Do I need to use sign size as starting point?

[Kevin_R]

I am opening my own business at a retail location. I have created my logo but will I need to create an image at the same size the sign will be? I believe the sign that needs to be produced is 30"L X 20"H. That's going to be one huge image if that's the case not too mention I'm not sure the font size will go that high.. Anybody have any experience with this or will I be able to take the image that I've created in CS3 to the sign maker and he'll be able to adjust it. I just don't want the sign to be distorted. TIA.

Kevin

[budafist]

Create your text in Illutrator or Indesign. Your font should be able to go as big as you need it to. If the numbers don't go that high when you click on the predetermined font sizes, just manually type a in a bigger number.

Do you have any images on your sign or is it just text?

If it is just text and vector images, save it as an .eps file.

But for sure, talk to your printer first.

[Kevin_R]

Create your text in Illutrator or Indesign. Your font should be able to go as big as you need it to. If the numbers don't go that high when you click on the predetermined font sizes, just manually type a in a bigger number.

Do you have any images on your sign or is it just text?

If it is just text and vector images, save it as an .eps file.

But for sure, talk to your printer first.

The sign is both text and an image. It's a simple image though and I'm wondering if it when it scales it'll look terrible.

Thanks for the info.

Kevin

[budafist]

What kind of file is it and how big is it currently.

If it's small and a raster image, then you're right. It will scale terribly.

You could always post the image on here to check.

[Kevin_R]

It's saved as a .psd right now and it's 2267 X 442. It's is a raster image too.. Does illustrator work on a intel mac?

[budafist]

2267 X 442 what? I'm guess it's pixels, but what is the measurement in physical size?

You should be working at 300dpi.

[urstwile]

30" x 20" is actually not all that big. A quick stab in Photoshop at those dimensions at 300 dpi resulted in 50 megabyte image, puppy-sized by many standards. Obviously, the file size will increase with more layers, but a flattened TIFF file should be pretty manageable.

Best advice is to find out from the printer who's producing the sign what their target DPI is, and go from there.

Do as much of the work that you can in vector.

Also, if you're using Photoshop CS3, beware, there are known issues with it, due to its beta status. You might be unpleasantly surprised. In particular, there are known issues with image interpolation in the beta. I suggest you do all your final production in CS2, not the beta.

[PrintDriver]

Ack! Don't use the PSCS3 beta for anything but playtime.
There are several important things not yet working in there and it isn't rip tested yet.

Talk to whoever is printing your sign. Have them do the layout too. Raster images in a logo are not recommended. What happens when you have to do a bigger sign?

[Kevin_R]

Ack! Don't use the PSCS3 beta for anything but playtime.
There are several important things not yet working in there and it isn't rip tested yet.

Talk to whoever is printing your sign. Have them do the layout too. Raster images in a logo are not recommended. What happens when you have to do a bigger sign?

I can't use anything else besides CS3! Intel based Mac Pro and Macbook Pro. They both can't run CS2... Damn Adobe!

I am going to call the printer tomorrow to see how he's going to print it. Thanks for all the answers. I should be able to give you all a better idea tomorrow.

Kevin

[urstwile]

Kevin,

Have you tried running CS2 on the Intel Macs that you have? I've heard that some people have success with it and some don't, so I'm not ruling out the flaky aspect, but unless you've tried it and they clearly don't work for you, I wouldn't necessarily rule them out as options.

[PrintDriver]

You best ask the printer if he accepts Beta CS3.
You'd also best get a proof even though it's a small sign.

[Kevin_R]

Kevin,

Have you tried running CS2 on the Intel Macs that you have? I've heard that some people have success with it and some don't, so I'm not ruling out the flaky aspect, but unless you've tried it and they clearly don't work for you, I wouldn't necessarily rule them out as options.

Yep, I've tried em. I dl'ed the demo of illustrator and it closes out when it attempts to install. I figured the demo would be able to tell me before I went out and paid for it. I sent it to my MBP too and the same thing happens. I downloaded it twice just in case the first one was garbage.

I also contacted the printer and he will be printing at 300 dpi so it looks like I am going to have figure something out. Is there any other Mac program that will work like Illustrator or Indesign? I was using Gimp as an alternative to CS3 for awhile.

[jimking]

I have an Intel Mac running CS2 with no problems at all. Just make sure you have at least 2gigs of ram. Also, I updated Indesign, Illy and PS once loaded.

