No matter what you are creating, an important rule to remember when approaching graphic design is to begin with the end in mind. By pre-defining some specifications for your final print, you will become aware of important information that you will need to know during the design process that will greatly simplify the print process.
We have created this Print Reference Guide to help you determine which of our print devices will best serve your needs, and provide information (such as media size limitations and image resolution) that you will find useful when preparing your layout.
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Signs | HP Inkjet | Vibrant color for indoor usage. | Up to 36" wide | 100 dpi at size |
| LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on matte or glossy paper, backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Banners | HP Inkjet | Vibrant color for indoor usage. | Up to 36" wide | 100 dpi at size |
| LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on matte or glossy paper, backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size | |
| Arizona DSP | Vinyl/Film printer with an outdoor media warranty backed by 3MTM. 6-color process for near-continuous tone printing | Up to 53" wide | 100 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Posters | HP Inkjet | Vibrant color for indoor usage. | Up to 36" wide | 100 dpi at size |
| LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on matte or glossy paper, backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Trial Exhibits | HP Inkjet | Vibrant color for indoor usage. | Up to 36" wide | 100 dpi at size |
| LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on matte or glossy paper, backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Retail Signage | HP Inkjet | Vibrant color for indoor usage. | Up to 36" wide | 100 dpi at size |
| LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on matte or glossy paper, backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Trade Show Graphics | HP Inkjet | Vibrant color for indoor usage. | Up to 36" wide | 100 dpi at size |
| LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on matte or glossy paper, backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Backlit Displays | LightJet 5000 | Photographic quality on backlit material, or clear film | Up to 48"x96" | 150 dpi at size |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Vehicle Graphics | Arizona DSP | Vinyl/Film printer with an outdoor media warranty backed by 3MTM. 6-color process for near-continuous tone printing | Up to 53" wide | 100 dpi at size |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Floor Graphics | Arizona DSP | Vinyl/Film printer with an outdoor media warranty backed by 3MTM. 6-color process for near-continuous tone printing | Up to 53" wide | 100 dpi at size |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| CAD Plots | OCE 9800 (black & white) |
High speed, large format, digital printer | Up to 36" wide, by any manageable length | Up to 400 dpi |
| HP Inkjet (color) |
Large-format, color inkjet printer for enhanced plots requiring color | Up to 54" wide | 100 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Seismic Charts & Graphs | Diazo Printer | Fast, economical same-sized prints from translucent or transparent originals with opaque images (vellum, film, or mylar) | Up to 52" wide, by any manageable length | N/A |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Oversize Copies | OCE 9800 (black & white) |
High speed, large format, digital printer | Up to 36" wide, by any manageable length | Up to 400 dpi |
| HP Inkjet (color) |
Large-format, color inkjet printer for enhanced plots requiring color | Up to 54" wide | 100 dpi at size | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Manuals / Books | Docutech (black & white) |
High speed, black & white, digital printer | Up to 11" x 17" | 600 dpi |
| DocuColor | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17", full bleed | N/A | |
| CLC 1000 | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17" | N/A | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Newsletters | Docutech (black & white) |
High speed, black & white, digital printer | Up to 11" x 17" | 600 dpi |
| DocuColor | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17", full bleed | N/A | |
| CLC 1000 | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17" | N/A | |
| Offset Printing | Tradition black & white, spot, or process color printing | N/A | N/A | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Brochures | Docutech (black & white) |
High speed, black & white, digital printer | Up to 11" x 17" | 600 dpi |
| DocuColor | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17", full bleed | N/A | |
| CLC 1000 | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17" | N/A | |
| Offset Printing | Tradition black & white, spot, or process color printing | N/A | N/A | |
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| Use | Applicable Print Devices | Printer Description | Media Limitations | Placed Image Resolution Required |
| Catalogs / Price Lists | Docutech (black & white) |
High speed, black & white, digital printer | Up to 11" x 17" | 600 dpi |
| DocuColor | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17", full bleed | N/A | |
| CLC 1000 | High-speed, small-format, color printer/copier | Up to 11" x 17" | N/A | |
| Offset Printing | Tradition black & white, spot, or process color printing | N/A | N/A | |
You should always use a page setup at full size of the required final print. However, if you are using a software such as QuarkExpress which has a page layout size limit of 48", you should set up your file at a size directly proportional to the final output required.
