- Four-color process printing is used for reproducing high quality graphics with photo type images.
This also works well for small multi color graphics in which the total color count would exceed seven or eight colors.
- Digitally created process images should be created in or converted to CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) format.
Some programs, such as Photoshop, default to RGB (red, green, blue) format and must be changed.
*Note any color change in the image when converting from RGB to CMYK and adjust colors as needed.
- Follow the instructions below for best results when using a scanned image within the art layout.
- Use an original continuous tone image scanned on a high-end drum scanner.
- The scan must be CMYK at 300 DPI resolution or higher at actual print size.
Most flat bed scanners only scan in the RGB mode. Although these files will look good on the computer monitor,
the color information will not convert correctly for a four-color process printed image.
- Both created and scanned images must have a resolution of 300 DPI or higher at final print size.
Resolution cannot simply be increased in the program if working from a low resolution file.
This merely spreads the original pixel information across a greater number of pixels and does not improve image quality.
(Most internet images are a low resolution of 72 DPI.)
- Scanned images cannot be manipulated. Text, logos, borders, etc. should be created in a drawing / layout program such as
Illustrator, FreeHand or QuarkXpress. This allows us to make necessary adjustments to the digital file such as adding trap.
- Convert all text to paths, curves or outlines. If this is not possible send both screen and printer Type 1 fonts used
for the job being printed.
- Send a copy of all original supporting files used to create the image. When sending Photoshop files,
leave the art in layers (do not flatten or merge layers).
- Color proofs are made from the digital file and may vary slightly from your computer monitor or color printer.
The final printed product may also vary slightly from the color proof due to the differences between printing and proofing
methods.
Pressure Sensitive Vinyls 
Pressure sensitive vinyls are flexible, scuff resistant, plasticized
films. Vinyls will stretch and shrink slightly. They are for indoor or
outdoor use.
Pressure Sensitive Polyesters
Pressure sensitive polyesters are very "dimensionally stable". They
will not stretch or shrink. Therefore, they do not conform well to irregular
surfaces or compound curves. They are very resistant to chemicals. Polyesters
are suited for indoor or outdoor use.
Static Cling Vinyl
Static cling vinyl is a highly plasticized vinyl film that does not require an adhesive to adhere to polished or smooth surfaces such as glass or mirrors. This material is recommended for indoor use only.
Holographic
Holographic material is a light diffracting, metallized vinyl film that gives a prismatic appearance. This material is for indoor use and short-term outdoor exposure.
Paper and Poster
Paper and poster related materials are used for a variety of products. Refer to specific catalog pages for more information. Polyethylene coated card is suitable for short-term outdoor use.
Magnetic
Magnetic material consists of a base magnetic material with either a screen printed vinyl film or an offset printed face material. The base magnetic material has good holding power on most metal surfaces. All screen printed magnets are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Offset printed magnets are for indoor use only.
Reflective
Reflective material is an enclosed lens, retroreflective film. This material is often used with transparent inks to allow the reflective properties of the substrate to show through the ink. This material is appropriate for indoor or outdoor use.
Plastics
Plastics are used for a variety of products. Refer to specific catalog pages for more information. Corrugated plastic, auto card stock, and opaque polyethylene are the only plastics suited for outdoor use.
Flexo and Letterpress Pressure Sensitive Papers and Films
Flexo and letterpress pressure sensitive papers and films include: white and yellow gloss papers, fluorescent papers, gold and silver foil papers, kraft brown paper, and clear polystyrene. All of the flexo and letterpress printed materials are intended for indoor use.
Screen Printing
Screen printing inks are ultraviolet (UV) light cured, pigmented colors.
They are glossy and very resistant to chemicals and abrasion. Neon colors will begin to fade in approximately
30 days if exposed to direct sunlight. Transparent inks, not shown on
our color chart, average 2 years outdoors. They are typically used on
substrates that allow the properties of the base material to show through
the ink. Four-color process inks average 3 years outdoors. A UV clearcoat
is available as an additional color. It can be used for extra chemical
or abrasion resistance or to add a glossy appearance to four-color process
inks. A UV clearcoat will not provide any additional protection from sunlight.
Outdoor durability of most Pantone® colors will average 3 years with the
exception of the 800 series fluorescent colors.
Letterpress
Letterpress inks use UV cured, pigmented colors. The ink film thickness
is one third of that obtained by screen printing. Letterpress inks will
average 6 to 12 months of outdoor exposure. A UV clearcoat may be applied
to retard material degradation. The clearcoat also increases the resistance
to solvents, chemicals, and abrasion.
Flexographic
Flexographic inks are water based for line colors and UV cured for
four-color process. All formulations are made with lightfast pigments.
Flexo items are typically printed on paper and are intended for indoor
use only. Flexo labels that require scuff resistance or that will be used
for product packaging such as shampoos, soaps, and oils need either a
UV clearcoat or overlamination for protection.
