PRINT-READY Artwork Requirements
Please follow these requirements to avoid any artwork fees . All artwork is reviewed. If your artwork isn't properly formatted, we will contact you to discuss options.
If you need help prepping your files, our design services can assist you with sizing, layout, color separations, vectorizing, and more.
Tips for the quickest ordering process:
- Please provide your original files with full editing capabilities. We can re-create your work, but you will incur an art fee.
- Always send artwork in vector format if possible. If you are unsure let us know and we can check for you.
- When sending files, please send at least a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) at actual print size you want or you will incure a art fee.
- Do not include bevels, drop shadows, or blurring as these may not print clearly.
- If your design was made with other images in mind please send us the links to look at rather than screenshots.
- You must let us know the size and the placement locations of your artwork.
- When making changes please be as descriptive as possible.
- Send us the names of the fonts used, the font files or have the fonts outlined in your art file or we may have to find whatever is closet to your original (at times this may not be possible) looking for a simlier font will incure a art fee.
Branded Artwork Guidelines
KD3G Customs, accepts most artwork files, including .gif, .jpeg, .eps, .pdfs, .ai (vector art), etc. Some of these files may require extra work resulting in an artwork charge of $50 per hour.
Please feel free to call (888) 416-6027 if you have any questions or concerns about your file.
Below is additional information about the various file formats we accept:
Adobe Illustrator® All versions, Photoshop® & Corel Photo Paint® All versions are gladly accepted and 300 dpi is the preferred resolution for rasterized images. files must retain full editing capabilities
Adobe-Acrobat Files (.pdf)): are gladly accepted files. PDF files must retain full editing capabilities as the program they were created in. PDF files must meet all guidelines listed for raster and vector images.
Bitmaps/Jpgs (photos/web graphics): Most files with extensions .jpg, .tif, .gif, and .bmp can be viewed but are not prfered, these files will be used only as guides from which the artwork will need to be recreated. Grayscale and full color bitmaps, such as photographs, can usually be used as provided for Direct To Film (DTF Printing). *Sending these files will result in artwork charge.
Microsoft Word®, Microsoft Publisher®, Microsoft Paint®, These files may contain usable art or they will be used as a guide for recreating the art. *Sending these files will result in artwork charge.
Vector vs. Raster
Images will be in one of two of these formats. Raster images are made of pixels which when scaled will begin to change resolution, causing the image to blur and when at lower resolution will not print clearly. Vector graphics are composed of mathematical paths. Vector images are best because they are perfectly scalable without changing resolution. You can use a vector logo on something as small as a business card and as big as a billboard without losing details. This is why we prefer a vectorized image. Most raster/bitmap images can be vectorized by our graphic designer. This may result in an art work change or small font changes. The only exception to this is a photographic image. All photo realistic images are printed with a halftone technique (you can read more about this on this page further below).
What is DPI?
If you know you have a raster/bitmap image and want to save time and money, please send us the image at 300 DPI. What is DPI? DPI stands for ”Dots Per Inch”. This translates to the amount of dots per inch that are printed in an image. More dots equal more detail and a clearer image. This resolution makes it easier for out artist to convert your image to vector and or print as is on your product.
NOTE* KD3G Customs, only prints spot colors. We do not do halftones usally called gradents if you do not understand what they are the above eample shows you.
