Signage artwork fails differently from print artwork. The file that produced a perfect brochure can stall a sign job for a fortnight, because the sign maker needs things a printer never asks for.
Vectors are non-negotiable
Sign vinyl is cut by a plotter following mathematical paths — there are no pixels to work with. Everything cut needs vector artwork with text converted to outlines. A high-resolution JPG that satisfies a printer is useless to a vinyl cutter; expect a redraw charge before anything else happens.
Design at survey scale, not screen scale
The rule of thumb: about 25mm of letter height per 10 metres of viewing distance. A fascia read from across a road needs 100mm+ letters; a totem read from a moving car needs far more. Artwork should be built at full size (or a stated scale) against real site measurements — which is why proper signage design starts with a survey, not a mood board.
Colour works differently in vinyl
Cut vinyl comes in a manufacturer's swatch range — you match to the nearest stock colour or pay for printed vinyl. Supply Pantone or vinyl range references, not "the blue from our website". And check contrast at distance: subtle tonal pairs that look sophisticated on screen disappear against brick at thirty metres.
What a sign maker actually wants to receive
Outlined vector file, stated dimensions, colour references, a location photo, and any fixing constraints. Send that and you're their favourite customer; send a Word document with a JPG in it and your job goes to the back of the queue. Our signage design service hands manufacturers exactly this pack — plus planning drawings when consent is needed.