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 In the arena
of Trade Show Marketing, you are vying for the
attention of prospects who are likely to be over stimulated and
information saturated. Prospects will be more drawn to trade show displays that
exhibit a simple and easily conceived message.
Your company is unique;
your message is unique. The team at Gulf Coast Displays &
Graphics will work with you to design a trade show exhibit presentation that is
as individual as you are. Your graphics and lighting play the most
important role in attracting and capturing attendees attention.
Creative visuals will help direct your exhibit traffic, highlight
products and create moods.
Your prospects will have greater recall of your
message when your visual image cleverly coincides with your written
message. Your trade show graphics can act as qualifiers
if attendees are able to identify, by your message, whether they want  to investigate you or not. Let them
know who you are! Provide key facts about your products and services that create
curiosity!
As your trade show exhibit designer,
we will be able to qualify or justify every element, component and
technique incorporated into your exhibit. But your own marketing
objectives and strategy must be used to guide your final
decision-making in the design of your exhibit.
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If you are capable of designing and setting up your own files, and
would simply like us to print and laminate your trade show graphics, we will be
happy to do so! Please refer to our Digital Graphics File Set-Up
Specifications below.
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The following specifications are intended as
guidelines only. These instructions should address most points regarding file
preparation, design layout and graphic care. However, we will be happy to help you if you
have any further questions or need clarification.
What type of graphics do I get?
Standard
- Used for: Mural Panels, Graphic Panels, Velcro Graphics, Headers, Signs, Sting Banners,
Deluxe Roll-Up Banners
- How they're made: Images are digitally printed on high quality coated paper using brilliant
dye inks. Graphics are then laminated on both sides for stability and durability. Standard graphics
can be printed up to 35" wide, and multiple panels can be hung adjacently to create a seamless mural.
Graphics can be custom cut to any size or shape.
- Color: Full color, CMYK.
Backlit
- Used for: Mural Panels, Graphic Panels, Headers
- How they're made: Images are digitally printed on semi-transparent paper
(backlit film) using high saturation UV dye inks. Standard graphics can be printed up to 60" wide, and multiple
panels can be hung adjacently to create a backlit mural.
- Color: Full color, CMYK.
Dye Sublimation
- Used for: Fabric Displays, QuickScreen Banners, Table Runners
- How they're made: Images are digitally printed on transfer paper using special
dye inks. Graphics are then transferred using a large format press onto white polyduck fabric. The ink is liquefied
at high heat saturating and dying the fabric to create a brilliant, colorfast image. Images can be created to nearly
any size.
- Color: Full color, CMYK.
What kind of file should I use?
We want your artwork to look the best it possibly can. To ensure quality and reduce in-house
preparation time, we offer the following information regarding which applications to use and how to
best set up your design:
We prefer artwork created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop (we support up to versions 11 and 8 respectively).
Other vector-based program output (Freehand, Corel Draw, etc) must be converted to .eps format. Please
do not use desktop publishing programs such as Quark, Pagemaker or Powerpoint as they are not suitable for
this type of large format printing.
Adobe Illustrator
- Used for: Vector images such as logos, text panels and artwork without photos, scans or other large
bitmap image files
- Hints: Any image created as vector based line art in Illustrator can be scaled
to size as needed. Remember, though, that bitmap images placed in Illustrator will not be converted to
vector and so must be full size at 72 dpi for standard, or 100 dpi for backlit. Do not place large image files in Illustrator as the
memory constraints will make the file difficult to work with, for this use Photoshop. If you are placing small image files, please save as
an .eps so the image will be attached. Convert all text to outlines- there are thousands of fonts and we do not
have them all!
Adobe Photoshop
- Used for: Complex artwork; artwork that incorporates photos, scans or other large bitmap image files
- Hints: When working in Photoshop, create your image at 100% full size at 72 dpi for standard, or 100 dpi for backlit. Large format
printing used for display graphics does not have the same requirements as other print work. You will only create an unnecessarily large file by working at
full size and 150+ dpi. Conversely, you do not save file size working at a higher resolution and a smaller size. An 8.6" x
8.6" image at 300 dpi is exactly the same size file as a 36" x 36" at 72 dpi. Any scanned image or photo must be actual size as well.
When working on your design, zoom into 100% magnification; if your image looks blurry and pixilated on the screen, so will your print.
Do not flatten the image unless you are going to email it, in which case you can save the image as a .jpeg or .tiff.
What kind of file should I use?
If you have any specific colors that you would like to match, the best way to do this is by supplying a PMS color.
We use the Solid to Process Coated Pantone Matching System. Please use the most current set you have available.
If you supply us with a PMS number, we will match that color as closely as possible. Alternately, if you have printed
graphics with colors that you would like us to match, please supply us with the graphic and we will match the
print as closely as possible. Do not rely on the color on your monitor; all monitors have different color profiles and the
color you see on your screen may not match the end media. Keep in mind that color matching will vary slightly due to
different printers, application color profiles, inks and media. We will supply test strips for your approval.
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