[Kevin_R]

I've got 6gb in the Pro and 2 in the MBP and still no dice. What did you do to set it up? Are you using the mac version? Or windoze with bootcamp? I am thinking that's going to be my next step.

[jimking]

Mac version. 6 gigs of ram believe it or not can cause problems. Unless you're working with video 6gigs maybe overkill and slowing something down. I have system 10.4.8 Tiger loaded. I loaded CS2 and several other programs with no problem except for one which seems to have bugs. Like I said, as soon as I loaded Cs2 I updated them.

[Kevin_R]

I'm also using 10.4.8 on both machines. On the MacPro I am using it for video too hence the amount of ram I have in it.

Each and everytime on both machines I go thru the installation process and as soon as I get to the actual installation point it exits.

Do you think I can get away with using the Windows version and dual boot. I didn't want to have to go through all that but I will if I have to. It's either that or look around the city for a G5.

[steve2112]

If you use photoshop you might loose all the solid spot colors and evrything will me bitmap. I would do it in indesign or illy and say as an eps. You should see how he is printing the sign as the sign machine we have only prints up to 150 dpi and when you look at a sign from more than 10 feet away 150 dpi is more than eneogh.

steve

[PrintDriver]

You need to get a new sign machine.
:D

[mattmainster]

If it isn't too late, here is my input:

When customers submit (photographic) files to us for large format output, (gloss posters and vinyl banners) we ask them to create the file at 1/4th scale and 600 dpi.
This allows for the file size to be small enough to transfer (FTP or CD) and also allows for enlargement to full size without distortion.
Let me know if you have any more questions. Hope that helps!

[Kevin_R]

If it isn't too late, here is my input:

When customers submit (photographic) files to us for large format output, (gloss posters and vinyl banners) we ask them to create the file at 1/4th scale and 600 dpi.
This allows for the file size to be small enough to transfer (FTP or CD) and also allows for enlargement to full size without distortion.
Let me know if you have any more questions. Hope that helps!

That does help. When you say large format, how big are we talking? I am going to need about a 30X20" and about a 6'X2' both will be illuminated.

[mattmainster]

I consider large format anything too large to run on any of our copiers (anything over 13"x19") all the way up to a 4'x20' banner. When you say illuminated do you mean "backlit"?

[Kevin_R]

Right on. Yeah it would be backlit. Think retail store sign.

[PrintDriver]

If it isn't too late, here is my input:

When customers submit (photographic) files to us for large format output, (gloss posters and vinyl banners) we ask them to create the file at 1/4th scale and 600 dpi.
This allows for the file size to be small enough to transfer (FTP or CD) and also allows for enlargement to full size without distortion.
Let me know if you have any more questions. Hope that helps!


ROFLMAO!

A Photoshop file at 1/4 scale at 600dpi is the same file size as a full scale file at 150dpi. There is no megabyte size saving magic there. All the same math applies.

Call your printer and ask what they want. It may even be to your advantage to have them do the file prep for you at this point. You need to understand image resolution when going large.

[mattmainster]

Trust me, a 1/4 scale file is a lot easier to work with on the print end...especially for flight checking...

[PrintDriver]

All I do is wide format.
One is just as good as the other all the way through the pipe, pre-flighting on down.

Now if you told me to shut the view of the layers off to make it smaller for transfer, there I'd agree.

But it's all in what the print vendor wants.
I just don't think you will find a 1/4 scale 4x Rez Photoshop file any easier to work on or smaller to transfer than a full scale.

And as far as the original poster's query, if he doesn't understand resolution and resizing (he could check out our Resources Sticky on that topic) it would be better for him to be asking this question of the print vendor he is using. These are actually tiny signs in large format world and on smaller signs the more resolution you have that approaches the max offered by the vendor, the better off you are. I might do a billboard at 20dpi or less final size, but I wouldn't do a tiny 20"X30" outdoor sign with a photo image at less than 120-150 final. With no Interpolation.

Also in reference to the original post, if you don't want your image distorted, work in scale. Crop your image to the correct proportions (remember your bleed and frame capture) and the printer can do the rest if the resolution is there to work with.

[mattmainster]

I agree with you. It all depends on who the print vendor is and what they prefer to work with. And like you said, if the proportion and resolution are there..you should be good to go. Oh, and don't forget to include those bleeds. You will become your printer's best friend!