If you have any questions about your artwork which are not addressed here, please email: Tara (at) SmithPrints.com
Vector Art (Save Time and Money!) BEST
Vector Art is art that is built (actually drawn) in a vector or object based program such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw or Macromedia Freehand.
Vector Art is the BEST to send us!
Common files extensions for this type of file include .ai, .eps, and .pdf.
Vector artwork is X Y coordinate based. This means that we can re-scale the image at any size and it will retain it's integrity.
This also means that each element of the design can be selected and colorized or manipulated. If you place a scanned image into Illustrator, this is still considered Raster Art because we can not manipulate the image, and your art will need to be re-drawn.
When providing vector files, it is important to convert fonts to curves or create outlines for all text used OR supply us with the original fonts used.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any artwork questions.
Raster Art (Photo Realistic) OK . . .
however, for screen printing purposes, Raster Art needs to be re-drawn as vector art, and will cost you time and money!
Photographic Art (or photo realistic design) is art that incorporates scanned in imagery, or art that is built in a pixel based program such as Photoshop.
Common file extensions for such files are .psd, .tif, .jpg, .gif and .png.
If you send us a Microsoft Word file, please save it as a .PDF first, or send both the .doc and .pdf files to us.
Also, if you know the font NAMES that were used in your design, please let us know that as well. If we do not have those fonts already, many times we can search the internet and download them for free, making your design look closer to what you intend.
This includes any raster art placed into a vector based program that incorporates imported or placed photographic elements.
On rare occasions we can use raster art exactly as provided, please request a quote if you have any question.
I have No Art At All — HELP !! NO PROBLEM!
I have a general idea of what I want, but have not come up with a total concept yet. What should I do?
Send us the ideas you do have, in whatever form you have them. EXCEPT Microsoft Publisher, which must be saved as a .pdf file before sending.
We will come up with some print-ready designs following your guidelines, and email them to you for approval.
OTHER HELPFUL ARTWORK INFORMATION
Why Can't You See Your Artwork Before You Place Your Order?
Over the years, we have developed a "work flow" which is in the best interests of our clients.
The first step is our FREE QUOTE process. Once you have received your quote and it contains accurate pricing information, you must CONFIRM your order before we send it to the art department. We do this because once we begin the artwork, we must also begin charging you for our time. This doesn't mean you can't change your mind about the TYPE of art you want (one color vs. two colors or locations . . .) however this does mean that if you cancel your order AFTER it is sent to the art department, you will be billed the entire quoted price on the order confirmation you approved.
If you cancel an order, and pay the artwork charges, then at a later time decide to re-open that order, DON'T WORRY! We archive all our artwork and will begin from the point where we left off before. And since you already paid the art charges, you won't be billed again for that on your new order.
Excessive Revisions
We reserve the right to apply additional art charges for excessive revisions. HOWEVER, please don't be afraid to ask for exactly what you want. We seldom ressurect this clause. We can usually go through two rounds of revisions before we feel it is necessary to add additional artwork charges.
Screen Printing Artwork Preparation Policy
We specialize in custom imprinting for our clients. Your custom artwork belongs to your order. We do not allow others to print or reproduce your designs without your permission.
However, all custom artwork created by SmithPrints, Inc. is the property of SmithPrints, Inc.
What does this means to you? If we have created custom artwork for your particular imprinting needs, you have paid for our time to do this, but not for the original artwork itself. If you wish to use a custom design that SmithPrints, Inc. has created for your promotional material, please contact us and ask with specific file format requests. There may be an additional charges for this service. We keep our artwork fees to a minimum because we design for our imprinting specialties—even though we produce quality design work, we are not charging graphic design firm prices. We print promotional materials and don't believe we need to charge you excessively for this process. However, if you would like the rights to the artwork we have created, we can work together to negotiate a release fee.
