1. What is the normal turn around time for a banner order?
2. What exactly is Computer Cut Vinyl?
3. What is vector artwork?
4. What is raster image artwork?
5. What programs let me save in vector formats?
6. When do I save a raster image, and when do I save as Vector?
7. How should I give you my artwork?
8. Do you accept "Zip, Jazz, CDs, or Super Disk" ?
9. What's the largest file size I can email you?
10. How long will your banners last in the weather?
11. Are your banner prices competitive?
12. Do you ship your banners to our location?
13. What programs do you use to print your banners?
14. Why shouldn't I use my web site images for banners?
15. How long will it take before I receive my banners?
16. What banner material should I use for my banner?
17. How should I save my artwork files?
18. Can you put my logo on my banner?
19. How large should I get my banner?
20. Can you help me layout my banner? For what banners are there fees for this?
21. Can you match my colors?
22. How long can I expect my banner to last?
23. What print process do you use on QS-XLT digital prints?
24. How should I store my banner so it lasts longer?
25. What are grommets?
26. Is ordering on the Internet Secure?
27. Can I place an order over the telephone?
28. What fonts and vinyl colors do I have available?

Answers: 

1. What is the normal turn around time for a banner order?
     The turn around time depends on the order. In all cases, we get the job done as fast as possible. For an average job, the turn around time is 2-3 business days, but it all depends on size, quantity, availability, etc. We always try to meet any of your deadline requests.

2. What exactly is Computer Cut Vinyl?
     It's just like it says, it's a big sticker cut out of adhesive vinyl to a particular shape (like a letter or a basketball etc.).

3. What is Vector art?
     Vector art is like line art. If you'd put a pen on a piece of paper and draw, the lines would be vector shapes. Circles and squares are simple vector images. Our "knife" blade plotter cuts vinyl film by following the trace of the vector images.

4. What is a Raster Image?
     Raster is more of a photograph, with gradients, soft meshes, textures, etc. Not just spot color shapes as described above (vector art). You could not cut out a raster image out of vinyl. Raster images are usually printed as 4 color process prints.

5. What programs let me save in vector formats?
     Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, and Corel Draw are the major software makers out there, Photoshop can export illustrator paths, and some other programs are also able to export their paths to illustrator file formats.

6. When do I save a raster image, and when do I save as Vector?
     Vector is the file format you use when the image is made with paths and fills, It's the only format you can cut vinyl from. Raster would be used for photos, complex images, gradation colors and all other images containing more than two or three colors. Raster images can only be printed.  Vector images can be printed or computer cut.

7. How should I give you my artwork?
     It all depends on what kind of product we are producing. If we are producing banners with 1, 2, 3, or 4 spot colors, the best format is Illustrator. In most cases, if you can give it to us as a vectored Illustrator file format, we should have no problem working with your artwork. If we are producing banners by printing 4 color process almost any file format at a high resolution (70 - 150 ppi at full size) will work fine.

8. Do you accept "Zip, Jazz, CDs, or Super Disk" ?
     We accept Zip, 3.5 inch floppies, and CDs. We are sorry but at this time we do not accept Jazz, Super Disk, Click, or other miscellaneous Media. 

9. What's the largest file size I can email you?
    We can accept up to 10 megs through our site. If you have a file of a larger size we suggest you put it on a zip disk or CDR, or call our art department at 1 (714) 573-9313 to arrange other means.

10. How long will your banners last in the weather?
     Our vinyl lettered banners should last 3-5 years of outdoors. Our full color Dura-Tuf outdoor banner can last up to three years even when permanently installed outdoors. Our high resolution, QS-XLT oudoor banner prints will last up to six months continuously outdoors when laminated.

11. Are your prices competitive?
     When comparing apples to apples we believe our prices are very competitive. We always put out the highest quality for the same price as our competitors. We will never sacrifice quality for price.

12. Do you ship to our location?
     We can ship to anywhere in the United States using our common couriers - UPS and FedEx.

13. What programs do you use to print your signs.
     We use proprietary sign making software. But if your curious, we use Gerber Omega, Anagraph Design Art, and Onyx for most of our vinyl cutting and digital printing.  We use the common layout and photo software (Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw, etc.) as "bridge" software into our sign making programs.

