Design Module

What kind of image should I use for a photograph?
If you're using a photograph, then you should use a good resolution JPG image. Try to find the highest quality image with a file size less than 50 Megabytes (50 MB).
What kind of image should I use for a logo or clipart?
To use a logo, or some type image created by a graphics professional from solid lines and colors (specifically called 'vector art'), then EPS is the best choice. By using an EPS file in your design, you can retain the sharp lines in your original image, even if the file size you use is very small. If you do not have access to an EPS file, then GIF or PNG file formats will provide you with the next best print quality. Again, try to find the highest quality image with a file size less than 50 Megabytes (50 Mb).
Where can I get a high quality image for my sign?
The Design Module has a large collection of agency-quality art built-in to create your own original designs. If you'd like our in-house artists to develop a custom sign for you, please call us directly at 1-866-299-7446
How can I tell if my image is good?
Our design module will warn you if your image is lower than the recommended print resolution.
Does PrintShipNow.com Offer Imaging or Graphic Design Services?
Yes! Our Sign Design Services cover almost all of your sign printing needs. From sign and logo design to touchups and image cropping, we can help you get your signs and banners looking great.
How do you decide the 'recommended size' for my image, and the 'viewable distance'?
These calculations are based on the resolution (dots per inch, or DPI) of the image you provide. Uploading a higher resolution image means a larger image will look better at a closer distance. More technically, our system first examines the DPI of the image you upload. Then, based on that DPI, some mathematical formulas and our own experience, it inserts the image into your sign, scalable to the maximum size that will likely give you a clean, high-quality image when viewed at a distance of several feet. The system must assume that the image you provide 'looks good' to start with, as the only factor used when calculating the recommended physical size is the actual resolution (DPI) of the image you provide.
I own a Design Business or other Creative Company. Can I use your site to print and produce my art?
Yes! We offer affiliate and corporate accounts, with additional features like custom clipart, fonts, and predesigned templates. Learn more at www.print-fx.com.

Affiliate Program Installation

How do I take care of my digital printed vinyl decals or vehicle graphics?

The following is a general guide to ensure the quality of your digital graphics and to maintain the average life expectancy.

Your graphics are printed on a vinyl product with solvent based inks. A film over-laminate is applied directly over the printed graphics. This is an additional abrasion guard used to minimize any color fade due to ultra violet light exposure. Proper washing and caring of your graphics is required to maintain the printed image. We recommend the following steps:

  1. Only use general automotive soaps (cleaners) free from any alcohol based or solvent based product, as these chemicals will attach the vinyl base coating on your graphics.
  2. Always wash from the front leading edge of your vehicle to the back. This is important if the graphics were paneled during installation resulting in each overlap lying on the top surface. (Washing from back to front may result in the edge of the overlap to become raised or turned back.)
  3. We recommend that you hand wash the display using low water pressure, soft brushes and water temperature not to exceed 120 degrees. (High water pressure and high water temperature will soften the vinyl and may cause the adhesive to release.)
  4. Anytime when the displays become exposed to salt or other products used by the Department of Transportation to remove or de-ice road surfaces, the displays need to be washed immediately. Excessive exposure to these harsh products will result in damage to the coating on the vinyl.
  5. Under no circumstances shall the displays be acid washed. When using washing facilities for truck and trailers it is imperative this information is shared with the tenant.
  6. When displays get damaged by secondary contact or improper washing resulting in the vinyl to peel back, we recommend the back of the exposed vinyl be cleaned with warm soapy water, allow to dry and then apply a small amount of 3M Primer 4400 on the back surface. Allow the primer to dry for at least one minute and then push down to make contact of the aluminum. 3M Primer can generally be located at any automotive retail company.

Following the simple procedures stated above shall maintain your printed displays and will provide you enjoyment for several years.

How do I install my vinyl decal or vehicle graphic?
View our Vinyl Installation Reference Image.
How do I care for my magnetic and attach it to a vehicle?

Vehicle Magnetics are an easy way to mark a vehicle with advertising, but some care and maintenance is required. Always store the magnetic flat and never fold, crease, or roll as it will retain that shape and will not stay on surface.

  1. Wash area where you are going to attach to magnetic making sure all dirt and film is removed. Normal soap and water, window cleaner without ammonia, or alcohol will do the trick and dry completely.
  2. Wash the magnetic on both sides to make sure that the area is completely clean. Normal soap and water, window cleaner without ammonia, or alcohol will do the trick and dry completely.
  3. Attach to the surface making sure all areas of the magnetic is adhered.
How do I store and care for my banner?
To give your banner a long life ALWAYS roll your banner and store in the tube or box that it was shipped in if possible. Folding will crease and distort the vinyl banner and it will retain that shape. If the crease is minor you can take a hand held hair dryer and warm up the banner area on a flat surface or hang in the hot sunshine. This will release the memory of the vinyl material. You can wash your banner with normal soap and water and dry with a soft cloth or towel.
How can I hang my banner?

