to convert text to outlines in CorelDRAW. All you have to do is select your text box, go to Arrange in the menu bar and scroll down to Convert to Curves. While still in text mode, you’ll notice that black dots appear in the four corners and in the center of the top, bottom, and sides of the text box. If you view the same text box in Wireframe mode, the black dots remain, but the color goes away, leaving an outline of the type. Once you convert the type to outlines, the text selection will look the same, but you will notice outlines around the nodes, or points, at various positions around the outlines. The larger the type, the more abundant these points will be. To convert multiple text boxes in a document, go to Edit in the menu bar and scroll down to Select All > Text.

BIG TIP: Keep a copy, either a second set of graphics in the document or create a copy of the original document, before you convert the text. Once you make this change, you can no longer edit your text.