All graphics are printed with CMYK inks. Despite this, all graphic files must be uploaded in RGB format. This is because our software and drivers process RGB images to produce the best matching CMYK color for each topsheet material. CMYK inks cannot produce as wide a spectrum of colors as your RGB monitor can display. If you want to preview this color limitation, graphic editing programs like Photoshop allow you to change the colorspace. Just make sure the graphic is saved as RGB before uploading.
The resolution of your artwork is measured in dots per inch. 300 DPI is considered the standard for printed products. Arguably, there is no visible difference in the end product until you get below around 150 DPI. You can upload designs at any resolution as long as it is 150 DPI or greater. Keep in mind that very high resolutions will create extremely large files that take more computing power to work on, more time to upload, and you will probably not be able to see any difference in the end product.
Our uploader can process any standard image format - png, jpg, gif, tif, svg, etc. It also can process Photoshop's psd format. We will be adding compatibility with more formats as we go. If there is a format you would like added, please let us know!
"Bleed" is the excess graphic that is printed, but will probably be cut away after you trim out your board. This excess graphic ensures that you don't end up with white, unprinted topsheet on your board if the topsheet shifts in the press or shrinks a little extra during printing. We recommend a minimum of 1" (25mm) of bleed all around your final shape. Another method is to extend your graphic to the full width of the material you are printing on. If your uploaded graphic is wider than the topsheet material you choose, you will be warned above that your artwork will be cropped to width.
When your graphic is transferred to topsheet material, it shrinks a little due to the heating and cooling cycle. In the past, you may have had topsheets printed where you needed to pre-stretch your graphic to account for the amount your topsheet would shrink. You do not need to do this. We account for the shrinkage rate based on the material you choose and our printing process. So if, when you upload your artwork, you say you the design is 72 inches long, we will print your design so that it ends up 72 inches long after shrinkage. These aren't CNC-level tolerances, but we get as close as we can.
There is no need to preserve layers or vectors in the artwork that you upload. All artwork is flattened and rasterized when it is saved to your account. We do this to reduce storage space and to assure that the print matches the proof that you view in your browser.
