Submit Your Files to DDI Signs®

Submitting Files in Preferred Formats

Please follow the below guidelines to ensure you are sending the proper file format.

DDI Signs® Preferred file formats.

• We prefer vector files– Adobe Illustrator AI, EPS, PDF or Corel Draw.
• All files must have fonts converted to outlines.
• Properly converted vector files are preferred because there is no image degradation when enlarged.

If raster/bitmap images are submitted please make sure our resolution and file guidelines are followed. At print size resolution should be 100-150 dpi or higher.

Website images are not acceptable.

DDI Signs® Accepted File Formats and File Set Up

Adobe Illustrator – Ai, EPS, SVG or PDF

• Convert ALL fonts to outlines or submit required fonts.
• Convert ALL outlines to graphics.
• Any placed or linked graphic images must be embedded in file.
• Bitmap/Raster images must be provided as separate files.
• Artwork must be provided in CMYK format.
• Indicate Pantone Matching Colors within the file.
• Raster/Bitmap images MUST be at finished size 100 – 150 dpi or greater.
• PDF files need to be saved as vector, zipped with fonts converted to curves.

Corel Draw – CDR or convert CDR to Ai, EPS or PDF

• Convert ALL fonts to outlines or submit required fonts.
• Convert ALL outlines to graphics.
• Any placed or linked graphic images must be embedded in file.
• Bitmap/Raster images must be provided as separate files.
• Artwork must be provided in CMYK format.
• Indicate Pantone Matching Colors within the file.
• Raster/Bitmap images MUST be at finished size 100 – 150 dpi or greater.
• PDF files need to be saved as vector, zipped with fonts converted to curves.

Adobe Photo Shop – PSD, JPG, TIF

• Artwork MUST be provided in CMYK format.
• Raster/Bitmap images MUST be at finished size 100 – 150 dpi or greater.
• Do not apply Compression to images.
• Images from websites are not acceptable for printing.

Adobe Acrobat PDF

• Embed ALL fonts or convert text to curves.
• Artwork MUST be provided in CMYK format.
• Raster/Bitmap images MUST be at finished size 100 – 150 dpi.
• Indicate Pantone Matching Colors within the file.
• We prefer PDF files to be saved as vector, zipped with fonts converted to curves.

DDI Signs® Preferred File Formats for Specific Products

Digitally Printed Signage and Graphics

Products: Floor Graphics and Decals, Step and Repeat Banners, Media Backdrops, Wallpaper and Murals, Banners, Vinyl Decals, DasherAds™, Icefab® In Ice Logos, Backlit Prints, Vehicle Graphics and Wraps.

Vector file formats are preferred. Adobe Illustrator vector .ai or .eps or properly converted .ai or .eps file this file type are preferred because there is no image degradation when enlarged.
* See Accepted file formats below for detailed instructions.
* If raster/bitmap images are submitted please make sure our resolution and file guidelines are followed.

Vinyl Cut Graphics and Stencils

ONLY vector line file formats can be used. No bitmaps or raster images.

Plotter Drawn Stencils or Paper Pounce Patterns

Products: In Ice Logo Stencils, Basketball Court Logos, Wall and Floor Paper Patterns. Used when painting logos or murals by hand.
ONLY vector line file formats can be used. No bitmaps or raster images.

Routed and Laser Cut Signs

Products: Office and Wall Logos, Exterior Signs, Outdoor Monument Signs
ONLY vector line file formats can be used. No bitmaps or raster images.

File Formats We Do Not Accept

InDesign, Freehand and QuarkXpress files should be converted to one of the above accepted formats.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT: Document Files, MS Power Point, MS Excel, MS Word, MS Paint or MS Publisher

DDI SIGNS® PHOTO AND IMAGE RESOLUTION GUIDELINES

All Bitmap/Raster images should be saved so that their AT FULL SIZE Resolution is at least 100 – 150 dpi or greater. This is the finished printed size.

Bitmap/Raster images art can be sent at smaller sizes with proportionately raised dpi so that it will scale properly. This is especially important when images are to be enlarged for signage. Remember, the better the quality of the files you provide, the better the quality of the finished product.

