How to prepare artwork for signage
A clear file and a few practical details can save time before your sign goes into production.
You do not need to be a designer to start a signage enquiry. Send the best original artwork you have, explain where the sign will go and tell us its approximate size. The final file setup depends on whether the design will be printed, cut into lettering, applied as graphics or built as an illuminated sign.
Start with these five things
- Your original logo or design file.
- The intended width and height, with units.
- The exact wording and contact information.
- A photo of the sign location or surface.
- Any brand colours, deadline and installation requirements.
1. Find your original logo
Look for a file supplied by your designer rather than a logo copied from a website, social profile or screenshot. PDF, SVG and EPS are useful formats to send for review, but the extension alone does not tell us how the artwork was created. A PDF may contain vector artwork, photographs or a small pixel based image.
Vector artwork describes shapes and paths, which makes it useful for logos and lettering that need to be enlarged. A JPG or PNG is made of pixels, so its quality at the finished sign size depends on the original image dimensions. Saving a small JPG as a PDF does not recreate missing detail.
2. State the finished dimensions and scale
Give the width and height and say whether your measurements are approximate or confirmed. For example, write “approximately 2400 mm wide × 600 mm high” rather than “2400 × 600” without units. Include quantities and identify which file belongs to each sign if you have several.
If your designer has prepared a large sign at a reduced scale, tell us the scale explicitly. A file at 1:10 represents a sign ten times larger than the document dimensions. Final measurements may still need checking against the site before production.
3. Use suitable photographs and images
Send the largest original image available. Images downloaded from messaging apps or social media may have been compressed. A photograph can look sharp on a small screen but show softness when enlarged across a fascia or wall.
Ask for the required image resolution at the final output size rather than apply one resolution rule to every sign. Print size, scale, viewing distance and the production method all matter. Increasing a resolution number without adding genuine image detail does not make a low quality original sharp.
4. Confirm colour and font requirements
Include brand guidelines and any colour references you have. Screens display colour differently from printed graphics, painted surfaces and illuminated materials. Tell us if matching an existing sign or a particular brand colour is important so it can be considered before you approve the specification.
Fonts also need checking. Ask your designer to follow the agreed export requirements, including embedding fonts in a PDF or converting text to outlines where appropriate. Keep an editable original separately: outlined text is harder to change later. Tell us if you need help with font or artwork preparation.
5. Agree bleed, margins and cut details
A printed graphic may need artwork extending beyond the finished edge so it can be trimmed or wrapped correctly. Important text also needs enough room away from edges, folds and fixings. The required bleed and safe area depend on the product; ask for the specification before exporting rather than assume a standard measurement.
Cut lettering and shaped graphics may need defined paths or production layers instead of a simple flat print file. Do not add guessed cut lines, mounting holes or fabrication details. We can discuss the file requirements once the sign type and construction are agreed.
6. Review the proof carefully
Before approving, check spelling, website addresses, phone numbers, opening times, orientation and the intended size. Check that the correct logo version is used and that each sign has the right artwork. Let us know about changes before approval rather than assume they will be made during production.
A visual proof helps confirm the agreed layout. It is not a substitute for a site survey, an exact material sample or every technical construction detail. Artwork, materials, lighting and installation arrangements should all match the agreed project scope.
Sending your files to A Peachy Creation
Our enquiry form accepts one JPG, PNG or PDF up to 10 MB. Include a file sharing link for SVG or EPS artwork, multiple images or larger files, and check that the link can be opened by the recipient. Avoid sending passwords or unrelated personal information. Only supply artwork and images you are authorised to use.
If you only have a screenshot, send it for an initial discussion and tell us that the original is unavailable. We will review what is needed and discuss any artwork preparation as part of the quotation. That is better than spending time guessing at technical settings.
Choose the sign before finalising the artwork
Compare sign types, materials and fitting options, or read what affects the cost of a shop sign to understand how the specification influences your quotation. For business cards and flyers, use our commercial printing service and confirm its separate artwork requirements.
Further reading: Adobe explains raster and vector files and PDF bleed and output settings. Your project specification takes precedence over a generic file setup.