Colour Graphics, Digital Graphics

The power of full-colour images is unmistakable. They grab your customers' attention, instantly bringing their focus to your product or service. A major advance in visual technology, full-colour graphics make a strong statement about your company's leadership in the marketplace.

Full-colour graphics:

• Enhance your professional image and credibility
• Build customer awareness in record time
• Draw a dynamic distinction between you and your competition

Among the many marketing messages we encounter each day, only a few have lasting impact. With full-colour graphics (also referred to as large-format prints or digital graphics) from FASTSIGNS®, your messages cut through the clutter.

Sign Applications

• Banners and flags
• Labels and stickers
• Vehicle signs
• Posters
• Exhibitions and displays
• Illuminated signs
• Point-of-purchase signs
• Corporate signs

Colour Facts

Full colour adds a new dimension to your graphics and involves some new considerations. Below are a few key terms you'll want to know, plus some examples of how variations in resolution affect the appearance of a graphic.

Full Colour

The reproduction of any colour image by applying certain ink colours in varying proportions. Originals can be either RGB or CMYK files.

Spot Colour

The addition of one or more colours to a graphic by applying inks of those specific colours. Spot colour cannot reproduce full-colour images.

DPI

An abbreviation for "dots per inch", DPI is a measure of the density of ink dots used to reproduce the image. The more dots in the image, the higher the image clarity and the better the ability to enlarge that image.

More important than the DPI is the total number of pixels in a file. Pixels determine the final file size for processing and image quality. For large-format printing, a good rule of thumb is to plan for 100 to 150 pixels per inch (ppi) at the final printed size. PPI is commonly referred to as DPI. For example, if you wish to have an image printed 24" x 36", your computer file should have a minimum of 2,400 pixels (24" x 100 ppi) by 3,600 pixels (36" x 100 ppi), for a total of 8,640,000 pixels. At an average of 3 bytes of storage per pixel, that's about a 24MB file. Anything less simply won't have the quality you expect.

The distance from which your graphic will be viewed determines the DPI required:

• If it will be viewed at close range, you will need a higher DPI
• If it will be seen from a distance, a lower DPI image may give you all the resolution you need, saving time and money
• For large applications such as vehicle graphics, you can often come down from the 100 to 150 dpi ideal without sacrificing quality

Viewing Distance	Resolution
1-5 feet	150 ppi
5-10 feet	100 ppi
10+ feet	50-72 ppi

File Formats

The equipment used to produce full-colour digital graphics is different from that used in standard service-bureau output, so your files should be formatted specifically for large-format, full-colour techniques.

• Contact your FASTSIGNS® consultant before creating your documents, if possible, to ensure that you are taking the most direct route to the desired finished product
• We have detailed guidelines for file conversion, and your consultant will help you determine how to prepare your files for output as full-colour graphics
• We can accept originals in a variety of media, though technologies can vary by centre
• FASTSIGNS® also offers professional scanning and design services. We can build your custom graphic from your artwork and photos or help you select just the right image from stock photography

Let the sign experts at FASTSIGNS® put full-colour digital graphics to work for you today.