14. Why shouldn't I use my web site images for signs?
     Web images can be great if they are high resolution images and very large in size. Unfortunately, most web designers strive to make images load quickly on web sites.  For an image to load quickly, the file size is usually small and the resolution is usually only 72dpi.  When this small image is enlarged for sign making, the resulting image quality is usually very poor. Also, all web images are in a raster (bitmap) format which can only be printed not vinyl cut (see raster vs vector artwork).

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15. How long will it take before I receive my banners?
This depends on two factors.

1). Production type.  Dura-Tuf digital indoor banner (2-3 working days), QS-XLT digital outdoor banner (5-7 working days), vinyl lettered banner (2-3 working days), silk screened banners (7-10 working days), or pre-made banners (2 working days).

2.) Shipping time.  Our banners can be shipped to you in various time frames depending on your needs.  Please see our shipping map for ground shipping times.

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16. What banner material should I use for my banner?
     For vinyl lettered banners and we use a 10oz. vinyl banner material.  For Dura-tuf, digital outdoor banners, we use a 14oz. vinyl banner material.  For QS-XLT indoor and short term outdoor banners we use a 15 mil vinyl banner.

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17. How should I save my artwork files?
     Vector is the preferred file format. That said, bitmap (raster) format works perfectly for any digitally printed banner. Please call customer service representative (866) 267-4467 if you have any questions, and one of our knowledgeable staff will help you with your artwork.

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18. Can you put my logo on my banner?
     Yes we can! If you are ordering a vinyl lettered banner with graphics, we require a vector format file (see artwork page for file information). For a digital print banners, we will be printing your logo on the banner and can use almost any high quality logo artwork.

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19. How large should I get my banner?
     We can make banners to almost any size that you need.  The best rule of thumb is to determine how far away your viewing audience will be and make sure the lettering is large enough for reading. Please refer to our artwork page for help with this subject.

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20. Can you help me layout my banner? For what banners are there fees for this?
     We sure can! For vinyl lettered banners, this is a standard feature. We will take what you want to say, and give you a proof to your exact specifications along with your requested proof, we will also provide an additional "suggested layout", as a second alternative. For digital banners we can certainly give you suggestions, and layout ideas, but we require "ready-to-print" artwork, or fees will be incurred. Please call customer service representative (866)267-4467 for any questions regarding this subject.

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21. Can you match my colors?
     In most cases we can come close to matching your desired colors. However, in many cases what you see on your computer monitor will not match the printed image. When banner making, we can come close to the colors you want.  If exact colors are needed, please consult with our customer service representative for further details (866)267-4467.

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22. How long can I expect my banner to last?
     This again depends on what banner you are ordering. For a digital indoor printed banner, you can expect 6 months outdoor continual use prior to fading with a lifetime of indoor use. For an outdoor digital print banners, this is extended to approximately 3 years. For a vinyl lettered banner, you have a minimum of 3 years outdoor use. For any questions, please call our customer service representative at (866) 267-4467.

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23. What print process do you use on QS-XLT digital prints?
     We use an extremely high quality 1440 dpi 6 color printing process. This process uses CMYK plus LC and LM.

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24. How should I store my banner so it lasts longer?
     All banners should be rolled, not folded and placed either in its original packaged box. If you fold/flatten banners, they can develop permanent creases.

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25. What are grommets?
     Grommets are "Brass Eyelets", meaning, they are circular brass fixtures that are placed into a banner. These grommets allow rope to be feed through the banner, and installed wherever needed.

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26. Is ordering on the Internet Secure?
     Ordering over the internet is extremely secure. We use SSL to encrypt all information transferred.

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27. Can I place an order over the telephone?
     Sure can! Give us a call at (866) 267-4467 and we take your order in a timely fashion.

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28. What fonts and vinyl lettering colors do I have available?
     You may submit artwork using any font or color, however we have the following fonts and colors readily available:

28. What banner color/background choices do I have?
     We make banners with six standard background colors that can be seen below: black, white, red, yellow, blue, and green.