Artwork Guidelines

We have prepared the following guide to assist you with your electronic file preparation and submission. If you have a specific problem that is not covered in this guide, or have other questions, please feel free to contact us. Improperly prepared files can cause delays in manufacturing.

Pre-Press & Artwork Submission Guidelines

To ensure the fastest possible turnaround and true wholesale trade quality, please format your digital artwork using the specifications below. If you have any pre-press questions, please contact our production team prior to uploading.

Quick Checklist (Before You Upload)

• File Format: Submit print-ready PDF files (preferred), high-res TIFF, or EPS.

• Scale: Build all artwork at 100% actual print size.

• Color Mode: All files must be built in CMYK color space.

• Fonts: Convert all text and fonts to Outlines (or fully embed them).

• Images: All linked raster imagery must be embedded at 150–300 DPI.

• Die-Cut Shapes: If ordering custom contour routing, include a closed vector path named CutContour set as a 100% Magenta spot color.

Margins & Bleed Specifications

• Full-Bleed Printing: Add a 0.125" (1/8") bleed on all four sides if your background color or graphics extend to the edge of the board.

• Safe Margins: Keep all critical text, phone numbers, and logos at least 0.375" (3/8") away from the final trim edge.

• Hardware Clearance (Crucial): If your rigid boards require grommets, pre-drilled mounting holes, or H-stake tines, keep vital graphics at least 0.75" to 1.0" away from the corners and edges to prevent hardware overlap.

Image Resolution & Quality

Because grand-format rigid signage is viewed at different distances than standard handheld paper brochures, follow these resolution targets at 100% scale:

• Standard Signage (Yard Signs, POP, Indoor Boards): 300 DPI

• Oversized Boards (4'x8' Site Signs, Facade Panels): 150–200 DPI

• Advisory: Do not artificially "upsample" low-resolution internet graphics (72 DPI) to 300 DPI inside Photoshop. This does not add real detail and will result in a blurry, pixelated print.

Color Specifications & Expectations

• CMYK Flatbed Printing: Our UV-LED flatbed printers operate strictly in CMYK. Files submitted in RGB or LAB color spaces will undergo automatic digital conversion, which may cause unexpected color shifts.

• Pantone / Spot Colors: If your brand identity contains Pantone (PMS) spot colors, our pre-press RIP software will automatically map them to their closest digital CMYK equivalent.

• Screen vs. Substrate: Digital soft proofs cannot be used as an exact measuring tool for color accuracy. Backlit computer monitors display colors using projected RGB light, which will always appear brighter and more vivid than physical UV ink cured onto white plastic, foam, or metal composites.

Guidelines by Software Application

• Adobe Illustrator / InDesign (Preferred): Save as a Press Quality PDF. Ensure all live transparencies are flattened, linked images are embedded, and fonts are converted to outlines.

• Adobe Photoshop: Build your canvas at 100% scale at 150–300 DPI. Flatten all visible layers before exporting as a PDF or TIFF. Do not submit raw .PSD files containing un-rendered live text layers.

Digital Soft Proofs

We provide electronic PDF soft proofs to verify layout, bleed, spelling, and custom CNC routing alignment. Please review your digital proof carefully. Once a soft proof is approved by the trade buyer, Titan Signs is not liable for typographical errors, low-resolution pixelation, or incorrect architectural dimensions.