*Please do not send files that have software compression applied to them.

*Image files must be provided as a CMYK file.

Preferred file format for photo/raster images is Adobe Photoshop PSD, JPEG, or TIF

NOTE: Images from web pages will not be accepted.

We cannot use files that originally were low resolution files that have been saved at a higher resolution. Unfortunately, this does not work. You can save a high-resolution image to a lower resolution image and get good quality print, but you cannot save a low resolution to a higher resolution, this results in blurring and jagged pixilation.

DDI Signs® Proofing Guide Lines

Hard copy for proofing:
Please provide a printed paper proof to ensure that we have received your artwork in full and that it matches your original file.

For actual output proofing of your job we need a paper printed proof provided by you, so we can visually proof our final print to make sure it matches your desired output.

JPG job spec proof:
We will email a JPEG proof for your approval before any job is put into production. This proof is for content and job specs and not for color matching. For an additional charge we can provide a custom printed sample for approval.

DDI Signs® Color Matching – PMS Pantone Color Matching

Preferred Color Matching Set Up:

• All orders require your file to be submitted in CMYK colors.
• Black should be indicated as C35 M35 Y35 K100 for the richest black.
• Pantone colors should be PMS Coated numbers.

There are 2 ways for us to color match you’re file to the finished print

Customer provides a hard copy print out of the file for us to hold up to the print and color match. However, we do not guarantee exact CMYK color matching because of the many variables involved in digital printing, but we will do our best to match your CMYK selection if a hard copy is provided.

PMS Coated Colors: 

Customer provides the Pantone Coated Number indicated within the file. We use the Pantone Color Bridge Chart to hold up to the print and color match. Make sure that the PMS color are named and indicated correctly within your file and that there are no duplicates. However, we do not guarantee exact PMS color matching because of the many variables involved in digital printing, but we will do our best to match your PMS selection.

CMYK Color Match Printing Issues:

Our printers use CMYK process to print but since there is no universal CMYK matching chart to physically hold up to the print and color match it, we have to have something to go by, either a Hard Copy or PMS indicated colors. Below are examples of the various things that can affect color output.

Printing Variables

Printing color output varies not only depending on software used but also on the printer, ink, and media used.

Software

There are variables in the color palette set up from computer system to computer system and printer to printer. This makes it impossible for us to guarantee color matching of CMYK files unless we have a hard copy to go by or PMS colors are indicated. If a computer monitor is not calibrated correctly, what one person seeing color wise on the screen is not necessarily what they are going to see in the final print.

Printers and Ink

Each printer uses different system set ups, and color palettes, inks and materials used to print on. So, a printer that prints CMYK and uses Solvent Based Inks the colors will print different than a printer that uses other forms of ink like Water Based Dye, Pigment, or Latex Inks. Also, some inks color shift after printing and drying.

Print Media Materials

Colors can be affected by the specific material use to print on. For instance, a print done on Poplin Fabric which absorbs ink the color will print lighter than Scrim Vinyl, which does not absorb the ink and has a special coating to receive the ink. Colors will look different printed on a Matte surface opposed to a Glossy Surface.

Color Matching File Issues

Color Percentages or Transparencies: We cannot guarantee matching a color that is indicated within the file as a percentage or is a transparent layer of a color. Example: 10% of Black. Color percentages have to be converted to a solid PMS Coated color for us to color match. The reason we have to have this converted is that there is no one Universal Black color of ink. CMYK Black looks different than RGB Black or PMS Black. If a computer monitor is not calibrated correctly, what one person is seeing color wise on the screen is not necessarily what they are going to see in the final print.

Fades and Gradients

We cannot guarantee matching a color that is indicated within the file as a fade or gradient. These are affected by all of the variables listed above and with the banding and gradual fading of one color into another can result in color combinations that are not desired.

DDI Signs® will do their best to color match your prints. We are not responsible if PMS colors are not indicated, and we cannot guarantee exact PMS or CMYK color matching. Please consult the Pantone to CMYK Color Bridge chart to compare to printer output and find the PMS color numbers.