Vinyl-Transfer
Logos
What
is a Vinyl-Transfer Logo?
Vinyl-Transfer Logos are easy to apply, just like a sticker.
Once applied they will appear to look painted on the drumhead.
NO backgrounds or clear materials are used. Logos are
made of 2mil premium grade vinyl (3M brand). Logos will
apply to uneven surfaces and areas. Black, White, yellow,
red, etc colors will apply to coated, simulated calf skin
and smooth drum heads. Chrome, Brushed Chrome, Metallic
colors are made of metal and will ONLY apply to smooth
bass drumheads.
How
to create a digital file for Band
Name logos (vinyl-transfer logos)?
We ONLY
accept files
from these popular Mac or PC design programs:
VECTOR
design programs
Illustrator, FreeHand, Corel Draw
- Vector
files MUST be created as a Ready-To-Cut digital file
from one of these programs above.
-
Your file MUST be drawn with the vector tools available
in these programs or you can typeout your band's name
and then convert the font to outlines or curves. You
CANNOT import scans or images into these files because
your file MUST be in all Vector format.
-
You will know if you have a Vector file if you can view
the wire frame when the art is viewed in the artwork
mode.
- Vector
graphics are resolution independent and can be output
to the highest quality at any scale without any loss
of quality when printed or diecut.
-
PhotoShop does have a Pen Tool to draw Bézier
curves and paths. You will have to export the final
artwork as a .ai file. More Info
- We
do offer logo redraw services through our Graphics
Department, We take you scan or hard copy then redraw
the logo into a vector format. Read our Rights,
Usage, Cancellation
info.
VividHead
Digital Files
What
software should I use to design my VividHead?
We ONLY
accept files
from these popular Mac or PC design programs:
VECTOR
design programs
Illustrator, FreeHand, Corel Draw
- Vector
digital files always print in the highest fidelity no
matter what size it is created. But it is best to design
your layout at 100% actual size.
-
Create your file in the CMYK color mode for best color
results.
-
Save your file as AI, EPS.
- Use
Pantone
colors or their CMYK percentages for the most accurate
color matching.
- Placed
scans and raster images need to be TIFF, EPS files and
saved in the CMYK color mode.
-
Do NOT embed placed images!
- You
MUST convert all fonts to curves or paths to eliminate
the need to send fonts.
RASTER
design programs
PhotoShop,
PhotoDeluxe, Corel Photo, Corel Photo-Paint, Paint Shop
Pro, Painter
-
Scans and raster images need to
72ppi when printed at 100% actual size. We can accept
files up to 250ppi at 100% actual size.
-
Save your file as TIFF, EPS, JPG, JPEG in the CMYK color
mode.
- TIFF,
EPS image formats preserve colors and sharpness of your
images the best.
-
JPG / JPEG format will compress your file. Be shure
to save your JPG at maximum quality.
-
We do accept files in the RGB color mode. Note: Our
special print software will convert all RGB files to
the CMYK mode needed for printing.
- Use
Pantone
colors or their CMYK percentages for the most accurate
color matching.
- We
can produce acceptable images with files as small as
7MB. We have produced drumheads with even smaller digital
files but the quality can be fuzzy or blurry. It is
always best to send the largest digital file possible.
We will send you a proof and let you know if it will
work before making your VividHead.
What
size of layout should I use to create my digital file?
-
We can scale any size image or layout to fit onto
a VividHead.
- Create
layouts at 100% actual size if possible:
20 inch head - create your layout at 21x21"
22 inch head - create your layout at 23x23"
24 inch head - create your layout at 25x25"
You can send half size layouts.
-
We ask you to design your layout 1" larger than
your drumhead size because we print the design into
the hoop of the drumhead. Your audiance does not see
this area, so don't put critica items like band names
or text on the edge of your design. (We do this because
it produces a more professional looking VividHead.)
If you already have your design finished and did not
do this step don't worry and don't go back and fix
it because we can make it work.
- Use
this chart below to create an excellent quality VividHead:
Any placed images should be scanned at the specified
ppi according to the chart.
Can
you print an excellent quality VividHead with a 72dpi
file?
- VividHeads™
are printed with our high fidelity six-color Giclée
printer. Each drumhead is printed in millions of colors;
producing vivid photos and sharp graphics. You will
achive photographic results with a 72ppi to 150ppi.
In fact you are just wasting your time and hard drive
space; when make digital files larger than 250ppi.
– Excellent Quality - 72ppi at 23x23"
– Professional Quality - 150ppi at 23x23"
- We perfer this quality if possible
– Museum Quality - 250ppi at 23x23"
Museum Quality Files
-
You don't need to send Museum quality digital files
(250ppi at 100% actual size), unless you want too. We
have produced hundreds of VividHeads with much smaller
digital files and they all looked great! Remember you
are producing a bass drumhead which will be viewed from
at least 5 feet away. Yes the larger the file the better
the quality but is hard to tell a difference after 150ppi
unless you are looking up close at drumhead (12 inches)
How
should I scan my image to achieve photo quality?
-
Photos / images should be scanned in and/or scaled to
the actual size they will be on the VividHead; at the
resolution specified for the final image size. Yes,
that may seem confusing but this principal is very important.
For example, you can't scan in a 4"x4" @ 300
ppi and have it go to 22"x22" @ 100 ppi, the
resolutions just don't match up. You would need to scan
your 4"x4" @ 550+ ppi for it to resize to
a 22"x22" @ 100 ppi. If you don't, you run
the risk of your image looking fuzzy and/or having jagged
edges. Keep in mind it is not necessary to be
exact, just close! It is better to over scan than
under scan!!
- For
excellent to professional quality VividHeads; scans
and raster images should be 72ppi to 150ppi at 100%
actual size.
Will
my VividHead look exactly like it does on my computer
monitor?
- There
are going to be some small differences between images
on a computer monitor and your final VividHead. Moniters,
Scanners and Digital Cameras create images using combinations
of just three colors: Red, Green and Blue (called "RGB").
These are the colors that the computer uses to display
images on your screen. But most printing process uses
Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow and Black (called
"CMYK"). Be aware that it is possible to make
colors in RGB that you can't make with CMYK. They are
said to be "out of the CMYK color gamut".
What happens is that the translator just gets as close
as possible to the appearance of the original and that's
as good as it can be. It's something that everyone in
the print industry puts up with.
(Very bright colors/fluorescens are impossible to achieve)
- When
designing with a vector illustration program (Illustrator,
FreeHand, Corel Draw) always use CMYK definitions instead
of RGB colors for fonts and other design elements.
How
do I send my digital files to you through the Internet?
DO NOT E-MAIL FILES
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