Design
Can you work from a design supplied by my designer?
Yes we’re more than happy to liaise with designers and tailor our service to suit.
Do I need to supply you with a design?
You’re welcome to provide a design but if you don’t have one then we can create one for you.
Do I need to give you a logo to work from?
It’s always helpful to start with a logo as this creates the tone and style for your business, if you don’t have a logo then we can design one for you.
Are your design services free?
No! If you would like us to create a design for you then we’re more than happy to work out a quote based on a brief of what you would like.
Design costs will only be charged once which makes subsequent orders cost less than if we included the artwork cost within the price of the item.
What is bleed?
Bleed is an area off the edge of the artwork which gives us a buffer for slight inaccuracies in the print and cutting process, this isn’t required for all artwork, contact us for the requirements for specific products.
What are crop marks?
Crop marks are used to let production know where an item is to be cut.
If I provide a design will it just be printed?
If the design sent across is print ready then we will check and advise if there are any obvious problems and let you know, if everything is fine then we will print it so please check you’re happy with everything before sending a print ready file.
Will you send a proof if I've asked for you to design something for me?
Yes, we will always send a proof for any items you’ve asked us to design, we won’t print anything until you let us know you’re happy for us to proceed.
Why is there a pink line on my proof?
The pink line is a cut line for our cutting machine and won’t be printed, it’s also to show you where the edge of the graphic will be.
What are CMYK & RGB?
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black). CMYK is a four colour print process which is industry standard for printing colours in a reliable way.
RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue. RGB is used for monitors and displays to create the colours.
Should I supply a file in CMYK or RGB?
Wherever possible you should try to supply files in CMYK as this gives the best and most reliable results.
You can supply in files in RGB however they will be converted by our printer software so the results can vary and can sometimes present some unexpected results.
What's a vector file?
A vector file is made up of lines, the big plus of this file is that it can be scaled to any size with no loss of quality. Vector file types are most commonly a PDF or EPS file.
What's a rasterised file?
A rasterised file is made up of dots, the plus point of this file is that it can contain photos and images. The downside is that there is a limit to how much a file can be enlarged before it starts to lose quality.
What size file do I need to supply?
Small printed items such as business cards and flyers we recommend at least 300DPI.
For Larger items such as signs and vehicle graphics we recommend between 150DPI – 200DPI
For hoarding and items with longer viewing distances you can go as low as 72DPI
Do I need to supply the design at full size?
Wherever possible we recommend supplying artwork at full size, it keeps it simple! For larger items where this isn’t possible due to the restrictions of programs and file types you’re welcome to supply at a percentage size, just don’t forget to let us know what the percentage is and remember that images will need to be double the resolution at half size to allow for enlargement.
What file type do you prefer?
PDF files tend to give the best results and can contain vector and rasterised files within the same file which means text and logos can be kept as vector which keeps the quality high and the file size small.
Signage
What kind of sign can I have?
The options are endless! We can do everything form flat panel signs to three dimensional built up logos and lettering and everything in between.
What materials do you use?
We tend to work primarily with the following materials :- Aluminium, Dibond (aluminium composite), Foamex (compressed PVC board), Correx (fluted corrugated plastic) and Acrylic/Perspex.
We do also work with steel, wood, polystyrene and other materials but less frequently.
How big can I go with my sign?
We can make a sign as big as you require! As long as you comply with the relevant planning regulations then let us know the size and we can work out the best method of construction.
Can you use my logo?
Brand identity is extremely important to businesses, we can take your existing logo and work out the best method of making that work across different processes to keep everything consistent.
Do you have any eco friendly options for signs?
Yes all of our sign materials are recycleable or reuseable in some form.
Dibond is made of recycled plastic and aluminium and our foamex is made from recycled plastics.
Can my sign be made to a shape?
Yes we have options for all materials to be cut or made to shapes. The compl of the shape can sometimes be an issue but please get in contact so we can work out what we can do for you.
How do I get a quote?
Just email us with a brief description of what you would like, the size of the sign and a copy of your logo if you have one.
How long will it take?
For simple signs we aim to get a quote to you within a few hours of our working day, for more complex signs then we aim to get you a quote within 24 hours.
Production times vary hugely due to the complexity of the sign, material availability and current work load.
If you’re requirement is urgent then give us a call and we can advise on a turnaround time, we’ll always do our best to try to help out wherever we can even if you think you’re requesting the impossible!
Vehicles
What are vehicle graphics?
Vehicle graphics are a way of getting advertising for your business or product on to your vehicle in a non permanent way.
What are vehicle graphics made from?
Our vehicle graphics are made from self adhesive vinyl, a strong long lasting material with a good finish.
What's a vehicle wrap?