The are many ways to hang or install a banner depending on your application and need. Listed below are the different finishes we offer for our banners.

  1. Hem ONLY - You can choose 1 or all sides of the banner to be hemmed. The banner will have a 1" hem which may be hemmed using an adhesive banner tape or double sewn hem depending on the size and weight of your banner.
  2. Hem & Grommets - You can choose 1 or all sides of the banner to have hem and grommets. The banner will have a 1" hem which may be hemmed using an adhesive banner tape or double sewn hem depending on the size and weight of your banner. Brass #2 Grommets will be installed within the hemline every 2' apart on each side you choose. Having hem and grommets installed you can easily attach a rope for hanging or attach to a board or wall using a screw and washer over the grommet.
  3. Hem with Rope - This option is an easy way to have everything you need to hang your banner. A 1" webbing rope sewn within the banner hem area. The rope is rated at 600# per inch break strength. You can specify 1 or all sides of your banner depending on your mounting needs.
  4. Pole Pocket - Our standard Pole Pocket is 2" which will allow you to insert a dowel rod or decorative treatment for hanging. Pole Pockets are also most common in attaching to many of the banner stand or street boulevard banner applicatons.
  5. Clean Cut - To have this option do not choose any of the finishes and your banner will come to you at designated size cut cleanly on all edges. Most banners used in retractable banner stands require just a clean smooth cut for attaching to the stands.
  6. Using a clean cut banner and attaching it to a Snap Rail located in Accessories Tab on the Home page. Banner Snap Rail let you insert the banner into a plastic or aluminium rail for easy haning. Used most commonly in grocery, retail, and restaurants for hanging advertisement and directional signage.
What is application tape?
Application Tape is similar to general purpose masking tape, except it has a low tack adhesive. Application tape is applied over vinyl graphics to allow ease of installation. Please click this link to view "How to install vinyl graphics" for more information.

Payment Methods

What types of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
What is your refund policy?
For our refund policy, please see our Terms of Sale.
Do you offer any discounts?
Our front page includes monthly and quarterly promotions, check back often!We offer additional volume pricing for very large orders. Please contact sales@print-fx.com to inquire about special discount rates.

Placing an Order

How do I know that you received my order, and how do I obtain a receipt?
Once you have submitted your order, an order confirmation containing your final order total, link to shipment status, billing, design proof, contact and shipment information will be emailed to you.
What if I didn't receive my order confirmation?
If you haven't received your order confirmation email, please check your junk email folder or spam filter. If you still cannot locate your confirmation email, please contact us directly at support@print-fx.com
May I make a correction to my order after it has been submitted?
Since most orders are transmitted to our production staff immediately upon submission, it is generally impossible to make corrections or changes to the design submitted for printing. If you have just placed your order, and want to make an immediate change, please contact customer service via help chat or support@print-fx.com
What is your cancellation policy?
You can find our cancellation policy in our Terms of Sale.
How do you determine pricing for sign orders?

We are always working hard to keep our prices below market rates. We value you as a customer, so please let us know if you find a lower rate elsewhere.

Prices are not taken from a pricing sheet, but are calculated as you design your sign. As soon as you have designed your sign and selected your material and quantity, your price is calculated, including quantity price breaks. The price for your sign depends on several factors. Below you will find a description of each of factor and how to use them to make the signs you need at prices you can afford.

  1. Size - Our signs come in many different sizes to accomodate your needs. The general rule is, the larger the sign, the more it costs.
  2. Number of Colors - On most signs, this is a factor only for high-quantity orders. If you are planning on purchasing less than 15 signs of a particular design, this will not be a factor. Screen Printed products such as apparel and rigid substrates are an exception, it is always priced-per-color.
  3. Quantity - The more you buy, the less they cost. We are constantly improving our pricing to allow the maximum discounts to customers who purchase multiple signs. We believe strongly that quantity discounts are very important when trying to get your message out to as many people as possible.
  4. Material - We offer signs in a variety of materials to help you make a sign that fits your need. Be sure to read the front- page descriptions of each of our substrates to find the material that's right for you!

