Poster Print - Artwork Guidelines
Setting up your files for large format print
Please pay particular attention to the following guidelines. We specialise in fast turnaround high quality digital print and can only achieve this if your files are set up correctly. Anything that is not to correct or to our specifications can always be sorted out, but may take extra time meaning that any deadlines agreed would be missed and you may incur extra costs. If you are unclear on any of these points or have any other queries then please contact us for further details.

Your Order - Always provide a written order (email, fax or post) clearly stating your requirements, your full contact details and refer to any quote number you may have been given. Ideally include an inkjet, laser print, or a PDF with embedded fonts, for us to use as a rough visual content check - without this we accept no responsibility for missing fonts, pictures or other variations as we will only be able to print what we assume is correct.

Sending files - As well as posting a CD/DVD you can upload files along with your order via our online upload facility
Please save multiple files in one ZIP/archive format first.

Order Acknowledgement - Once we have received your order we will email you a written order acknowledgement. This will show; your job number, the details of your order as we understand it, estimated proof and production timescales plus the final costs and your payment requirements - you can pay online if you do not have a credit account with us - see price and payment terms. Please check this carefully!

Proofs - We always recommend a colour accurate proof (at cost shown in pricelist, or included free in orders over £100 unless stated otherwise) if you wish to be certain of colour and content. Proof production will take at least one or two full working days plus postage/collection time and your approval time. NB If due to a short deadline a proof is not possible, then you agree to accept any prints we produce unchecked and we accept no responsibility for any content or colour accuracy variations to what you may have expected.

Artwork -
Adobe Acrobat PDF format files are our preferred choice for fast turnaround work - this is also the best method for Pagemaker, Microsoft Word or Publisher files. However it is imperative that you create PDF’s as ‘press optimised’ with bleed, cropmarks and fonts embedded and follow our imported photos guidelines, as faults in PDF’s cannot be easily ‘fixed’ later in production if you get it wrong.

Quark Xpress or Adobe InDesign files are accepted if ‘collected for output’ / ’packaged’ so all the related files and fonts are included.

Freehand, Illustrator and Coreldraw files are acceptable ONLY if saved in .EPS format. You will be charged if we have to re-save.

Photoshop or similar files should ideally be saved as .TIF. Highest quality JPG is acceptable if sending via our upload service.

We can also accept other files and formats, but please ring and check first if timescales are critical as they take longer.

Page Setup - All files supplied must be on the correct size page for the print process required - This is quarter of the final size for large format poster prints and final/actual size ie 100% for digital printing. You will be charged if we have to resize your files.

Unless previously advised DO NOT impose your files in any way, this applies especially to business cards. Digital print workflows operate in totally different ways to normal litho print, so we always setup and impose your documents within the price quoted. Business cards should be setup as single pages at 85 x 54mm to qualify for our fixed price packages.

If your artwork requires ‘bleed’ (ie if it extends off the edge of your page) you must allow at least 3mm. We also recommend that any text is kept at least 2mm away from the edge of the page. If your document is to be wire ‘o’ bound make sure ‘bleed’ is allowed on all four edges and you have allowed a ‘binding margin’.

Finally, documents comprising more than one page must always be supplied in one file with no blank pages - for instance covers and inners must be together in one file.

Photos - Photographic images should be supplied as 300dpi CMYK .TIF files with LZW off, and placed into your document at 100%. Any images with clipping paths should be saved as EPS - NB avoid Quark clipping paths as they can cause unpredictable results.
.JPG files are accepted only when transferring files via the internet.

Digital Camera Images
Unless your images conform to our 'photos' standards above ie they can be placed in a quarter size document at 300dpi then they will not be good enough quality for large format prints. Never enlarge image resolutions beyond their original size - you
cannot put in what was not there in the first place.
If in any doubt please request a 'colour proof'

Imported Graphics - Should be in .EPS format with fonts converted to paths or curves. Importing .AI and .PSD into InDesign/Quark although possible can produce unpredictable results. Never copy and paste graphics from other programs especially Powerpoint, Excel, Word or Clipart. Please note that Word art is a low resolution format and almost never prints well.

Exhibition Stands - or exhibition stand designs that cover more than one panel (eg Popup stands) set Quark Xpress / InDesign documents up as ‘spreads’, do not supply as one ‘big’ page. Unless you can only supply a .TIF or .EPS as these are the exceptions and must be provided as one ‘big’ page WITH cropmarks drawn on clearly for each panel and bleed all round. Avoid characters and fine graphics which cross panel gaps as we cannot guarantee that these will always line up accurately.

