Preparing your project
A project?
A good file is already half the job. You don't need to be a designer to start a project. But a few good habits save time, avoid unpleasant surprises and guarantee a sharp result. Here is what to know before sending us your files. And if none of this makes sense to you, don't worry: our graphic design service will take care of it.
Vector or image: the difference that changes everything
A vector logo can be enlarged endlessly. An image cannot.
A vector file describes your logo with mathematical shapes: lines, curves, flat colours. It can be enlarged from business-card size to the size of a building front without losing any sharpness. It is also what lets us cut letters out of vinyl or PVC.
An image (photo, screenshot, logo taken from a website) is made of small coloured squares, pixels. Enlarged beyond its intended size, it becomes blurred or “pixelated”.
How can you tell if your logo is vector? Ask the person who created it for the “source files” or the “vector version”. They are usually .ai, .eps, .svg or .pdf files. A .jpg or .png is never vector.
Only have your logo as a .jpg? That is not a problem: we can redraw it as a vector.
The formats we accept
| File type | Formats | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Vector | .ai, .eps, .svg, vector .pdf | Logos, text, cut lettering, signs, vehicle graphics |
| Print-ready | High-resolution .pdf | Flyers, cards, brochures, posters, banners |
| Image | High-resolution .jpg, .png, .tif | Photos and visuals within a print |
| To show us an idea | Photo, sketch, screenshot | For a brief, never for the final print |
The right print settings
- Resolution
- 300 dpi at actual size for small formats (flyers, cards). For large formats seen from a distance (banners, panels), 100 to 150 dpi at actual size is enough.
- Colours
- In CMYK, the printers' colour mode. RGB is the screens' mode: its bright colours do not always print as they appear. For an exact colour, give its Pantone reference.
- Bleed
- If your design runs to the edge, extend it a few millimetres beyond the final size. This avoids a white edge after trimming.
- Safety margins
- Keep text and logos away from the edges so they are not cut off.
- Fonts
- Outline your text or send the fonts with the file. Otherwise they may be replaced.
A short glossary
| Term | In plain words |
|---|---|
| Proof (BAT) | The final preview you approve before production. Nothing starts without your agreement. |
| CMYK / RGB | The colour modes of print and of screens. |
| dpi | Dots per inch: the higher it is, the finer the image. |
| Bleed | The part of the design that extends past the format and is trimmed off. |
| Outlining | Turning text or an image into vector shapes. |
| Lamination | A clear film applied to the print to protect it from scratches and UV. |
| Wrap | Covering all or part of a surface (vehicle, furniture) with adhesive film. |
Project by project
Graphic & web design
Discover: Graphic & web designNo file? That is exactly where we start.
What to send us
- Your business and your customers, in a few lines
- What you already have, even if it is old: logo, colours, documents
- Examples of visuals or brands you like, and ones you don't
- The materials you have in mind: sign, vehicle, cards, website…
- For a website: your domain name if you already have one, your texts and your photos
Good to know: We deliver your logo as a vector file and in the usual formats. Keep them safe: you will need them for every future material.
Signs & wayfinding
Discover: Signs & wayfindingA sign is designed from the pavement across the street.
What to send us
- Your logo as a vector file
- A photo of the front or the wall, taken straight on
- The dimensions of the area to cover
- How it will be used: indoors or outdoors, how long, lit or not
| Material | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| PVC panel | Indoor wayfinding, notice boards, menus |
| Acrylic, brushed aluminium | Business plates and signs with a premium finish |
| Cut lettering | A raised logo or name, on a front or an indoor wall |
| Light box | A sign that can be seen at night |
| Banner | Temporary communication, events, building site hoardings |
| Mesh banner | Fences and railings exposed to wind |
| Magnetic sheet | Menus or information you change often |
| Opaque or cut window vinyl | Dressing a shop window, showing your opening hours |
| Frosted film | Keeping privacy while letting light through |
| Solar film | Reducing heat and glare behind a window |
Good to know: An outdoor sign may need permission from your town hall. Check before installation; we can help you prepare the visuals for the application.
