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Marler Haley Graphic Specifications

This information can save you hundreds, possibly thousands of pounds… and yet it is not for you! It is for you to pass onto your designer or whoever is creating your graphics for your display. It will assist them in setting up your artwork to achieve the optimum output whilst minimising hold ups and cost.

There are many ways and several pieces of software that can be used to assemble artwork and not all of them suit large format printing. These specs help you and your designer avoid trouble. Although it can get a little technical at times, you may like to read the specifications for yourself as it demonstrates where things can go wrong if artwork is supplied incorrectly.

Templates in certain software packages are also available for popular products to make it even easier –  just request these from Marler Haley graphics and we’ll email them over.

If your designer needs any advice or assistance, tell them not to be proud as we’d be happy to help. Call us on 0800 072 7742 or you can email us.

Please note that whilst we will make every effort to ensure your graphics are perfect for you, we cannot be liable if the artwork we are supplied with does not meet the following specifications.

Resolution

Too low and the print will be pixilated

Res’ing up softens the image and can only be used sparingly


72dpi at finished size of PRINT

72 dpi – At the finished print size or, if you set the document up at quarter size then scans will be at 288dpi i.e. 72dpi at full size

Colour Matching

All colour matching is done under daylight matched lighting to a method certified in our ISO9001 procedures. Pantones: Please note that our large format inkjet printing uses a process colour system utilising 4,6 or 8 colours. The advantage is large, high impact, full colour graphics panels. The disadvantage is that Pantone colours cannot be printed in their specific solid colours although in most cases an excellent result can be obtained with the process system.

When you have a colour that is particularly important, advise us and leave it as a specific pantone number. DO NOT CONVERT IT TO CMYK. Whilst this may give you the result you seek in Litho printing, it most likely won’t in inkjet. The first Pantone match is free and subsequent ones incur a small charge of £25 each.

Matching brochures, letterheads: Just because you have specified your brochure to appear in a Pantone colour doesn’t mean it precisely matches a Pantone colour chip. It may be Litho printed in the one, specific colour or probably made from CMYK. It may appear differently depending on a number of factors including the paper stock and density with which it is laid down. If you would like your graphics to match as closely as possible your corporate literature (or any other item for that matter) please send the item itself.

Proofing

Proofs are completed on the specific RIP station and printer your final job will be completed on and are therefore a “machine proof”. Furthermore, the file is retained on the RIP (Raster Image Processor) until approved and is then scaled and printed.

This ensures exactly what you see on your proof is exactly what you get in your final job. Only on the rare occasions that any changes are required, will another file be sent to the RIP. Due to the complexity of proofing to this standard, we make a nominal charge of £25 for this service. A Marler Haley proof consists of your Artwork printed at a reduced scale to give a roughly (depending on format etc.) A3+ sample.

Where we are concerned about any area of the print at its full-size resolution we will print a section at full size to demonstrate the finished result. For our 3×3 and 4×3 Compact system we can supply “3D” Proofs which have the print mounted on a model of the system.

This is useful as it allows you to observe the location of copy on the end panels and provides a visual tool for customers to demonstrate how the unit will look to colleagues.

General specifications

File Formats: Marler Haley accept file formats in: Illustrator, Photoshop, Freehand and InDesign.

We do not accept: Low resolution PDF’s, Coral Draw, Word, Excel, Quark, PowerPoint and Publisher.

Images and Scans: The resolution for images and scans needs to be no less than 72dpi at the final output size.

Compression: If possible do not use compression! (eg: LZW or JPEG) If for some reason you need to, please ensure the file name includes LZW or JPEG.

Embedded Images: All images must be supplied as linked files for Illustrator and Freehand documents. Embedded images are not acceptable.

RGB to CMYK: Please ensure all images are supplied in CMYK not RGB.

Colour Matching: Pantones: If you require us to match a Pantone colour please inform us. Additional Pantones are chargeable at £25.00 per colour.

Gradients: If you have a subtle gradient differential, this may not be identified by the production RIP software. Similarly, if you are using a low percentage of a colour, eg 5% of black, the printer software might not be able to identify this as a colour and will read this as being white. The finished effect will be white and not grey.

Corporate Colours: Please include any relevant brochures/ letterheads etc. when submitting the artwork. Special match colours are chargeable at £25.00 per colour.

Fonts: Please include all fonts when sending the artwork, or create to outline.

Logos: Please supply logos as Vector files from Illustrator or Freehand. They are not resolution dependent and will therefore enlarge almost limitlessly.

Document set up: Please supply all artwork at 1/4 size.

FAQs

What is the DPI? DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It is the amount of dots in a 1 square inch area (ie: 72dpi = 72 dots per square inch).

What size should the artwork be produced at? At 1/4 of the final size print or 25% of the final print output.

Is there an overall measurement for bleed? Bleed is only required for fabric graphics and is 85mm where PH pockets are needed but all those size are given with the graphic lay outs.

Is there a material that is fire retardant? We can supply fire retardant for fabrics with certification. This must be in writing on the order. Fire retardant Acrylic exist, (speak a member of the team for more details).

How much to add to graphics if they want it fire retardant? The price increase by 15% from general pricing as the raw material.