If you can contact the printer, I'd ask them if they REALLY need that. Or if they do, see if they'll accept an 11x17 reduction of the file printed and then go somehwere that will create a match print or color proof.

they just want a small sample of what you think the print should look like. IF color is not a big deal print a sample and send it to them, if it is spend time on tweaking the color the way you want it, so when they start printing they will match to your proof

Thanks for answering balou. I am going to try and get in touch with the printer tomorrow to see what size proof they need. I considered that the proof would need to be smaller, but then thought how much good would that do the printer. If I reduce each panel to fit on tabloid paper it will only be about 17% of actual size and I don't know how much good a color proof that is so much smaller than the original would be? I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'm so used to being able to talk to my printers..this kinda stinks.

Thanks rockem I'll see what they say.

Is it mostly photos or are there solid parts you have set up as cmyk pantone colors? Sometimes I'll send out a color print from my printer with notes about the colors and their PMS equivalents. My inkjet on photo paper does a nice job with photos so many times I'll just send one of those along too. Just depends how picky the customer is (and printer) and if they're really picky, most likely it's a corporation with a branding guidleline manager and they have the budget to pay for match prints.

dont worry about the size, it is fine to get a 8.5 x11 proof for a 10 foot mirage. I you would have to print a full size proof why not just do it yourself?

The only place you might run into problems is if you are specifying a Pantone match. Even though booth graphics are printed in '4 color' they aren't done with separations and plates and every printer prints color differently. If you are using PMS solid colors in your mural, speak to the printer about how they want those colors put in the file and indicated on your hard copy (which is what we call that full color print proof).

Now they may actually be asking for a certified match print, which you will have to send out for. It's called a SWOP proof but I'd be really surprised if that is what they want...

Thanks for answering everyone. I spoke with someone at the printers this morning and was told to send an 8.5 by 11 proof so they had somthing to match colors too. I told the rep that I was going to be converting the PMS colors to CMYK before I sent the files, but she still wants me to note which colors are PMS matches (which really are not PMS matches since I'll be converting them into CMYK) which I didn't expect, but that is what the printer wants.

As I said before I don't usually work in large format to be printed outside my office. Usually if a customer wants to see a color match proof I have the printer supply it(for an extra fee of course) no big deal. This printer will not supply me with a color match proof so I need to find a place to get it printed. I guess it's time to go google for a while.

Thanks for your replys everyone and rockem "I you would have to print a full size proof why not just do it yourself?" That is exactly what I was thinking.

Errr....You are confusing the heck out of me here.
Why are you converting Pantones to CMYK?
And they won't supply a color proof after you submit your file?
What is this being printed on?
And from what program?
I'm kinda curious, having recently been told by one of my vendors that they outsource a certain process to Holland (!)

Im confused to? Call out the pms colors you are going for on your proof, then they will try and hit that. If your telling them to go for the proccess side they probably will try to match to that which will result in a much duller color.
For getting it done over seas I would get a test print first, shouldnt be to much maybe around 50 -75 and then you know what your getting

Lets see if I can answer some questions here. First let me tell you that the printer is not overseas as I thought, but is actually in North Carolina. There was some confussion on that point which is mostly my fault, but now I know.
I was going to convert the spot colors (Pantones) to process because I have usually had to do that for our brochures and marketing collateral and some packaging which were 4 color process and those printers want the colors converted before I sent them. After reading your question and rockems reply I am beginning to think that this may not be a good idea. Comments?

They will not supply a color proof after I submit my files. I am not sure why.

I am not sure exactly what it is being printed on (I need to call the printer back to find out) all I know is that it is plastic.

Last but not least I will be creating these in Illustrator 11 which is their prefered file format. They also prefer Photoshop, but about 60% each panel will be vector artwork so I chose Illustrator instead.

Let me know if you have any other comments or suggestions and thank you for taking the time to help me out.

rasterize it if you have alot of transperencies and drop shadows and other illy effects,
they wont print you a test print? I would find somewhere else to go thats a big red flag in my book.
remember about your panel breaks if ya wanna keep something from being cut through

got a pic of it so I can see to see if there are any other problems I can spot out right away?

Rockem, actually I haven't done any design on the panels yet. I have the measurements and bleed requirements which I received yesterday(they want them completed by next Tuesday). <sarcasm>I received it yesterday but the marketing department has been talking about it for a month and a half now. Why tell the designer what your doing when you can dump a lot of work on him at the last minute</sarcasm>. The markateers actually want three seperate panels so the only thing that will go from panel to panel is the company logo and possibly an illustration at the bottom. As for going somewhere else...well even if I don't get the information I need this afternoon I actually have no say in who is doing the work. It seems strange but the structure of this company tries to keep me away from our printers. It's a long story and fairly boring so I'll stop. Suffice it to say I would prefer a bigger role in deciding these things.

I started this morning writing code for a new website for a division of the company, then had to do a production drawing in CAD, talk to the large format printer, write a proposal to udate our artwork and drawing archives, change two label layouts in Illy and sit in a meeting with a printer who wants to work for us(which is really strange since I won't have any say in the decision to hire them or not). My mind is shot. Too much variety makes John a crazy boy. "Heeeeeeres Johnny".

- Sounds like a printed vinyl job. Could be a polyester Lambda job.
- Don't convert your PMS colors to CMYK. Keep them as PMS colors and let them know you did by calling them out on your hard copy. Supply chips if you have them. In wide format, we don't use seps or plates. If color managed, the PMS colors have to be there for the profiles to read.
- If you have raster images they should probably be at least 100 to 150dpi AT FINAL SIZE. Do the math. Don't worry (much) about the resolution of the actual Illustrator file if you are working at 100% (actual size).
- Link your images, don't embed them.
- No proof is a big risk. Unless they don't have the time, which it sounds like. A no rush schedule for this type of thing is usually 7 business days with a proof.
- There is a Large format graphic requirements thing in the Resource section. It may confuse you more than help though. And it's always superceded by whatever your printer tells you to do.