You and your design ideas deserve the best treatment, which is why we don’t use inferior online design tools. We have a talented team of in-house graphic designers who will make sure your logo or design looks fantastic on our custom printed products. During check out, you will be able to describe your design wishes and upload any images you would like included in your artwork. You can also email us at info@eclipsemktg.com, and feel free to give us a call. We will send you PDF proofs until you are completely satisfied and excited with your design! No order gets printed without your final approval.
LET US CREATE YOUR ARTWORK
We provide 1 hour of free artwork preparation, which is normally adequate for standard layouts with your print ready logo/image and text and then bill at a rate of $65 per hour, billed in ½ hour increments. If we feel that your design will exceed 30 minutes of free artwork, we will let you know in advance and provided you with a quote. Artwork preparation will begin upon receipt of your PAID online order or we can email you an invoice for a $65 deposit.
PREPARE YOUR OWN ARTWORK
Before you begin, please be sure to check with us to find out what type of files will work for your product as different print processes have different artwork requirements.
WHERE DO I SEND MY ARTWORK?
Artwork can be sent via our "File Upload Tool" or emailed to info@eclipsemktg.com. Please be sure to let us know if there is any additional information (phone number, website, email, etc.) you want to have added to your design. There is no charge for adding this information or for simple layouts if you do not have artwork.
We cannot use images that have been copied from a website.
Not only will these images be low resolution and unprintable, but they will be subject to copyright laws.
We do not accept SVG files.
This file format was developed by the World Wide Web to allow images viewed online to change size without distortion. THese are NOT print files.
PMS COLOR CHART - This chart is intended as a reference guide only. PANTONE® Computer Video simulations displayed may not exactly match PANTONE®-identified color standards. Use current PANTONE® Color Publications for most accurate color.
What’s ‘good’, what’s ‘bad’?
The quality and resolution of artwork for decoration depends on the product and how it is being printed.
Screen Printing, Pad Printing, Engraving, Debossing and Embossing – we always require VECTOR files. You will have a choice of standard imprint colors and in most case a PMS match is available for an additional charge. SVG file are not acceptable print files. This file format was developed by the World Wide Web for web use only. SVG files will need to be converted to a JPG file and printed FULL COLOR.
Full Color Printing - We can use eps, ai and high-resolution pdf, jpeg and tiff files. Please DO NOT send svg files. These file types are for web use only and will need to be converted to a high resolution bitmap file. For high resolutions files, please be sure they are no smaller than 300 dpi at the actual size of the print aea. We can always make these file smaller, but they will print blurry if we need to enlarge them. Files must be formatted in CMYK. Please do not use Pantone PMS colors or RGB colors in your artwork as the conversion from PMS or RGB to CMYK will almost always result in color differences. We cannot guarantee the print accuracy of client submitted artwork that is formatted incorrectly.
If you don't have artwork or need your existing artwork to be redrawn, it's not a problem. Sketch out your idea or send us what art file you do have and we'll help you out. We will do simple typesetting of your name and message at no charge! Remember, artwork should never get in the way of doing a promotion. If you can't find art that meets our electronic submittal requirements, we can always create it for a small fee. Once we create your art, you won't have this charge again. An e-Proof will be provided for you to review.
Many of our decoration methods allow for the opportunity to closely match the imprint color to a specific requirement. Customers who require specific color matching must request this in writing and provide us with the Pantone PMS color. PMS stands for Pantone Matching System ®. We have an online pantone color chart that you can use to compare colors relative to themselves. Be aware that all monitors are different and the color you see on the screen will surely be different when viewed in person. Where PMS matching is available, there may be an additional charge per color for this service as inks need to be carefully blended to achieve a close match to your color. Please note that PMS color matches are not generally possible for digital printing or 4 color process printing. The color mode in your artwork must be set up as CMYK or the digital printing software will convert the color in your artwork to CMYK and try to match it as close as possible. There is no guarantee of a color match since the conversion from other color modes (PMS or RGB) to CMYK will often result in a very different color. It is best that you do the color conversion of your images to CMYK. If your project is being digitally printed and you require a PMS match, we highly urge you to request a test print / pre-production sample made first. This process requires us to print a sample and then adjust the CMYK values in your artwork to the PMS color of your choice. Sometimes this will take several tries. The cost for test prints / pre-production samples varies from product to product. We will make every attempt to match your requested color; however, we cannot guarantee it. Please check that your artwork has been formatted accurately. We cannot be held responsible for formatting errors in customer supplied artwork. If your artwork is to be embroidered, we will select a thread which most closely matches your PMS color, and you will have the opportunity to see this choice when you approve your "sew-out." Exact color matches cannot be guaranteed.
When creating your artwork, it's important to understand the difference between design file types and color modes in relation to the type of printing you will be doing, specifically the difference between raster and vector artwork, and CMYK vs. PMS and RGB color modes. Some file types are natively raster-based, some are natively vector-based, and some are both. The absolute best file types for printing are those that are natively vector-based. In general, CMYK is used for full color printing and PMS or a choice of standard imprint colors are used for screen or spot color printing. RGB color mode is never used for printing. Please read Important Information About RGB and CMYK.
VECTOR VS. RASTER
RASTER art files (also known as bitmap files) are design files that are broken up into millions of small colored dots called pixels. Each of these tiny pixels are put together to create an image. The quality of the design file depends on, 1) the size of the design that was created, and 2) the resolution or dpi of the file—this will be the total number of pixels. The higher the pixel count, the higher the quality of file (which increases file size). Some examples are raster-based file extensions are .JPG, .TIF, .PNG, .PSD, etc. These types of files cannot be used for spot color printing.
What is a VECTOR art file and why is it better that a raster file?
A vector is a mathematical representation of some geometrical form. If you remember back in math class, your teacher most likely gave you a function and then you had to draw it on an x/y axis. This would be a basic example of a vector based graphic. Programs such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Corel Draw are all natively vector-based applications that allow designers to create artwork where the resulting file is a collection of vectors. Some examples of vector-based file extensions are .AI, .CDR, .EPS, .PDF, etc.
Vector-based art is better for printing because no matter the size of the final output, a vector file is always high-resolution. With a raster-based file, the quality of the file is dependent on the size and the dpi of the file.
I design using Photoshop—is it vector- or raster-based? The simple answer is raster-based.
Raster, Vector, CMYK, PMS - who cares? I’m sending you the art - you print it!
Sure! We will always be happy to print whatever you send, but this always comes down to the original design file. We cannot be held responsible for formatting errors and color issues in artwork provided by the client.
ARTWOR WITH TEXT
All text must be converted to outlines or curves. If not, all font files must be included with your art. Please note that the smallest text size that can be imprinted is typically around 6-8 pt. with some exceptions depending on the item or fabric being printed on. Embroidery lettering should be non-serif and at least 3/16" to 1/4" in height. It is often necessary to modify or drop text entirely for small imprint areas.
PROOFS
We will send you an email proof prior to printing for your review and approval. Please note that these proofs are for layout purposes only.