Offset
Offset inks are strong in color to compensate for thinner ink film thickness applied. The average amount of ink
transferred is about half that of letterpress ink. Offset inks provide high quality images for four-color process
printing. They are intended for indoor use only.
Overlamination
Many, but not all, of the labels, decals, and signs offered at 23 design
can be overlaminated with clear polyester. Overlamination offers
good protection against abrasion, chemicals, and solvents. It improves
the "weatherability" of decals, labels, and signs. Overlaminated screen
printed decals are priced in the custom section of the catalog. Overlaminating
of some other decals is available on special request at an additional
charge.
Additional Information
Many of the 23 design products have different adhesives. Some have permanent and others have removable or ultra
removable adhesive. Each product has been designed to offer the best combination of material and adhesive. For instance,
our Zip Strip® vinyl has a removable adhesive that insures clean and easy removability, even after one year from application.
Because of the wide variety of uses of our materials, we would like to insure that the right product or material is used
for a particular application. Identifying how the product will be used or what the decal will be applied to will help
determine what material is best suited for that application. Material samples are always available at no charge for testing.
What are some Considerations?
23 design offers products printed digitally or through thermal-transfer.
The two methods produce products of varying durability. Durability relates
to: (1) the strength of the material the image is printed on; (2) the
lightfastness of the ink when exposed to sunlight; (3) the resistance
of ink and material to chemicals and solvents; and (4) the resistance
of ink and material to abrasion. Pressure sensitive labels, decals, and
signs furnished by 23 design are printed on one of three families of materials:
polyesters, vinyls, or papers. Durability of ink on a label, decal, or
sign is mainly determined by the thickness of the ink film on the material
and by the type of colorant used in the ink. Because of the wide variety
of uses of our materials, we would like to help ensure that the right
product or material is used for a particular application. Identifying
what the decal, sign, or label will be applied to, as well as what type
of environment it will be subjected to, will help determine what material
is best suited for that application. For example, is the application surface
wood, metal, plastic, vinyl, glass, paper, etc.? Indicating if the surface
is rough (textured) or smooth is also helpful. Is the label used inside
or outside, in a freezer, under humid conditions, or is it exposed to
chemicals? This kind of information will help us provide the best product
for your needs. Material samples are available at no charge if needed
for testing.
What is the smallest domed decal
that can be produced?
5/8" is the smallest dimension that we have been able to consistently
dome.
What is the largest domed decal that can be produced?
Nine square inches is our general guideline for a custom size domed
decal. However, because the cutting and doming process can be complicated
on this item, there are several considerations when preparing a quote.
What size holes can we drill?
Current hole punch sizes available are: 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 1/4",
5/16", 3/8", and 1/2". However, we cannot drill holes in plastic materials.
What are some of the most common things missing from
a customer's digital file?
Fonts, defining the colors, missing EPS files and missing hard copies
are the most common disk problems that we see.
If a seal is to be sheeted or perforated can the waste
be stripped?
No. If a label is perforated, we cannot strip the waste because the
tension is very high on the roll of waste material as it is pulled off
while on the press. This tension tends to break the web.
Can copy be embossed in color?
No, we actually deboss (push down) the background color on a label
and then as a reaction the copy is embossed (raised up). In order to get
the color to adhere to the material we use heat and pressure. Since the
pressure is applied to the background it is the only area that will be
a color. The copy cannot be embossed as a color.
Why do we have to back up 4 color process printing
with white on clear materials?
4 color process inks are designed to be transparent so they will create
other colors when they are overlapped. When these very transparent inks,
without a white back up, are printed on a clear material to create a decal
that will go in a window the whole imprint just disappears. By backing
the 4 color process printing with white we can define and present a process
image without losing any detail or color on an inside window decal.
Is there any way to avoid the mark left by slitting
on a clear polyester decal?
The line left by the slitting process is actually a mark left in the
adhesive, not on the material itself. However, the adhesive will continue
to flow and that line should eventually disappear. The soap and application
method is another way to aid the flow of the adhesive to eliminate any
slitting marks. The only way to avoid the mark caused by slitting on clear
decals is to not slit the decal at all but then you have lost the benefit
of a split release liner for easier application.
Can you use digital pictures from our web page?
Generally, images used on a web page are 72 dpi. They are so low in
resolution to help speed the loading of a page on a computer. Industry
standards say to use twice the resolution as the line tone being printed. There are
places on the net to purchase high resolution files or a high resolution
image can be placed on a web page for use by others. It will just not
copy or load as fast.
What is the difference between an EPS file and a TIFF
file?
EPS and TIFF are file formats or ways that a file can be saved. EPS
is a generic format that allows information to easily be transferred between
different programs and from a program to an imagesetter. EPS files cannot
be edited, in other words, we could not change the image or change the
text, we generally can, however, resize an EPS file. TIFF is a format
for a scanned image. It also easily transfers information from one program
to another. However, a TIFF file is just a "picture" of the art and is
not made up of the individual elements of vector art as in an EPS file.
Frequently Asked Questions