Gator Board Printing (Signs & Display Boards Printing)
Description
Gator Board prints are printed directly onto white or black 3/16" or 1/2" Gator Board. Gator boards offer the vibrancy and high quality of Foam Board printing with an added resistance. They come with a matte finish or optional high gloss, matte or dry erase UV lamination. Gator board is available in 3/16" and 1/2" thicknesses, and can be custom cut to any size and printed on one or two sides. They are perfect for signage, exhibits, and displays. The surface prevents moisture from penetrating allowing the printed images to look vibrant and retain images in high quality.
Gator Board is a heavy-duty, plastic panel that features a litho-grade high-impact polystyrene surface that makes it ideal for permanent displays and signs. The dent-resistant styrene liners are secured to the foam center that keeps the panel flat and rigid., bending and crushing because of the extra dense core.
Because of the wide potential size range of our large format products, there are additional file setup considerations. Proofs are typically shown half size. For other details, please review the file setup section carefully.
Recommendations
Gator Board is a perfect durable board for projecting your image or artwork in full color, allowing the colors to remain vibrant and the images in high quality. Poster printing on gatorboard is a great way to show off your product in almost any size making it a terrific gift idea. Gator board prints are composed of a lightweight foam center with a paper backing on each side. Our standard 3/16 inch Gator board will fit into most display stands. It is most recommended for a more permanent rigid indoor posters and project boards.
Marketing Tips
Gator Board printing is an excellent choice for construction project renderings, court and legal illustration displays, and sign choice to communicate your message in a highly visible way. They can be used in a number of ways, including signage, making printed signs you want everyone to see.
Custom Sizes
Our Gator Board prints are available in custom sizes ranging from 12" x 12" up to 48" x 96"
3/16" White Gator Board
Our 3/16" White Gator Board prints are composed of a white foam center with a white semi-gloss paper backing on both sides. Gatorboard is both lightweight and rigid. The boards are easy to cut for custom fitting into existing displays and can be printed on both sides. The gator board itself resists denting, bending and crushing because of the extra dense core.
3/16" Black Gator Board
Our 3/16" With similar characteristics to our White 3/16" Gator Board, Black Gator Board prints are composed of a black foam center with a white semi-gloss paper backing on the print sides. Gator Board is both lightweight and rigid. The boards are easy to cut for custom fitting into existing displays and can be printed on both sides. The gator board itself resists denting, bending and crushing because of the extra dense core.
1/2" White Gator Board
For a heavier board, try our 1/2" Gator Board prints. As with the 3/16" Gator Board, the 1/2" is composed of a white foam center with a white semi-gloss paper backing on both sides. Gator Board is both lightweight and rigid. The boards are easy to cut for custom fitting into existing displays and can be printed on both sides. The foam board itself resists denting, bending and crushing because of the extra dense core.
1/2" Black Gator Board
With similar characteristics to our White 1/2" Gator Board, the 1/2" Black Gator Board is composed of a black foam center with a white semi-gloss paper backing on the print side. Gator Board is both lightweight and rigid. The boards are easy to cut for custom fitting into existing displays and can be printed on both sides. The foam board itself resists denting, bending and crushing because of the extra dense core.
4/0
Full color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black as above) on the front and no printing on the back. A typical example of this is a poster.
4/4
Full color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black as above) on the front and the back. A typical example of this is a two sided sign.
Lamination
For an extended resistance on weather and abrasion, we offer High Gloss, Semi Gloss UV Lamination, or Dry Erase Lamination. Lamination also adds a moisture barrier that helps to prevent bowing and warping. Laminated with Pressure Sensitive High Gloss, Semi Gloss or Dry Erase Film. UV Lamination helps in keeping materials as good as new for many years, increasing the durability as well as preserving the color.
3 mil Gloss and Matte UV Lamination: Lamination with a shiny or "gloss" or "matte" finish, excellent for laminating the Gatorboard surfaces. Our 3 mil UV pressure-sensitive Calendared Vinyl laminate has a 3-year outdoor durability rating. Laminate comes in a range of sizes from 12" x 12" to a huge 54" x 100' (feet).
1 mil Dry Erase Lamination: Lamination with a gloss or "gloss" finish that can be marked up and erased with dry erase markers. This laminate is primarily for indoor use, and an excellent choice for Gatorboard surfaces that will be used for writing on and wiping off. This laminate comes in a range of sizes from 12" x 12" to a huge 54" x 100' (feet).