Legaleze
OWNERSHIP OF ARTWORK. Unless otherwise arranged prior to production, all artwork created by SmithPrints, Inc. for your order remains the property of SmithPrints, Inc. and will be maintained at our facility for our exclusive usage in executing your orders. Because our policy is to render art services for production orders solely on a cost-recovery basis, any transfer to the client of rights to creative works and materials prepared or contracted by our personnel is subject to reasonable release fees, commensurate with the creative services rendered and at a value as determined solely by us.
What the law says: U.S. copyright law says whoever creates it, owns it — unless rights were transferred as part of a sale or agreement or unless the artwork or digitizing was clearly performed on a "work for hire" basis.
Embroidery Digitizing Preparation Policy
We specialize in custom embroidery for our clients. Your custom digitizing belongs to your order. We do not allow others to embroider or reproduce your designs without your permission.
However, all custom digitizing created by SmithPrints, Inc. is the property of SmithPrints, Inc.
What does this means to you? If we have created custom artwork for your particular embroidery needs, you have paid for our time to do this, but not for the original design itself. If you wish to use a custom design that SmithPrints, Inc. has created for your promotional material, please contact us and ask with specific file format requests. There may be an additional charges for this service. We keep our digitizing fees to a minimum because we design for our embroidery specialties—even though we produce quality design work. We embroider promotional materials and don't believe we need to charge you excessively for this process. However, if you would like the rights to the digitizing we have created, we can work together to negotiate a release fee.
Legaleze
OWNERSHIP OF DIGITIZING. Unless otherwise arranged prior to production, all digitizing created by SmithPrints, Inc. for your order remains the property of SmithPrints, Inc. and will be maintained at our facility for our exclusive usage in executing your orders. Because our policy is to render digitizing services for production orders solely on a cost-recovery basis, any transfer to the client of rights to creative works and materials prepared or contracted by our personnel is subject to reasonable release fees, commensurate with the creative services rendered and at a value as determined solely by us.
What the law says: U.S. copyright law says whoever creates it, owns it — unless rights were transferred as part of a sale or agreement or unless the artwork or digitizing was clearly performed on a "work for hire" basis.
Screen Preparation Policy
Each order has screen preparation charges built in. We do not charge separate screen preparation charges on first time orders. Occasionally we add screen preparation charges, or screen set-up charges on re-orders. These charges are for our preparation time, not for the actual screens. We repurpose all of our screens, using them over and over again. You are not paying for the screens themselves, but for our time in preparing your artwork for press with our re-usable screens.
Legaleze
OWNERSHIP OF SCREENS. Unless otherwise arranged prior to production, all screens created by SmithPrints, Inc. for your order remains the property of SmithPrints, Inc. and will be maintained at our facility for our exclusive usage in executing your orders. Because our policy is to render art services for production orders solely on a cost-recovery basis, any transfer to the client of rights to creative works and materials prepared or contracted by our personnel is subject to reasonable release fees, commensurate with the creative services rendered and at a value as determined solely by us.
What the law says: U.S. copyright law says whoever creates it, owns it — unless rights were transferred as part of a sale or agreement or unless the artwork or digitizing was clearly performed on a "work for hire" basis.
Good Faith Deposit
We norally take your credit card information and keep this on file only (in case of emergency.) WE DO NOT CHARGE THIS CARD UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES! When you pick up your order, you may pay for it however you like: cash, check or charge. The reason we ask for a Good Faith Deposit is because this gives us the confidence to proceed with your order WITHOUT you having to put half down on the work. However, if you prefer not to give us a charge card number, we can certainly accept half down and proceed to the artwork stage. Also, in certain circumstances with larger corporations and schools, it is easier to use a Purchase Order system when placing your order. Please contact us to arrange this ahead of time, but under certain circumstances we will accept a PO instead of cash down or a good faith deposit.
Miscellaneous
SmithPrints, Inc. reserves the right to refuse service.
Questionable artwork will not be created or printed.
Please ask for a free quote on your order—if we have any questions, a representative will contact you promptly.