Digital Print Limitations - Due to the print processes used in digital technology we recommend you avoid using flat tints of 10% or less, as these can sometimes print with a marbled or mottled effect. Also as with traditional litho printing try to limit large expanses of any flat colour: - textured areas or Photoshop effects will always print much better. In fact we suggest being as adventurous as possible for the most dramatic results. Graduations must always have a suitable range such as 10% to 100% not 10% to 25%. Avoid Quark Xpress blends as they are known to cause ‘banding’ - instead create blends in Photoshop and save as CMYK TIF. For a ‘Rich’ black use 50%C 100%K.

Colour and Colour Matching - Make sure all colours in your document are specified as CMYK. If you have used RGB or spot colours in your design process you must convert them to CMYK. This includes imported .EPS graphics from Illustrator and Freehand and duotone photos. Please remember that Pantone colours cannot be accurately reproduced in CMYK, so if it is important that you try and match a Pantone colour then request a Colour Proof.

It is impossible to guarantee that the colours of large format prints will match previously printed work due to changes in materials and processes. If your requirements include future updates of single panels within a set, we suggest you create a design which does not rely on a panel to panel colour match eg use a contrasting colour. If in any doubt always order a colour accurate proof first to check.

Fonts - Only use legitimate PostScript fonts (never TrueType unless absolutely unavoidable), include both printer and screen fonts on your disk. If you must use TrueType then if possible convert them to paths/curves to avoid any potential problems.
Do not use bold, italic or other type options from the menu bar, use the correct bold or italic fonts.

Amendments - Any amendments requested will be charged at our standard hourly rates unless agreed otherwise in writing. If after ordering a proof you wish to send a replacement amended file you will be charged a ‘reprocessing’ fee of a minimum of £8.75 or standard proof prices if another proof is requested.

Prices and Payment Terms - As we are primarily a trade supplier our prices Do Not Include VAT. We have a minimum charge of £8.75 for any artwork or amendments to files. All work must be paid for on collection or prior to delivery unless a credit account has already been applied for and opened. If you have been given a job number or quote number, payment can be made online via the link on every page of our website: www.cypherdigital.co.uk/pay
We reserve the right to amend any of these prices at any time in line with costs of raw materials. All goods and services remain the property of Cypher until paid for in full.

Delivery Terms - our purchase will leave us is good condition and is fully insured whilst in transit to you. A condition of insurance is that you or your representative inspects your purchase before signing the carriers delivery note. In the unlikely event your goods have been damaged in transit (however slight), sign "received damaged" and report to us within 24hrs of delivery.
If the delivery note has been signed in any other way you will have invalidated the insurance and waive all right to claim for any repair or replacement for goods damaged in transit.

This is particularly important for large format panels, especially those mounted on boards and stretched canvases. These are produced typically as custom 'one offs' and because of their size and the fact that they can be difficult to handle can be susceptible to damage in transit. The slightest mark or scratch may mean that the panels are not 100% and are possibly then not acceptable.

Delivery Times - Although we will make every effort to meet advised delivery times, we will not be liable for any loss to the Customer contingent on any such delivery not being met. Especially in cases where third parties eg. carriers are involved. Neither will any such failure to meet a delivery date constitute a breach of contract on our part.

Claims - Advice of damage, delay, partial loss or non delivery of goods in transit must be notified in writing to us within three days of delivery. Any claims regarding faults or incorrect output must be made in writing to us within seven days of delivery and the work in question must be returned to us for examination. We shall not be liable in respect of any claim unless the above requirements have been complied with.

Paper Sizes and Finishing
Maximum image size in one piece: 1600mm x 15 metres approx. depending on substrate Larger images are possible by tiling.
Substrates: Photo base 190gsm standard, self adhesive vinyl, coated artists canvas, art paper, self adhesive vinyl, blueback paper, weather resistant fabric, reinforced PVC banner, windmesh banner.
NB We always recommend laminating prints if frequent handling or durability is
required. If you require water resistance, extra durability or weather resistant prints we offer printing using low-solvent based inks and a range of lamination and encapsulation options.We can also mount onto various boards and substrates.

Accepted Media - We can accept files saved onto: CD, DVD, USB flash drive and various flash memory cards. Or you can transfer files via our upload page. When sending work via upload always ZIP all your files in a folder with your name or company as the folder name. Enter your job requirements in the message box and include your Name, Address and Telephone number. Please also add any Cypher quote number or job number you have been given to avoid any delays, as we cannot book in or process any work until we have received written instructions.

Pricing and Quotes - Due to the huge variety of stocks available and the unique flexibility of large format print it would be impractical for us to produce a complete pricelist. Instead we have listed some 'standard' typical guide prices on our website and in our printed pricelist - available free on request, we also publish special offer prices in our newsletters and mailshots on occasion and we would be happy to quote individually for your requirements over and above these at any time. Please always confirm the quote number you are given when sending in any orders, this will save a lot of time and potential confusion. If your requirements have changed between getting an initial quote from us and sending your job in, then please request a re-quote.We will have to re-cost it anyway and would much prefer that you know the cost of your order before the job is started, to avoid any misunderstandings later.