• start Windows Explorer (note: this is Windows Explorer...not Internet Explorer) – to do this either right click on the “Start” button, then select “Explore”; or left click "Start", "All Programs", "Accessories", "Windows Explorer"
  
• type the ftp address shown below into the address line (at the top of the window), then press Enter
  
• a "Log On As" window will appear with the FTP Server and User Name information already there, just type in the password (email us for this) and press Enter
  

You should now see the FTP site in 'Windows Explorer', ready to be dragged and dropped to and from. If you have more than one file, please make your own folder with all the files you have uploaded to the ftp site.

Uploading Files to our FTP Site (pc terms shown with mac terms in brackets)
- Address: ftp://clients.signsplus.ca@signsplus.ca
- Account (ftp server): signsplus.ca
- Userid (user name): clients.signsplus.ca
- Password: contact us to get the password

After uploading, please email us at info@signsplus.ca with specifics about the project. Also include a low res pdf proof version of the graphic for us to ensure that all elements in your print file are correct.

Supplying Files For Digital Graphics Printing or Digital Fabric Dyeing:

Designing for large format digital graphics has some differences compared to designing for offset printing or other traditional print methods. If you are supplying files for us to print, they need to be built to our specs or additional charges will apply. Here are general guidelines.

General Guidelines:

- native Adobe Illustrator files are most suitable for almost any digital graphics printing and dyeing jobs. Save the file as an Illustrator .ai format as it will be much smaller than an Illustrator eps. Also, any bitmap images in the design should ideally be linked images (as opposed to embedded) and the images should be tiff format with LZW compression.
- vector-based design elements are preferable to bitmap elements
- if bitmap elements are required, their resolutions don't have to be as high as you may be used to using for offset printing projects (usually 50 - 150 ppi resolution at final size works well) but tiny web-formatted jpg files are almost always unusable
- create your artwork in a CMYK colour space - not RGB
- define logos and other colour critical elements as the 100% value of PMS Coated colours (e.g. PMS300C) - not CMYK process colours. Make sure you use the Pantone Coated swatches where the numbers end in C (e.g. PMS300C - these are in Illustrator v 10 and above). Our digital printing workflow is calibrated for these colour libraries, but if you're using an older software application CVC colours are the next best option. Do not use Pantone Uncoated swatches(the numbers end in U e.g. PMS300U) - they will look different.
- never use a percentage of a spot colour (e.g. 30% of PMS300C) - it may print totally wrong and we will not be responsible for that. Either choose a lighter spot colour at it's full 100% value, or convert that lightened spot colour object to CMYK values.
- limit the use of complex gradients, but when you have to use them, simplify as much as possible. Design it in Illustrator and make a vector gradient, using simple process colours (for example, a simple gradient from 100C/0M/0Y/0K to 0C/0M/0Y/0K will produce a more predictable result than 98C/5M/5Y/0K going to 3C/2M/5Y/0K - small percentages can sometimes give distorted results)
- for black elements use 100%K black only - don't make a rich black mix of 100% of each colour as more ink is not better - it causes other problems and will incur extra charges
- don't use trim marks, registration marks or bleed unless we ask for it. For Illustrator files, draw a rectangle to the exact size of the graphic and we'll trim just inside that. For other files (.pdf, .psd, .tiff, etc), use your document setup size to show us where the finished edge of the graphic is - and we'll trim just inside that. Don't have the software automatically place trim or registration marks - they are not usable to us and will incurr extra charges. Most large format graphics don't need to be exactly a certain size, so if we trim about 1/16" smaller, it's not usually a problem.
- don't use overprinting. With digital printing or dyeing, objects with overprint settings will not print correctly, so turn all overprint settings off.
- even if exact sizing is not crucial, be precise with dimensions, and don't have any elements extend beyond the image area (use a clipping mask, if necessary to clip elements to the image area)


1) Compatible Files
Files should be supplied in the original application and version in which the graphic was created in order to minimize conversion issues and give us the most information about how a file was built (i.e. don't build it in one application and export it to another - supply the file in it's original native form and software version - don't design in version 9 and supply it to us as version 8, for example).