Printing

What size is the font on the sign?
The size of the text will depend on your font and size choices. Be sure to use the embedded ruler tool to measure exact dimensions if you are seeking an exact measurement for your lettering. The printed sign will be exactly proportional to your design proof.
What digital colors do you have available?
Our digital color palette is based off the Pantone Color Chart as an approximation only. Actual colors may vary slightly from their Pantone equivalents, but have been matched as close as possible using Pantone guidelines. For more information on pantone colors visit www.pantone.com Note: Uploaded images may retain original colors, with some variance during the conversion from RGB to CMYK formats. For more on the difference between RGB and CMYK color see Printernational's Color Overview.
Will the printed product look exactly like the design proof displayed on my monitor?
Due to different monitor calibrations, some printed colors may not always match the colors displayed on your computer monitor. For more on the difference between RGB and CMYK color see Printernational's Color Overview
Can I have a sign printed on both sides?
Yes, in some cases. This is dependent on the type of substrate that you have chosen to print on. Types of substrates you can print on both sides are Blockout Banner, Coroplast, Aluminium, Polystryene, and different types of Apparel. In the size/attribute tab in the design area choose double sided.
What is the different print areas on apparel?

The print area is dependent on the type of apparel selected. When the print location is selected a red box will appear on the area of the garment displayed in the design module. This area will be the approximate print area which may vary depending on garment size and type. Any artwork designed outside the red box locator WILL NOT be printed. Make sure you keep your design inside this area. Types of print locations and sizes include:

  1. The CREST print size is 3.5"x3.5" for Adult size and 2.5"x2.5" for Youth size apparel. The crest can be printed on the top or bottom of the front or back of the garment. You can choose the location depending on the type of apparel left side, center or right side on the front and back.
  2. The FULL print size is 12"x12" for Adult size and 11"x11" for Youth size apparel. The crest can be printed on the top or bottom of the front or back of the garment. You can choose the location depending on the type of apparel center, left side or right side on the front and back.
  3. The Sleeve print area consists of CREST which is printed on the left, right or both sleeves of the garment. Size of the print is 3.5"x3.5" for Adult and 2.5"x2.5" for Youth garments. The Sleeve FULL print is located on the side of a full length sleeve. Print size for FULL is 12"x3" for Adult and 8"x2.5" for Youth Apparel.
What is digital printing?
Digital printing is using digital technology printing straight from a digital file rather than using individual silk screens. Digital printing can be a very cost effective way of producing high quality one-offs or small print runs. Depending on the type of substrate used printing can be up to 16' wide and 150' long. Various substrates include banner, adhesive vinyl, apparel, carpet, polystrene, and paper.
What is Silk Screen Printing?
A printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas. Silk screening is used commonly on high volume prints on all types of substrates including banner, vinyl, aluminum, polystryene, apparel, poster and paper.
What is the difference between Coroplast Sign and Digital Printed Coroplast Sign?

Digital Printed Coroplast should be chosen when you require less than 25 signs. For small runs, this method is more economical than Screen Printed Coroplast. Screen printed coroplast signs use the silk screen print method which requires a higher setup cost than digital printing, but reduces the print time and cost.

The Coroplast is the same in both print methods. Corrugated plastic or corriboard, also known under the tradenames of Coroplast, Correx, Corriflute, Corflute, or Twinplast, refers to a wide range of extruded twinwall plastic sheet products produced from high impact polypropylene resin with a similar make up to corrugated fiberboard. It is a light weight tough material which can easily be cut with a craft knife.

What Silk Screen Print colors are available?
The Screen print color pallette is limited to standard silk screen print inks. The color may vary slightly depending on your calibration of you monitor and the substrate of which the ink is printed on.
What is a bubble cut?
A bubble cut is a simple cut on the outside of your overall graphic. The cut will not be to the edge of the graphic just approximately 1/4" from the art.

