Resources
PRINTING
1, 2, & 3 Color FAQ?
Q: Do you still offer screen printed yard signs?
A: We do offer discounts for 1,2 & 3 color printing; however, all of our signs are digitally printed using UV Inkjet technology.
Q: Why did FireSprint choose to digitally print all yard signs?
A: In the last several years, digital printing has become the dominant method for producing yard signs. Our clients appreciate the wide range of design options, quick turnaround time, high quality, and lower environmental impact that digital printing offers versus screen printing.
Q: How are you able to offer discounts on fewer colors if everything is digitally printed?
A: Through extensive testing, market analysis, and investments in our production processes, we have determined that offering discounts on fewer colors allows FireSprint, and our clients to compete effectively in the marketplace. We are able to do this while enjoying the production and environmental benefits of full digital production.
Q: I have ordered screen printed signs in the past, can you match previous colors?
A: Since our production method has changed, exact color matches are not possible; however, we can typically achieve satisfactory results. If you are placing a reorder, please feel free to reach out to our team, with your previous order number, and we will send you a digital sample, free of charge.
Can you match a color exactly?
Unfortunately, no. While acceptable matches can usually be achieved, exact color matches cannot be guaranteed. Every printer and process has limitations to their color gamut. Satin digital CMYK generally has the smallest color gamut of all print methods. We recommend using Pantone Solid Coated Colors when trying to match a digitally printed graphic; these colors end in "C" (e.g., 249C or 4675C).
View artwork guide →
Can you print in RGB?
No. Files submitted to us in RGB will have to be converted to CMYK in order to print.
RGB is an additive process that uses Red, Green, and Blue light to achieve a color. It is considered additive because one must add all three colors together to achieve white. It is used for Monitors, TV's, Phone Screens, etc. Unfortunately, it is not physically possible to print in RGB because mixing Red, Green, and Blue ink (pigment) would actually create a kind of brown color, not white as it does with the light in your computer monitor.
CMYK, on the other hand, is considered a subtractive process because, in order to get white, one must remove all color to allow the white to show through from the substrate material underneath it all.
It's also important to consider that RGB has many more color possibilities than CMYK. Never will colors on your monitor or screen match printed CMYK colors exactly. If color matching is critical, we suggest you note Pantone Solid Coated Colors in your file and job notes. With these colors, we can compare the printed graphics to our Pantone Book Standards here and get as close as possible.
View artwork guide →
GENERAL INFORMATION
Do you offer design services?
Since we are a Trade Only Printer, we do not handle artwork design services or alterations.
What are your minimum artwork requirements?
As a Trade-Only printer, we require print ready artwork. While certain products may have more specific requirements, all artwork must meet these basic requirements:
- PDF format
- Bleed will be auto-generated, do not include in file
- Actual size (we do not adjust size)
- All fonts converted to outlines
- All images embedded
- Less than 150MB in size
How can I reduce my file size to be under the 150MB limit for upload?
When working in Illustrator, to reduce file size you can try cropping excess images that exceed the clipping mask (Object>Image Crop), removing excess vector points by simplifying the path (Object>Path>Simplify), deleting redundant or extra artwork outside of the artwork that is being printed, and flattening your artwork if you have multiple RASTER image layers. Check out our blog post about reducing your file size and download our printable PDF guide here.
Why do you have size limitations?
In short, it is a limitation of our production methods.
Our equipment is optimized to work with large sheets of material to produce typical size signs.
Nearly everything we do from printing to cutting utilizes what’s called a vacuum hold down system. This system uses tiny holes and vacuum pressure to literally suck material down while we print or cut it. If the material is too small, the vacuum is unable to hold it down, resulting in unpredictable quality and possible damage to our equipment.
Why do you have a maximum size on your products?
Our printers cutters, and even our material are all optimized to run the most common sizes of signs and stickers. We are unable to produce products that are larger than our equipment‘s maximum capacity.
Contour Cutting: What is it?
Contour Cutting is the process of cutting along the edges of a printed design shape. While this process is relatively simple for rectangular shapes, it becomes more complicated when you add curves and lines of other more complex objects, cutting out the shape of a person, for example.
View artwork guide →
FireSprint.com is proud to use a ZUND digital cutter for everything that we produce in the shop. ZUND machinery allows us the freedom to offer you nearly any shape imaginable.
Click the video below for more information and to see our ZUND digital cutter in action!
Unbranded Customer-Safe video: https://youtu.be/HS77kEzFDas
Do you offer install services for vinyl?
No, we do not offer installation services. Application and installation of our vinyl is the sole responsibility of the end-user of the product. If you need help with applying vinyl, the video below will walk you through the process.
If you have customers asking about how to install a vinyl decal, you can send them an unbranded version of the video above.
