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FAQs: Questions about Graphics
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What sizes of banners, posters, and murals are available?
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There are as many sizes as there are customers, and other sizes and shapes are possible.
Please view our display ideas and tips, price list (suggested sizes listed) or call for more information. |
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How do I send a digital file for printing?
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Many customers send their files on a CD or DVD. Others prefer to upload to our ftp site.
We can accept files up to 75 mb on the ftp site. Call to get URL, username and password.
Larger files should be sent on CD or DVD.
File must be ready to print. (We are also a design studio. Our design and editing fee is $75 per hour.)
Files for STANDARD printing may be in any of the formats described below.
Files for ECONOMY printing must be submitted in TIFF format.
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What format do you accept for printing?
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The best is TIFF format.
Photoshop files (layered) are acceptable as long as all fonts and vectors have been rasterized at full size.
Full size is the dimensions of the actual poster or banner and 150 pixels per inch. They can be CMYK or RGB.
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Mac Applications
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Our production computers are Macintosh. IBM compatible information is found below.
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR 9 (not 5)
PLEASE DO NOT EMBED RASTER IMAGES in Illustrator layouts. Embedded images cannot be color adjusted, or brightened. Also, gradients and blends over a distance greater than about 12 inches tend to band in large format printing. The way to avoid this is to rasterize the gradient, which means that Illustrator is not the best program for creating large-format layouts that have gradients; that type of design is better done in Photoshop. AVOID LINKING RASTER IMAGES. Please note any linked raster images.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
Always keep elements of separate layers. The reason for this is that one element might print perfectly in tests, while another needs correcting.
QUARK EXPRESS 4 (not 5)
Colors print best from Illustrator RGB files. When designing in Quark, please do not use Quark to create color blocks or colorize images. Text color is OK. Our rip does not do well with background or image colors created in Quark. It is best to create the colors in Illustrator or Photoshop and place them in picture boxes in Quark. If you must or have already created colors in Quark, we can work with them by rasterizing the whole layout. It's just not the best way to go.
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IBM Compatible
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Our production computers are Macintosh. We cannot print graphics created in IBM or Windows programs. We can, however, work with IBM TIFF images or EPS files, supplied on an IBM Formatted Zip or CD.
EPS files:
Since we print from a Macintosh, we cannot work with Windows applications such as Pagemaker, Quark Express, Corel Draw, or Power Point. We can open and work with Photoshop files and Adobe Illustrator files saved as Illustrator EPS.In Photoshop it is best to send files on a CD -- not flattened -- still in layers, so that we can color correct indiviual elements.Text (on a Windows platform) should be rasterized since we cannot process IBM fonts.
Rasterize the text at 150 ppi at final size.
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Where do I mail the CD or DVD?
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Ocean Color LLC
850 Aquidneck Ave.
Middletown, RI 02842
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If I can't send a digital file, can I just describe what I want?
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We will be happy to work with your words and ideas to create an appealing design that communicates your message in an effective way. Design services are billed at the rate of $75 per hour. Some designs can be completed quickly, while other designs involve more time. Please call to discuss your design needs.
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How do you make graphics?
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There are several ways to produce graphics for display.
We use high-resolution digital inkjet printing for the graphics we produce. We refer to them as banners, posters,photos, and murals. They are primarily used in the promotional products industry (i.e. trade shows and exhibit displays).All of the graphics we offer are printed in full-color onto paper or polyester white film using digital inkjet printing and protected with a textured laminate (not gloss) that preserves rich color and deep blacks with a minimum of glare.
The texture of the laminate is a “sand-blast” texture that resists fingerprints and marring. Over the course of several years, we have selected this laminate as the most appealing. Many graphics shops use a textured polycarbonate.
Let us know if you would like to receive a sample of our color printing and laminating.
Tradeshow display graphics are created in programs such as:
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, PageMaker, or Quark Express.
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What is the difference between Standard and Economy printing?
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STANDARD
We pride ourselves on the quality of our printing. A number of large and small companies as well as graphic designers across the country count on Ocean Color to deliver the quality of work they rely on. Delivering quality work is not simply
a matter of good equipment and the best materials. Its the extra effort we make to test and adjust colors to get the best results. While we can't guarantee exact color matches in every case, we make every effort to ensure that you get the colors you and your designer want and expect. Our Standard pricing includes the time involved in making certain the digital file you submit prints properly.
ECONOMY
The extra effort to test and adjust colors is not always needed. Companies sometimes have a simple message that will
be used once or just a few times, and/or have graphics for which carefully matched color is not an issue. That's why
we offer an Economy price. Please call for Economy pricing.
Files for STANDARD printing may submitted in one of several formats.
Files for ECONOMY printing must be submitted in TIFF format.
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Can you create graphics for me, as well as print them?
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The short answer is: Yes.
There are three basic ways we provide graphics.
1. Submit a digital file ready to print. We do the printing.
2. Use our design service and take advantage of our years of marketing and graphics experience.
Our fee is $75 per hour.
3. Select a template and background from our stock designs and submit that choice with the wording you want for your banner or poster.
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How do I pay for graphics?
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Graphics can be paid for by check or credit card. Payment is due on or before ship date.
Graphics orders that are over $500 can be paid with a 50% deposit payable upon confirmation of order with balance paid by ship date.
Full payment is expected before shipment.
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How are graphics shipped?
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Posters, banners, and murals panels generally ship in double-walled corrugated cartons. Not only does this provide
ample protection for your graphics, but it also provides you with the container you will need to ship your graphics back
to your office after your display event.
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