Beautiful, color prints and posters
Posters, courtroom graphics, presentation graphics, fine art prints or even SWOP certified digital proofs are all possible up to 44 inches wide on a wide variety of papers. These prints resist fading and, if cared for properly, will last for years.
Specifics
Your project can be created using most any page layout or graphic editing application. Create your project the same size as your finished size. This reduces complications because the file does not have to be enlarged when it is printed. Two things that complicate a job and can cause disappointment with the end result are: disproportionate enlargemnent and low resolution.
Suppose your poster requires an exact finished size of 24 X 36 inches, maybe to fit into a frame, but the page size of the file provided is 8.5 X 11 inches. What percentage would you use to enlarge it to exactly 24 X 36 inches? The truth is there isn't one to enlarge it proportionately to fit in your frame. It would have to be enlarged disproportionately; going for one dimension and letting the other fall as it will. If from the beginning the page size is correct, this dilema can be avoided.
Another problem that arises from enlarging a file when it is printed is reduced resolution. The optimum resolutions for our wide-format printer are 180, 240 or 360 dpi. The absolute minimum is 180 dpi for photos and line work. What happens to the resolution of a photo if it is placed in the layout at the minimum resolution of 180 dpi and then has to be enlarged 200 percent when the file is printed? The resolution is cut in half and that won't work. So work 1:1. It eliminates low resolution surprises.A few more specifics
Adobe Illustrator works particularly well and so does Adobe Photoshop for creating posters. If you use Illustrator be sure to convert Pantone colors to CMYK and convert the fonts you use to Outlines. Send along any graphics that have been linked to the Illustrator file. For Photoshop, keep in mind the resolution issue mentioned above. Keeping the file as RGB works the best, but CMYK is not a problem. When you save the file, save it as a PSD file and be sure to send along the fonts you used in the document. Or, if you're sure everything is correct and you have not used any fonts, save it as an RGB EPS. If you are sure everything is correct and you would like to embed the fonts, save your file as a Photoshop PDF. Choose Zip Compression, Include Vector Data, and Embed Fonts. For a little more information, you may also want to check out our section on fonts in preparing for print.For InDesign, QuarkXPress, or Publisher, send us the application file with the fonts used in the document and all linked graphics. If you are sure everything in the document is correct, you may also send a PDF file. You may want to review our sections on PDF files and Preparing for print.
Finishing
We have two standard papers we use for posters: Premium PhotoLuster and Double-Weight Matte. Others can be special ordered including paper for fine-art prints. PhotoLuster has a smooth, semi-gloss surface suitable for photos and high-quality prints. The Double-Weight Matte is durable and as the name suggests, has a matte finish. Both can be laminated or mounted to Foam-core.