Printing FAQs and File Preparation Tips

We are a full service print and sign shop and offer a wide range of products and services. To see a full listing and description of what we can offer you, check out the Products & Services area in the Customer Service Section of our website.

Complete our online Request an Estimate form with as much information as possible about your project, including the quantity, size, materials, finishing options, and desired completion date. You can also call or visit our Galveston shop to discuss your project with a member of our team.

If you’re unsure about the specifications, don’t worry—we’ll help you review the options and determine what will work best for your project.

For the best results, submit your finished design as a print-ready PDF. We recommend the PDF/X-4 format when available because it preserves image quality, color information, fonts, and transparency.

Before saving your file, please check the following:

Set the document to the final printed size.
Add ⅛-inch bleed on every side if colors or images extend to the edge.
Keep important text and logos at least ⅛ inch inside the trim line.
Use high-resolution images—generally 300 dpi at the finished size.
Use CMYK color mode when possible.
Embed all fonts and linked images.
Check spelling, contact information, dates, and page order carefully.
Export as individual pages rather than printer spreads unless we request otherwise.

Adobe InDesign: Export using Adobe PDF (Print) and select PDF/X-4 or Press Quality. Be sure to include the document bleed settings.

Adobe Illustrator: Save a copy as a print-quality PDF. Include bleed and preserve editing capabilities only if you would like us to make changes.

Adobe Photoshop: Save as a high-quality PDF, TIFF, or PSD at the correct finished size and resolution. Flattened files cannot be easily edited.

Canva: Select Download → PDF Print. Turn on Crop Marks and Bleed if your design extends to the edge of the page.

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Publisher: Save or export the document as a PDF using the highest-quality or print setting. Please note that colors, fonts, and positioning can sometimes shift in Microsoft files, so review the exported PDF carefully.

For large banners, signs, or other oversized graphics, file requirements may vary by size and material. If you’re unsure whether your file is ready, send it to our team for review before placing your order.

Resolution should be set to 300 dpi.

Pictures and graphics pulled from the internet are often low resolution, typically 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Avoid these graphics, as they will appear pixilated and blocky when printed.

Also note that you should save all photos in CMYK mode, not RGB mode when possible. Images saved in RGB mode may not print properly. If you are unable to save your image in CYMK mode, please let us know.

In printing terms, a proof is a one-off copy of your document after all modifications and printing setup processes have been completed. It is your last and best opportunity to make sure that the print job comes out the way you want. By carefully inspecting the proof, you can help us assure an accurate, flawless delivery of your print job on the first run.

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color reproduction standard in which colors all across the spectrum are each identified by a unique, independent number. The use of PMS allows us to precisely match colors and maintain color consistency throughout the printing process.

In short, printers and monitors produce colors in different ways.

Monitors use the RGB (red, green, blue) color model, which usually supports a wider spectrum of colors. Printers use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, which can reproduce most—but not all—of the colors in the RGB color model. Depending on the equipment used, CMYK generally matches 85–90% of the colors in the RGB model.

When a color is selected from the RGB model that is out of the range of the CMYK model, the application chooses what it thinks is the closest color that will match. Programs like Adobe Photoshop will allow you to choose which color will be replaced. Others may not.

Not typically. Because white is the default color of paper, it is simply recognized as the absence of any ink. However, when using colored paper, white ink may be used if any text or graphic requires it.

PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.

Simple jobs are often completed in less than an hour. Some jobs, however, may take several days to complete depending on their complexity and size. We always strive to provide an accurate estimate of the turnaround time for each job we do. And we’ll always work with you to find ways to complete your project when you need it.

We accept cash, company check and all major credit cards. We can also set up a business account for you, as well. Contact us for details.

‘A’ size drawings are 8.5”x11” or 9”x12”
‘B’ size drawings are 11”x17” or 12”x14”
‘C’ size drawings are 18”x24” or 17”x22”
‘D’ size drawings are 24”x36” or 22”x34”
‘E’ size drawings are 30”x42” or 34”x44”
‘F’ size drawings are 36”x48”