Santa Barbara Signs & Graphics - Preparing & Sending Files for Digital Printing

preparing files for digital printing

We accept files saved from most Mac and PC graphics applications. Many graphics file types can be brought directly into our Onyx Postershop 7.2 Raster Image Processor (RIP). Direct printing vector file formats include encapsulated postscript (EPS) and Adobe PDF. Direct printing bitmap formats include JPEG and TIFF formats as well as Photoshop EPS files. Text within vector EPS files must be converted to outlines, paths or curves to avoid any font issues. Files that include bitmaps need to have sufficient resolution for proper reproduction at the typically large sizes for posters and banners. For close viewing (under five feet), the resolution should be 150 to 200 pixels per inch (ppi) at the final printing size; for longer viewing (over five feet), the resolution should be 75 to 100 ppi.

Many page layout programs, including Adobe Indesign, Adobe Pagemaker, and QuarkXpress, will save a high resolution PDF file for printing. Files may be saved at a percentage size of the final print, but the resolution of that file must be higher to compensate for the final size. Many other applications, such as Word and Excel, can also make a PDF file using a third party PDF generator such as PrimoPDF or Cute PDF (see resources below). Adobe Acrobat Reader may be used to verify your PDF files (download available below)

Native-format files, such as Illustrator and Quark files, may be used with all graphics and fonts provided, but additional make ready charges and lead times will apply for conversion to a printable file format (such as EPS or PDF).

Printing files may be RGB or CMYK, but for best results, all objects created in the application, as well as all embedded and linked files, must be in the same color format. RGB files have the widest initial color gamut for hi fi color printing without the limitations of CMYK, but some applications, such as QuarkXpress, do not support RGB file output. RGB files must include an embedded profile for proper RIP color conversion.

Each of our printers has a different color gamut capability due to the inks and media used. Please contact us directly for details.

providing/sending files

Files may be supplied on CD, DVD, floppy, Zip or Jaz disk, Mac or PC. You can e-mail smaller files (up to 8MB) to our address. Our FTP site is available for larger files (instructions below). You also may want to consider a file transfer service such as YouSendIt (below). Here are some links that you may find useful:

For our FTP site transfer instructions click here. For a Cute PDF program download click here.

For a YouSendit program download click here.

These links were current when added to this page and are provided as-is. We provide no warranty for fitness of use.