How To Order from Awesome Graphics.

We make it easy to send us your digital files. Here are the best ways to get us your stuff:

FTP. (a.k.a. File Transfer Protocol) is a wonderful way to send big files that tend to freak out email boxes around the world. We are developing a user friendly FTP site, where you simply click "upload files" buttons, and choose your graphics to send us right from your computer to our digital door step. This is an important part of our new site, and we are making it the best, easiest to use uploader available. It's highly recommended that you "zip" or "stuff" your files before sending them. (see bellow). If you have ANY problems, or need a helping hand, don't hesitate to call us for an over the phone tutorial... on us!

E-Mail. This method is fine for sending smaller files, preferably under 4 megs.

Snail Mail. Yep... amazingly it's still available. Burn us your artwork onto CD or DVD, pop on the stamps for Uncle Sam and mail away. Our mailing address is on the footer of this page. (try the ftp, you'll be glad you did, it will save postage and get your job to us at least a day early!)

Here are a couple of tips before sending us your artwork:

1) Be sure you have the right type of files for high resolution printing, see below for more info. (Give us a buzz anytime to discuss what you've got at 802-773-6143)

2) If possible, compress the folder or graphics before sending using "zip" or "StuffIt" compression formats. This is not an absolute necessity, but gives the files a protective coating, and makes things upload more quickly.

In Mac OSX, control click or right click on the folder or selected files and choose "create archive" to use the built in zip compression, or if you use Stuffit, drag the files or folders onto the stuffit window or icon in the dock. (we recommend zip whenever possible however). Here's what it looks like to zip 4 items into one zipped file archive in OSX.

On the PC, to zip files, right click and go to the "send to" menu, then choose "send to" ----> Compressed (zipped) folder. Here's what it looks like in Windows XP after right clicking on a folder:

3) Only send us the files we need for printing.

4) Be sure to include all fonts and associated graphics. Convert fonts to "outlines" if possible.

File Preparation Information

If you have any questions on preparing your digital file, don't hesitate to call us at 802-773-6143 or send us e-mail, we are always happy to help!

Types of disks that we accept:
Mac or PC formatted CD's and DVD's are preferred if possible.

For PHOTOGRAPHERS who wish to send in a photo or transparency as opposed to a digital file, please call us or email us for quotes on our scanning services.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE:
Quark Xpress, Adobe Indesign, Acrobat, Pagemaker, Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, Photoshop, Publisher, Power Point, Word, and all other graphic and presentation programs. If your application of choice is not listed, please ask us if we can accept it (We always find a way to output your file!) If you are using Microsoft Publisher and have the ability to "print" to PDF, we'd prefer this if possible.

What resolution do I need?
When dealing with photos or artwork constructed in programs like Photoshop, the correct resolution needs to determined at the very beginning if possible. Always send us your highest resolution files for large format printing, as the "dots per inch" of a graphic drops in half every time the physical size doubles. We have excellent enlargement software that goes beyond the best achievable in Photoshop, but a large original is still the best of course. For your notes, if we have scanned "raster" style images such as digital photos, stock art and scanned images, we need AT LEAST 72 dpi at actual blown up size for the best output. This is a tough subject even for seasoned designers, so feel free to call any time with questions.

File Formats, Graphic Applications & Page Layout Programs:
Raster file formats are: TIF, JPG, PSD, and Photoshop EPS (not to be confused with Illustrator EPS). All these formats are very similar. JPG file format compresses the image and can result in some detail loss. Make sure if you are using .jpg format, that you understand that a high compression/low quality mode will result in lost image detail. Saving a file as a high quality .jpg can make transferring the file via email or ftp possible, and still maintain ample quality for print purposes. PSD (photoshop file) should be flattened and saved as a tiff, high quality .jpg or pdf.

Quark Xpress and Indesign:
Make sure you provide all fonts needed to print your document. Any Illustrator/Freehand EPS files placed into the program should have the fonts embedded into the EPS (Illustrator 8 and beyond gives this option - or better yet, convert all type to outlines). If your desired output is greater than the page layout programs's largest page size, just scale the page down by 25% or 50%. (If you want to print a 48"x72", set up the page as a 24" x 36", we will scale it up - just make sure the raster files placed into it are enough resolution for the actual size)

Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, Corel Draw:
All fonts must be converted to curves (outlines or paths). Most current versions of these programs allow the file to be saved as an EPS with all fonts converted to outlines and placed images embedded. This format works well for us. Also, if you plan to make an EPS, please make a thin border around the page size to show where the image starts and ends, if you included a margin, the EPS sometimes will not show the white margin space between the edge of the document's page and the first piece of artwork.

PDF is a great format, as it includes all text and graphics and makes smaller files. Be sure that your graphics program does not overly compress or lower the resolution of your placed images.