Artwork Information: Please email if you any questions regarding Art. Byron Steiner bsteiner@americanbus.com

 
When it comes to imprinting promotional products, the type of artwork files accepted will vary depending on the product(s) ordered.

Vectorized artwork is always recommended for optimal printing. Make sure to convert all text to outlines/paths prior to sending us your artwork files.

For certain products, rasterized artwork may be accepted as well. The resolution for rasterized artwork should be set at 300 dpi or higher. We are not responsible for poor quality printing due to low resolution artwork.

You can upload your artwork when placing an order on our website. Or, you can also upload your artwork files using the form to the right.

Please upload appropriate art files.

Common Terms

 
Screen Printing: an image is transferred to the printed surface by ink, which is pressed through a stenciled screen and treated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Film positives are put in contact with the screens and exposed to light, hardening the emulsion not covered by film and leaving a soft area on the screen for the squeegee to press ink through. (Also called silk screening).
Pad Printing: a recessed surface is covered with ink. The plate is wiped clean, leaving ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then pressed against the plate, pulling the ink out of the recesses and pressing it directly onto the product.
4-color Process: a system where a color image is separated into 4 different color values by the use of filters and screens (usually done digitally). The result is a color separation of 4 images that when transferred to printing plates and printed on a printing press with the colored inks – cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black – reproduces the original color image. These four colors can be combined to create thousands of colors.
Pantone Matching System (PMS): a book of standardized color in a fan format used to identify, match and communicate colors in order to produce accurate color matches in printing. Each color has a coded number indicating instructions for mixing inks to achieve that color.
Camera-ready: (also known as "Press Ready") is used to describe artwork that is ready for press and doesn't require any adjustments.
Bleeds: printers cannot print right to the edge of a paper sheet. To create that effect, the printer must use a sheet that is larger than the document size. Then, the printer prints beyond the edge of the document size (usually 1/8") and cuts the paper down to the document size.
Imprint Area: the area on a product – with specific dimensions – in which the imprint is placed.
Paper proof: impression of type or artwork on paper so the correctness and quality of the material to be printed can be checked. 
Pre-production Proof: an actual physical sample of the product itself produced and sent for approval before an order goes into production.
Drop Shipment: an order shipped to more than one location. You may be charged a fee for each additional destination.
Less than Minimum: the fee charged for ordering fewer items than the quantity listed in the minimum or first column. This option is not always available on all products.
Etching: using a process in which an image is first covered with a protective coating that resists acid, then exposed, leaving bare metal and protected metal. The acid attacks only the exposed metal, leaving the image etched onto the surface.
Engraving: cutting an image into metal, wood or glass by one of three methods – computerized engraving, hand tracing or hand engraving.
Colorfill: screen printing an image and then debossing it onto the vinyl's surface.
Embroidery: stitching a design into fabric through the use of high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machines. Artwork must first be "digitized," which is the specialized process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or thread. A particular format of art such as a jpeg, tif, eps, or bmp, cannot be converted into an embroidery tape. The digitizer must actually recreate the artwork using stitches. Then it programs the sewing machine to sew a specific design, in a specific color, with a specific type of stitch. This is the process known as digitizing.
Debossing: depressing an image into a material's surface so that the image sits below the product surface.
Embossing: impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface.
Hot Stamp: setting a design on a relief die that is then heated and pressed onto the printing surface.
Laser or Foil Stamp: applying metallic or colored foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper surfaces.
Personalization: imprinting an item with a person's name, using one of several methods – mechanical engraving, laser engraving, hot stamping, debossing, sublimation, screen printing and more.
Die-casting: injecting molten metal into the cavity of a carved die (a mold).
Die-striking: producing emblems and other flat promotional products by striking a blank metal sheet with a hammer that holds the die.