We are currently running the following industry-standard design software:

Mac: Adobe Illustrator 10 (preferred), QuarkXPress 6, Adobe PhotoShop 5

PC: Adobe Illustrator CS (preferred), Adobe PhotoShop CS, Adobe InDesign CS, CorelDraw 9, QuarkXPress 3

If your artwork is:
- a general page layout with mix of vector and bitmap elements, a native Illustrator .ai or .eps is preferred (make sure the vector output resolution is set to 800dpi, but don't get confused between this setting and bitmap resolution, below)
- a logo only, a native Illustrator .ai is preferred
- a photo or bitmap only, a native Photoshop .psd or .tif is preferred
High quality pdf files are also usable but if possible, make them Illustrator-editable pdfs.

2) Include a Proof
A hard copy proof is preferred. If this is not possible, a pdf file (with all fonts included in the pdf) will suffice. Note that we do not match colour to desktop printer proofs or monitor colours - there is just too much variance in calibrations and settings of various desktop printers and monitors.

3) Convert Text to Curves or Include All Fonts
We prefer to have all text supplied to us as "curves" or "outlines", which eliminates the need for separate font files and possible font problems. However, if you need us to make any text changes, supply text as fonts and include fonts as follows:
- Macintosh - include both screen and printer font files
- PC - include all True Type font files. If any PostScript fonts are used, make sure the .pfm and .pfb files for each font are included.

4) Make Sure All Overprint Settings Are Turned Off
While colour trapping is needed for offset printing, objects that have overprint settings applied to them will print drastically wrong colours on our digital printers.

5) Include All Supporting Files (art)
In most case, all content should be embedded. Only when a certain bitmap image is used over and over again in various artwork should that file be linked. If you do have linked files, make sure you supply those linked files to us.

6) Color
- Use CMYK colour space in all files.
- Don't apply any Colour Management Profiles to your document files or linked files.
- Define any black elements as just 100% Black.
- If there are specific colours that need to be reproduced, define them as PMS spot colours so we can match to physical Pantone colour swatches. Our high resolution digital printers reproduce most spot colours better than a standard 4 colour offset printing press, and since it's digital there's no extra cost for each spot colour used. As a result, use as many spot colours as you want - it helps us in the print production and gives you a better result. However, any elements which use a percentage of a spot (PMS) colour must be defined as a cmyk equivalent - printing percentages of spot colours can produce unpredictable results, for which we won't be responsible.

7) Sizing
For many standard products we have templates available for download from our web site. Generally, the outside edge of any content in your file should be no larger than the visible size (+ any bleed only if we've specified). For example, for 22" x 28" signs, just make your document size 22" x 28" and don't have elements go beyond that (use a 22" x 28" clipping mask if some of your elements go beyond this). You need to be precise here and don't supply us with files that are "pretty close". When we price jobs based on a certain size even a fraction beyond that can change the efficiency and yield of materials - and result in additional charges.

If you're designing banners or posters, just show the edge of the visible graphic using a hairline border around its perimeter.

Don't bleed the image past the trim border unless:
- you're designing decals which will be contour cut (decal details here)
- your graphics need to be an exact finished size (add 1/8" bleed on each edge and show the trim using small 1/16" crop marks, 1/8" away from trim edge, instead of the hairline border.

8) Page Layout Specifics for Bitmap Files
- When building bitmap files, keep the following in mind:
- don't make files bigger than they need to be - if your file is too large extra rip charges may apply
- import elements at 100% size (or they may print pixelated)
- crop images before importing (to reduce size of file)
- delete any objects which are off to the side of the document (extra objects cause problems and may result in additional charges)
- text that is imported as a picture in your document or that is in a placed graphic must be converted to curves in the source file before it's placed in your document

9) Bitmap Resolution
While there are many variables that can impact what resolution is required for bitmaps, here are some general guidelines:
- For viewing distance of 1-4 feet, image resolution should be about 150ppi (at actual size)
- For viewing distance of 5-9 feet, image resolution should be about 100ppi (at actual size)
- For viewing distance of 10+ feet, image resolution should be about 50ppi (at actual size).

Another way to determine it is by file size:
- For Close-up viewing, you need about 6.5MB per square foot of image area (at actual size)
- For Midrange viewing, you need about 3MB per square foot of image area (at actual size)
- For Distance viewing, you need about 1.2MB per square foot of image area (at actual size)


Supplying Files For Computer-Cut Vinyl Film Graphics:

- only vector files are suitable (Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw only)
- art elements must be welded where necessary
- no strokes or outline colours can be used (to create an outline effect, a second full layer of the object must be made slightly larger and positioned behind the object that has the fill colour.