Sending drawing to customer

[Phill Fenton]

I usually reduce the size of the drawing to fit within an A5 page size. Then export as an RGB jpg. I usually aim for a dpi of between 200-300 depending on the design. This allows the customer to "zoom in" when viewing the file and results in a file size that is not too big to email. The advantage of this (as I see it) is the file is limited by it’s resolution and is not suitable artwork to actually make the sign – but can still be viewed by the recipient.

A better alternative when sending to "trusted" clients is to simply export to pdf. The downside here is that you are giving them usable artwork which could be taken elsewhere to have the design made

[Glenn Sharp]

I scale the drawing down to about 300mm wide or 300mm high depending on whether it’s landscape or portrait

I then reduce the page size down to about 30mm bigger all round than the image and centre the image to the page (shortcut ‘P’)

Then I use ‘Publish to PDF’ in the ‘File’ drop down…..There are a number of options in the PDF style box which I don’t fully understand but I use ‘PDF for document distribution’

This gives them perfect resolution at the other end which is something I know others aren’t happy giving prospective customers but it has always worked for us

[Jill Marie Welsh]

I export as a jpg no bigger than 600 pixels wide so they don’t have to scroll.
It takes about 3 seconds.
I also put a watermark across it ©jillscustomsigns2009
I also get a deposit before sending it.
I do not send via pdf for fear of it being all vectored and ready to go to another sign shop.
Love….Jill

[Peter Normington]

pdf has the option to convert to bmp, you can also set to not allow print or editing, far quicker than playing with sizes and resolutions.
I tend not to get paranoid about my designs being copied for bread and butter stuff, most simple designs can be copied by any competent signmaker, even from a low res image.
If I have spent time on design, I do not sent artwork without a deposit, as Jill says

Sorry, not sure if these options are available in corel,

Peter

[Colin Bland]

I used to send PDF but got ripped off a couple of times so now use Jpeg

The best one was a client who didn’t know what his telephone number was going to be so I put my own telephone number on rather than making one up just for the visual – the idea being that I wouldn’t eventually make him a sign with my own telephone number on.

Thing was I lost the job and later saw the sign produced and fitted by someone else from my design with my telephone number on – Gotcha!! 🙂

Colin

[Phill Fenton]

I often choose note to include a copyright notice in layouts I submit. Usually this is because the proposal is for a layout (e.g for a van) incorporating their existing logo along with other signs details so I feel unjustified in claiming a copyright when the main focus of the layout is their existing logo.

I firmly believe the onus should be on other sign companies to "respect" the work done so far when asked to quote to replicate an existing layout. (The customer after all is only shopping around for best value) and it’s up to us to question whether or not we are broaching someone else’s "copyright" if we agree to replicate a layout.

[Peter Normington]

quote Phill:

I often choose note to include a copyright notice in layouts I submit. Usually this is because the proposal is for a layout (e.g for a van) incorporating their existing logo along with other signs details so I feel unjustified in claiming a copyright when the main focus of the layout is their existing logo.

I firmly believe the onus should be on other sign companies to “respect” the work done so far when asked to quote to replicate an existing layout. (The customer after all is only shopping around for best value) and it’s up to us to question whether or not we are broaching someone else’s “copyright” if we agree to replicate a layout.

Phil.
you may believe it, but unfortunately its dog eat dog in most industries, I don’t see why you think we(as an industry) are any different.

Yes you are right to say the customer is shopping around, and has every right to do so,
so if you are creating a layout based on an existing logo, do you ask if they have permission to use it and do they hold the copyright?
Did another signmaker create it? and by using it are you contradicting your own values?

Peter

[Phill Fenton]

quote Peter Normington:

so if you are creating a layout based on an existing logo, do you ask if they have permission to use it and do they hold the copyright?
Did another signmaker create it? and by using it are you contradicting your own values?

Peter

Of course not – If a new customer comes to me and asks for a layout to include his existing logo (e.g as already in use on letterheads. business cards, website etc.) then no – I think it would be cheeky of me to ask if they had copyright

[Jill Marie Welsh]

If a customer comes to me with an existing logo I ask if they have it on CD, or if their designer can email it to me.
If they start to get the deer in the headlights look, I understand their confusion and try to better explain my needs.
But if they start him-hawing and looking shifty-eyed, all my red flags go up.
Luckily this rarely happens.
Typically their wife can send me the Word file she used to "design" it.
😉