Submission of Digital Art
If you do not have an original or camera-ready version of your art, the best way to send us your
images, artwork or logo is in a digital or electronic format. DMI's production team
can work with a variety of digital formats and graphic design applications. Below
is a list of the most common graphic design and layout applications we use here
at DMI. If your application is not listed, please consider calling the production
team before sending us your files to avoid a delay in completing your design request.
DMI uses the following industry standard graphic design and layout applications:
- Photoshop (this includes files created with Image Ready)
- Illustrator
- Fireworks
DMI uses the following industry standard desktop publishing and layout applications:
- Indesign 2.0+
- Fireworks 4.0+
DMI can accept text for copy in just about any format but the following are the
most common:
- Microsoft Word (.doc, .rtf, .txt, .wps, .html)
- Windows text (txt) and Rich Text Format (RTF)
Note: In some cases we may be able to work with a PDF created with
one of the applications above. Call our design team if you have questions regarding
the use of a PDF file.
There is an old saying "You only get out of something what you put in", so please
be aware that the eventual quality of your badge's print job is often easy to determine
based on the original artwork you provide as the source.
Using Digital Images, Logos and/or Artwork on Your I.D. Badges
Your images, artwork and logo will be used to communicate your professionalism to
your employees. If you would like to have those items resized, cropped or have any
other modifications done, we suggest that you send in the highest quality artwork
you have available. Below are some of the guidelines for the most common types of
files used.
Submitting Digital Images and Artwork
If you are submitting "loose" digital images, it means that we will be placing those
images onto your I.D. badges based on your instructions or mockup drawing. Ideally, employee photos provided 1" up to 1.5" in width, with the height constrained
to proportion eliminate additional re-sizing costs, but we will attempt to work
with the photos you provide. In the
simplest terms, we need:
- High quality TIFF or JPEG images
- Color if possible. If the image needs to be B/W we can convert it
- Instructions and/or mock-ups indicating size and placement of image(s)
Determine Photo Quality of your Source File
The following is a comparison of good quality photo image sources vs. low quality
photo image
sources:
Good Quality Photo Sources
- 2.4 MegaPixel or better digital camera
- High resolution / high quality stock photography
- High resolution / high quality scanner (true high resolution, not interpolation)
Low Quality Image Sources
- 2.0 MegaPixel or lower digital
camera
- Screen capture or video frame
- Low resolution / low quality stock photography
- Low resolution / low quality scanner
- Image which has been optimized for (lifted from) a Web page
Submitting Digital Logos
Your logo is perhaps the most important identifier for your business. If you are
submitting a digital logo, it means that we will be placing that images onto your
badges based on your instructions or mockup drawing. In the simplest terms, we need:
- High quality TIFF or JPEG image
- Adobe Illustrator 8.0 or above file
- EPS with fonts converted to outlines
- Clear instructions and/or mock-ups indicating size and placement of image(s)
Determine the Logo Quality for your Source File
The following is a comparison of good quality logo sources vs. low quality logo
sources:
Good Quality Logo Sources
- EPS created according to our instructions from Illustrator or FreeHand
- High resolution, CMYK TIFF or JPEG, or PSD file from Photoshop
- High resolution / high quality scan of camera ready artwork
Low Quality Logo Sources
- Image lifted off a Web page
- Low resolution / low quality TIFF or JPEG
- Low resolution / low quality scan
- Clip art
Common Digital File Errors
Wrong File Type
Our production process is such that we can only accept specific file types from
specific professional graphic design applications. If your application is not listed,
please consider having us build your layout for you. We're happy to do so.
Corrupt File
If you choose to e-mail files to use remember that they can get stripped of vital
code that identifies them as valid TIFF's or EPS's or whatever the original file
types. Without compressing your files, you run the risk of sending us incomplete
or "corrupted" digital files. Remember to compress them with a compression program.
We prefer .zip or .rar files.
Submitting Your Camera-Ready Artwork
Camera Ready Artwork is better understood if you think "scanner ready laser print".
Essentially, you are mailing us a black/white hardcopy from a laser printer and
we are scanning it and placing that into your layout for you. This level of quality
will produce the best results.
Basic guidelines for getting the best possible results:
- Use a good quality printer (laser printer highly preferred)
- Black/white only (please do not use shades of gray)
- Be sure that text, borders, and logos are sharp and clear
Getting the Best Quality
Be sure that your text, borders, and logos are sharp, clear, and black/white. This
can typically be determined by scrutinizing your hardcopy on your end before mailing
it to us.
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