A vehicle wrap is the industry term for a vinyl covering applied to a vehicle covering a whole or part of the vehicle.
Can I have a picture on my vehicle?
Yes! We can print a full colour image or logo using our large format printer, this will the be covered with a protective laminate to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
Can you reproduce my logo?
We can take your logo file and reproduce it exactly as it was intended to look, we can also cut the logo to shape so that it doesn’t have a background to let the vehicle paint colour show around it.
How long will my vehicle graphics last?
Cut vinyl lettering is warrantied for at least 7 years.
Printed vinyl is warrantied for at least 3 years (though we tend to see longer life length than that)
Can I pressure wash my vehicle graphics?
Yes, we have lots of fleet clients that pressure wash their vehicles on a regular basis with no problems, our advice tends to be try and keep the pressure washer lance at a 90 degree angle to the graphics at a distance of no less than 600mm or 2 feet and avoid leaving aggressive chemicals on the surface for a prolonged period.
Will the graphics damage my paintwork?
As long as the paintwork is of a good quality then there should be no damage when removed from the vehicle. We have seen issues with poor quality aftermarket paintwork and accident damaged vehicles where the surfaces haven’t been prepared with the same level of care as a manufacturer would take.
Will a vehicle wrap protect my paintwork?
Yes! Your vehicle will be thoroughly cleaned prior to being wrapped, when the vehicle has been wrapped this will create a protective layer between the elements and the vehicles paintwork, it’s amazin to see how fast the suns UV rays dull paintwork.
When the wrap is removed you’ll be left with brand new paintwork underneath.
What happens if it gets damaged?
We keep artwork on file for all of our clients vehicles so can repair sections when required.
Stickers
What is the minimum order for stickers?
Due to our digital printing process the minimum order is just one sticker, though the more you order the cheaper they become.
How big/small can you go with sticker printing?
We can go as big as 1500mm x 5000mm (in one piece)
Or as small as 10mm x 10mm
Can I have my stickers on rolls?
Stickers on rolls require a slightly different process, and are usually only possible on larger orders.
If you would like your stickers on rolls then just let us know at the quoting stage so we can make sure we cost it correctly.
Can I have my stickers on sheets?
Yes we will cut stickers to comfortable to handle sheet sizes as standard.
If you would like specific sheet sizes then just let us know when asking for a quote.
Are stickers available cut up individually?
That isn’t a problem at all, just let us know when you ask for a quote as this can be a time consuming process.
Can my stickers be die cut?
We can offer traditional die cut stickers on larger orders, typically these tend to cost effective on quantities above 5000 due to the cost of having a cutting tool made.
We also have a service available for digital die cutting using our Summa cutting machine, this is ideal for smaller runs of stickers and can be done for one off orders upwards as there is no setup cost.
Can stickers be laminated?
Yes laminating stickers makes them last longer, if they’re likely to be used outdoors for very long periods of time or are likely to come in contact with chemicals or be subject to abbrasion then we would recommend lamination to increase the life length.
We have a choice of matt or gloss laminate.
Floor graphics
What surfaces do floor graphics stick to?
As long as the surface is solid, smooth and clean then the graphics should stick well. The ideal surface is those found in shopping centres and supermarkets.
Do they work outside?
We’re yet to find a floor graphic that works reliably outdoors long term.
Can I have them cut to a shape or do they just have to be rectangular?
We can cut floor graphics to shape using our digital cutter, we would tend to recommend simple shapes as an fine or pointed graphics will be more susceptible to lifting.
Are floor graphics just normal vinyl?
No, the floor graphics are a matched system of self adhesive vinyl and anti slip laminate designed specifically to be used as floor graphics, we can provide a certificate as proof for health and safety. Normal vinyl will not be up to the task of high traffic areas and won’t comply with health and safety which could invalidate your insurance if there is an accident.
Fitting
Can you visit us to look at our sign requirements?
If you could provide us with photos and a brief prior to a site visit this will enable us to be more prepared than a blind visit.
Can you fit my sign or do I have to fit myself?
You’re welcome to fit your sign yourself or we offer a complete sign fitting service at a competitive rate.
I want my sign high up, is that possible?
Our fitters have IPAF licences enabling us to operate large access equipment, get in contact to arrange a site survey so we can decide the best method of access.
Do you work within Health and Safety regulations?
Yes we will provide a risk assessment before site work begins, if you have any specific site H&S requirements then let us know so we can include them in our RAMS package.
On the day of fitting we will also create a point of work risk assessment, this is all kept on file and a copy is available on request.
Fitting looks easy, can I do it myself?
You’re welcome to have a go! Like most things when a professional does it they make it look easy! To get good long lasting results and to complete the warranty requirements we would always recommend the graphics are fitted professionally.