Products

Do you offer any sizes and shapes other than those listed on the website?
All of the sign sizes and shapes that we offer are listed on the website. Banners, Canvas, and adhesive Vinyl may be custom sized through the website. We are always adding new items to our product line so please let us know what you would like to see in the future by sending an inquiry via to info@print-fx.com.
May I choose the type of material my design is printed on?
We offer the following materials: polystyrene, vinyl banner, mesh banner, 040 aluminum, 063 aluminum, 080 aluminum, 4mil corrugated plastic, magnetic, intermediate and cast adhesive vinyl, floor graphics, carpet, fabric, and other specialty items.
How durable are the signs?
See product description for details. Our products last anywhere from 2 - 8 years, depending on the substrate.
Does my sign order include any posts, frames or stakes for hanging or displaying purposes?
Posts, frames and stakes may be added to the shopping cart separately and can be found in the 'Accessories' section. Posts, frames and stakes are generally shipped separately.
Do the signs come with holes so I can hang them or attach them? If not, will you drill holes for me?
Our signs do not contain holes unless selected when ordering each product. Most common substrates which use holes for hanging are banners with hem and grommets, polystrene, and aluminum. In the Accessories Tab, there is many forms of stands, frames and stakes for hanging and mounting your products.
What is a Coroplast Sign?
Corrugated plastic or corriboard, also known under the tradenames of Coroplast, Correx, Corriflute, Corflute or Twinplast, refers to a wide range of extruded twinwall plastic sheet products produced from high impact polypropylene resin with a similar make up to corrugated fiberboard. It is a light weight tough material which can easily be cut with a craft knife. Coroplast is commonly used for yard signs for advertisment, political campaigns, directional signage, or school campaigns.
What is the different between Wind Mesh and Fine Mesh Banners?
Mesh banner material is a coated PVC mesh, 7.5 ounce/square yard product designed for indoor and outdoor, short term, promotional graphics. The edges can be finished with hems and grommets or pole pockets for hanging. Mesh banner comes in 2 different hole patterns. Windmesh Banner has a larger hole pattern which allows more air flow through the banner material. Wind Mesh Banner is commonly used for street banners, building wraps, and baseball field signage. Fine Mesh Banner has a small whole pattern which gives the banner a better print quality image due to added print surface. Fine Mesh Banner has a greater restricted air flow than the Wind Mesh Banner. Fine Mesh Banner is most commonly used in ice applications in ice rinks, street signage and stadium banners where less air flow is not a concern.
What is a blockout banner?
A blockout banner has an opaque liner between the vinyl front and back of the banner. This opaque liner prevents light coming through to the other side of the banner to prevent wash out and viewing of the other side of the printed banner. Most commonly printed on both sides for street banners, boulevard banners, and indoor banners for advertisement.
What is polystrene?
Polystyrene is one of the most widely used kinds of plastic. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic substance, normally existing in solid state at room temperature, but melting if heated (for molding or extrusion), and becoming solid again when cooling off. Polystyrene is lightweight hard plastic with limited flexibility, but is resilient and most commonly used for short- term outdoor or long-term interior signage.
What is a floor graphic and is it safe installed on the floor?
Floor Graphics was developed for floor advertising by using graphics/messages that can be temporarily displayed up to 6 months under normal wear and tear condition indoors. The printed base film is overlaminated with a UL rated film for protection and slip resistance of the floor graphics. Used most commonly in grocery stores, retail stores, basketball courts, school and hospitals.
Do you offer different gauges of Aluminum?
Yes, we offer .040, .063, and .080 gauge aluminum. The aluminum plate can be printed single or double sided and cut with square or rounded corners.
What is perforated window screen?
Perforated Window film is a 6 mil printable vinyl with 50/50 1.5mm hole perforated pattern. Applied to a window the graphics are visible from the outside and see through from the inside. Most commonly used on bus, car, pickup and store front windows for advertisment.
Does the Deluxe Double Retractor banner stand come with 1 or 2 banners?
The Deluxe Double Retractor comes with 1 graphic banner, but you can add an additional banner. This unit allows to have 2 separate banners installed. Design and install the front or have the same graphic on the back giving a double viewing for the same floor space.

Shipping/Delivery/Warranty

What is your turnaround time? (The following estimates do not include shipping time.)

Most orders are processed and shipped out of our facilities within 5 business days. For example, an order submitted at 3pm (CST) on Monday will leave our facility the following Monday. Any order submitted after 5pm (CST) is considered submitted on the following business day.

If my order is large due to weight or size how is it shipped?
Depending on the type of substrate whether it is rolled or palleted will be shipped using freight liner. Most banners, carpet, fabric, wall paper and vinyl will generally be rolled and put into a thick wall tube or box. Coroplast, aluminum, polystrene, and magnetics will be boxed and placed on a pallet for shipping.
What is your product guarantee?
Our 90-day guarantee warrants that products do not contain manufacturing defects, and, if the product fails or breaks due to a manufacturing defect during the 90 day time period, we will either replace the product or issue you a refund / credit equal to the value of the failed product. We reserve the right to investigate the claim and determine whether or not the failed product is covered by our guarantee.
Is there any way to put a rush on my order?
We offer several shipping options to accommodate urgent orders. You may select your preferred shipping method during checkout. If your order requires to be shipped by FedEx Freight Line due to size or weight, this can only be shipped ground and cannot be expedited.
What do I do when the product has a manufacture defect?
Notify support@print-fx.com as soon as possible and we will be happy to answer any questions.
How do I track my order?
At time of shipment an email will be sent to you along with a FedEx Tracking Number of your shipment.
My product was damaged in shipment, what can be done?
We take pride in our packaging but there are times when the product gets damaged in shipment. Upon receipt of your delivery, tell your FedEx Driver and he will make a note on the shipment file. Then proceed to contact FedEx at 1-800-463-3339 and they will guide you through their damaged shipment process.