Do you ship overseas and to P.O. boxes?
Yes, we’ll ship your package anywhere that can accept deliveries.
What are your hours?
Our friendly and knowledgeable customer services reps are available to answer your questions M-F 9am – 5pm US Mountain Time.
Do you deliver?
Yes, we offer local delivery in Longmont and the I25 corridor.
What is the best way to submit my artwork?
Usually artwork is submitted through email: orders@longmontprinting.com . Larger files (over 20 mb) can be submitted via Flash Drive, Google Drive or Hightail which offer free service to mail large files.
What is the best file format to use?
We accept many file formats- it all depends on the type of job you need printed. The most universal and easiest format is the PDF. For work requiring cut vinyl a vector file is usually needed, such as an AI or a Vectored PDF. It’s usually best to consult with our graphics department prior to submitting. Advice is free!
What is the difference between Vector and Raster file formats?
All file format fall into 2 main categories. There are vector based files and raster based files.
Vector artwork is created using outlines, or paths, to create shapes which can then be filled or outlined with color.
It is resolution-independent, so you can move, resize, or change the colors without losing the quality of the graphic. It is the best choice to use when dealing with text, especially small type and bold graphics that need to retain crisp lines when scaled to various sizes.
Cut vinyl jobs use vectors because the outlines to be cut can be selected and assigned a as a cut path. Examples of vector file formats are AI, CDR. Some PDF and SVG files hold vectors- if the original file was created in a vector based platform. That said, some PDFs may be a vector- if the original file the PDF was made from was a vector file.
Raster artwork on the other hand is tonal artwork created with a series of small dots or pixels. An image can end up looking jagged if it is printed at a low resolution because the size of each pixel will be increased. Photographs or digitally painted illustrations would be examples of this type of art. Examples of raster files would be JPG, TIF, BMP. In these formats, you can’t select individual shapes like you can with vector art.
It’s not recommended to enlarge raster artwork by a large degree. It can become blurry and pixelated if enlarged too much, losing its sharpness and clarity.
What are bleeds, and how do I make them?
Most printing devices will not allow printing off the edge of the page, as the toner or ink would eventually foul up the device. The safe guard they use is an unprintable void area around the borders of a sheet. (usually 1/8″) When faced with a job where the image must run off the page (a bleed) we need to print the job on an oversized sheet, then trim the paper to the edge. To prevent any slight errors that may occur in cutting which leave a bit of white paper showing at the edge, a margin for error is needed- a bleed area should be created. The bleed area is where the background image or color needs to extend beyond cut area of the sheet, but leaving the type or copy where in place. (usually 1/8″ or .125) The margin of any copy or type must be maintained a safe distance from the cut edge- usually a minimum of 3/16 or .187 for best results. Therefore simply enlarging the artwork does not create proper bleeds as it also pushes the copy or type closer or beyond the cut edge.
Most graphics programs provide a way to create a bleed area. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact our graphics department for advise. The following image demonstrates the relationship between margins and bleeds before and after trimming.