1. What exactly is Computer Cut Vinyl?
2. What is vector?
3. What is raster image artwork?
4. What programs let me save in vector formats?
5. When do I save a raster image, and when do I save as Vector?
6. How should I give you my artwork?
7. Do you accept "Zip, Jazz, CDs, or Super Disk" ?
8. What's the largest file size I can email you?
9. What programs do you use to print your signs?
10. Why shouldn't I use my web site images for signs?
11. How should I save my artwork files?

Answers: 

1. 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.).

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. What programs let me save in vector formats?
     Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDraw 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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. 

8. What's the largest file size I can email you?
    We can accept up to 5 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.

9. 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, CorelDraw, etc.) as "bridge" software into our sign making programs.

10. 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).

11. 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.