Grommets: What do I need to know?
→ Where do you put the grommets?
For Rigid substrates, such as 4mm corrugated plastic, unless grommet placement is specified in the design file, we will install the grommet, on center, 1" away from the edges of your sign. If you do specify, place small, 1/8" dots in your design file and leave us a note so we are aware. We always suggest grommets be placed 1" away from the edges of your sign.
For materials such as banners, which generally come standard with grommets, we will place grommets in the hem.
→ What type of material can you use with grommets?
Just about any type of material we offer! With the more rigid substrates (such as 6mm PVC), we do this by pre-drilling a hole before we actually place the grommet. This process is a little more labor-intensive, and therefore a little more costly, but it is possible. We do not offer grommets on foamcore and stickers.
→ What color grommets do you offer?
We currently only offer Silver, a neutral grommet color.
If you have any questions regarding custom options, please don't hesitate to ask. Worst case scenario, it may put you slightly out of budget, but we won't know until we check out your options!
What are Self Promo Points, and how do I use them?
Self Promo Points are points that you accrue with each order you place online at firesprint.com! You earn 1 point per $1 spent. Every 1000 points earns you a $10 coupon to spend toward Self Promo products for your business! We have premade Self Promo products (such as our Promotional X-Stand Kit), but you may use any of our materials to create your own promotional products for your shop. Check out the products below to really showcase your business with your Self Promo Points!
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| Digitally Printed Yard Signs | Retractable Banner Stands | Full Color Magnetic Signs |
Go to your Self Promo Points page* to see how many points you have until your $10 coupon!
*You must be signed in to view this page. Not a member yet? Sign up today at firesprint.com!
What are the differences between vector art and raster images?
→ What is vector art?
Vector art is made up of scalable shapes and lines.
→ What are raster images?
Raster images are made up of a fixed number of dots (or pixels) and may be scaled down (to a point) but may not be scaled up (i.e., made larger than the original size) without loss of image quality.
→ What is the difference between vector art and a raster image?
A raster image (such as a photo) sized to 600x800 pixels is made up of 600 pixels (or small dots) across and 800 pixels from top to bottom. Trying to make this photo larger will only stretch those pixels, not add more, thereby losing the crispness of the original image.
Vector art is made from a series of mathematical curves, points, and paths. Because vector art is not comprised of a certain number of dots (like raster images), it can be resized larger or smaller without loss of image quality due to it's mathematical base: the curves, paths, and points are simply recalculated to express the new size.
→ Can I send a raster image for full color products?
While we prefer vector artwork for digitally printed (full color) items as card card-body, as long as your raster image is high quality, large enough to print (i.e., the same size as your finished product), and saved as a PDF in a vector art program such as Adobe Illustrator, we will accept it.
→ Can I send a Photoshop file?
We do not accept Photoshop files for print as Photoshop is a raster image editing program. If you do not have vector art, we will accept a very high quality .jpeg or .png, but it must still be embedded into a vector art program and saved as a PDF.
What Material should I choose for my project?
We have many different materials to choose from. On the charts below, you can compare the qualities of each to better determine which of our materials would be best for your project.
Click the image to download our Substrate Guide PDF.
PRICING, SIZING & SHIPPING
Free shipping map and info: Click for details
Do you weed and mask my vinyl decals?
No. Your decals will come kiss cut (a light cut along the border of your decal which allows the decal to be peeled off of the backing material) and adhered to a quick release backing paper. If you have multiple parts, they will be kiss cut and remain unweeded.
If my design isn't a perfect square or rectangle, how do I determine the size to select from the Size dropdown menu when ordering?
Pricing is based on size. If you draw an imaginary rectangle around your shape, that would be the width & height of your product. The entire decal (including the vector cut path) must fit within this rectangle.
Do you offer price breaks on your website?
We do! When you add similar items into your shopping cart, we automatically calculate the price breaks per eligible product quantities for you.
REVERSE ARROWS
What are Reverse Arrows?
Reverse Arrows are directional arrows on a double sided sign. It's important that your customer be directed to the correct location no matter the side they're facing. For these designs, you will need to provide a front and a back version of your project with the reversed arrow in place.
VARIABLE DATA
What is Variable Data?
Variable data is for digitally printed products that require different text for each item. All variable data orders with custom text will require a spreadsheet.
→ When Would We Use Variable Data?
Variable data would be used on anything that has the same base artwork, but different information will be added for each item.
Example: Graduation yard signs with a different name on each one.
Example: Auction paddles that have the same artwork, but each have a different number. We can do consecutive or custom numbering
→ What is Needed For Variable Data?
- Base Artwork View artwork guide →
- Spreadsheet
- Font File
