Plaque Artwork Best Practices

We're committed to providing helpful assistance for your plaque order. Follow these best practices for submitting artwork to ensure a smooth process.

What are the best file formats for plaque orders?

We have limited ability to handle file types from other software such as .CDR (CorelDraw) or .fs (Flexi), as our art processing is done in Adobe Illustrator. We recommend exporting or saving your files as a PDF.

If your plaque request does not include vector art, please indicate the plaque size, depth/thickness, height of text, and other design elements.

Note: We require vector art files for most of our products. While we can accept bitmap files, such as JPEG, PNG, TIF, or BMP, we cannot use them to cut paths. Custom orders without vector art will require more time to process. For expedited processing, please supply vector art with your order.

What are the plaque file requirements?

Share clean vector artwork or text typed in a Word document, noting the desired font. Avoid sending non-vector text or logos when possible.

Bitmap file types (JPEG, PNG, BMP) of text reduce the speed of the order process. You can also send flattened or converted text to avoid errors or font-matching issues.

Photographs for Portraits

If you add photographs to your plaque, it’s essential to review the quality of the photo file. While our team reviews each picture, photograph quality will affect the plaque details.

Preferred photograph requirements:

Photographs with exceptional quality will highlight details through well-defined lines and even shading.

High resolution
The subject is the central focus
Good lighting and composition with modern digital cameras

Unsuitable photographs:

Photographs captured in direct sunlight or low light conditions can result in gritty details.
Screenshots
Low-resolution photographs that are scanned, faxed, or pixelated
Over-exposed or heavy shadows

Textures through skin or hair may appear distorted, leaving flat and unnatural smooth raised or recessed areas, unclear or nonexistent details, and noticeable pixelization in the photos.

Note: Photographs used for portraits will not mirror the exact likeness of the picture due to production. If you are concerned about picture quality, our team will work with you to find a solution.

Send photo files separately without edits or cropping

Please send separate files for both vector art and the unedited photo in your request.

Any supplied image should look clear and be free of pixelization on your screen when enlarged to the desired size. Our team will make any necessary edits to your photo. Photos should be saved as either PSD, TIF, JPG, or PNG.

Braille on Precision Tooled Plaque

Designs should allow for enough space, 0.25 inch, and account for a minimum of 3/8 inch space around the braille.

Note: If braille is required, please let us know what needs to be translated. To view our braille requirements, go to our precision tooled plaque design guide.

Things to Note

Please review border terms when requesting a border for your plaque. It is crucial to review our available border options. We offer a selection of standard and specialty borders for cast and precision tooled plaques. To specify the desired border, make sure it matches the border term displayed in your artwork. If you are unable to include the border in the artwork, please indicate your border choice in the order notes.

Note: If you have any questions about your design, our dedicated team is always available to assist you through Partner Portal.

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