Vehicle graphics & wraps
Discover: Vehicle graphics & wrapsA vehicle has four sides. We design for all of them.
What to send us
- The make, model, year and size of the vehicle (L1H1, L2H2…)
- Photos of all four sides, taken straight on
- Your logo as a vector file and the information to display (business, phone, website)
- The number of vehicles, if it is a fleet
| Service | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| Lettering | Showing the essentials (name, phone) on a controlled budget |
| Printed graphics | Colour visuals, photos, gradients |
| Partial wrap | Strong impact on part of the vehicle: bonnet, sides, rear |
| Full wrap | Completely changing the colour or look of the vehicle |
Good to know: The less information there is, the easier it is to read. People look at a vehicle for a few seconds, often while it is moving.
Small & large format printing
Discover: Small & large format printingWhat looks sharp on screen is not always sharp on paper.
What to send us
- A high-resolution PDF in CMYK, with bleed and outlined fonts
- The final size, the quantity and the use (handing out, counter, window, outdoors)
- No file ready? Send us your texts, logo and photos: we will do the layout.
| Material | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| Flyers, leaflets | Handing out, trade fairs, a quick overview of your offer |
| Business cards | Leaving your details at every meeting |
| Brochures | Presenting a full range or a catalogue |
| Menus, placemats | Restaurants, bars, snack bars |
| Sticker sheets | Small quantities, handing out, packaging |
| Sticker rolls | Labelling products in series |
| Paper poster | Indoor or short-term display |
| Adhesive vinyl | Applying a visual to a window, wall or panel |
| Banner | Large outdoor display |
Good to know: For prints exposed outdoors or handled often, lamination protects them and makes them last longer.
Displays & trade shows
Discover: Displays & trade showsAt a trade fair, people see you before they read you.
What to send us
- The type of display and the number of copies
- Your logo as a vector file, your high-resolution visuals and a short text
- The date of the event, so we can plan production
| Display | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| Roll-up | Trade fairs and receptions: it rolls out and away in seconds |
| X-banner | A light, affordable display for indoors |
| Hanging banner | A suspended visual, in a window or a hall |
| Feather flag | Outdoors: visible from afar, it signals that you are there |
| Stand | A complete, consistent presence at a trade fair |
| Sponsorship board | Pitch sides, clubs, sports events |
Good to know: On a roll-up, put the logo and the main message in the top half. The bottom is hidden as soon as people stand in front of it.
Textiles & merchandise
Discover: Textiles & merchandiseThe right technique depends on the design, not just the garment.
What to send us
- Your logo as a vector file
- The type of garment or item, and its colour
- Quantities per size
- Where the design goes: chest, back, sleeve
| Technique | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| Flex | Logos in solid colours, names and numbers, small runs |
| DTF | Multicolour designs, gradients, photos |
| Embroidery | A premium, durable finish on polo shirts, jackets and caps |
Good to know: Very fine details and small text do not embroider well. A simplified logo often gives a better result; we advise you case by case.
Wall design & home staging
Discover: Wall design & home stagingThe result depends as much on the surface as on the design.
What to send us
- Photos of the room, the furniture or the wall
- The dimensions of each surface to cover
- The type and condition of the surfaces: wood, melamine, paint, tiles
- The style you want: plain, wood or marble effect, custom design
| Material | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| Furniture wrap | Changing the look of a kitchen, fronts or a counter without replacing them |
| Custom wallpaper | A whole wall with a made-to-measure design |
| Wall stickers | A pattern, text or logo on part of a wall |
Good to know: Adhesive holds best on a smooth, clean, sound surface. We check the surfaces before confirming that the project is feasible.
Sign, vehicle, shop window, trade show: describe your project in a few lines and we will get back to you with a quote.
Request a quote