Custom Contour Cutting
This product can be contour cut to a special shape per your design layout. Enhance your signs with a unique shape, and make your signs stand apart from the crowd!! The shapes for die cutting are nearly limitless—circles, squares, holes, curves, stair-stepped, rounded corners, sharp points, just to name a few.
Note: Additional charges may apply to our standard custom cutting charges for extra or complicated die-cut, OR MULTIPLE pieces in ONE artwork. Please contact us if you want to check first.
Holes
We offer hole drilling with different hole location options and hole sizes.
Explanation of Turnaround Time
Turnaround times begin when the proof is approved. Turnaround time starts for proofs approved after 11:00 a.m. (PST). All times are based on standard business days Monday through Friday excluding federal holidays. Please note that turnaround time does not include shipping or mailing time. You may select from available production turnaround times and your preferred shipping time as you place your order. Order cutoff time is 10:30 a.m. (PST).
Note: Add one day to turnaround time for orders over 100 Sq. Ft.
Our products are the same great quality for every turnaround time we offer.
Note: Although we make every possible effort to turn jobs around in the estimated times offered, your job may require more time due to unforeseeable or uncontrollable circumstances or finishing services added onto the job. We will not credit customers or give discounts if a job runs past the estimated turnaround time. Turnaround times are an estimate, not a guarantee!
Same Day Turnaround
If you order a proof (Online PDF or Hard Copy Proof), your turnaround time begins as soon as you approve your proof in our system. Turnaround time starts same day for proofs approved after 11:00 a.m. (PST). If you order "No Proof, Run As Is" (only recommended if you are certain you want us to print what you sent as is), your turnaround time begins as soon as your order begins the imposition process. Once your order is in imposition, you should receive a confirmation email that your order is in print production. Add one extra day for shipping or mailing processing.
Guidelines
Files must be uploaded before the cut off time of 10:30 a.m. (PST). If you request a proof, you must approve your proof by 11:00 a.m. (PST) for turnaround time to begin.
Same Day Turnaround Shipped Orders
Orders will ship the same business days after 4:00 p.m. if you follow the guidelines.
Files uploaded after the cut off time will be processed the following business day.
Next Day Turnaround
If you order a proof (Online PDF or Hard Copy Proof), your turnaround time begins as soon as you approve your proof in our system. Turnarount time starts next day for proofs approved after 11:00 a.m. (PST). If you order "No Proof, Run As Is" (only recommended if you are certain you want us to print what you sent as is), your turnaround time begins as soon as your order begins the imposition process. Once your order is in imposition, you should receive an email with your estimated order completion date (does not include shipping or mailing).
Guidelines
Files must be uploaded before the cut off time of 10:30 a.m. (PST). If you request a proof, you must approve your proof by 11:00 a.m. (PST) for turnaround time to begin.
Next Day Shipped Orders
Orders will ship the next business days after 4:00 p.m.if you follow the guidelines.
Files uploaded after the cut off time will be processed the following business day.
Large Format Quantity
For quantity, simply enter the quantity you would like in "Quantity" area of the pricing calculator.
If you would like to order product options not available in the pricing calculator, simply request a custom estimate. To request a custom estimate, go to Request a Quote at the top of the page.
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. This template can be imported into: InDesign, Quark Express, Illustrator, Corel Draw, and many other content creation programs.
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group and is a basic raster file format. This template is recommended for Photoshop.
EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript. This template is recommended for advanced Illustrator users only.
Please Click Here for our product layout templates.
File Preparation
In order to ensure your files are print-ready, we recommend that you upload them in PDF format. When you generate a print-ready PDF, your computer will use the settings in Adobe Acrobat Distiller or any other PDF generating programs you may use. Please make sure that these are set properly before generating your PDF file.
We also accept .JPG (JPEG), .EPS and .TIF (TIFF) file types, however PDF is the preferred format.
Check your file to make sure it meets our file creation guidelines. This will help speed up the production of your project and give your printed piece the best results.
- Use the CMYK colorspace (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, blacK). These are industry standard printing colors. CMYK colors are different than RGB (Red, Green, Blue), which are used to display colors on your screen.
- Use a minimum resolution of 300 dpi for image files.
- All fonts need to be outlined or embedded.
- Specify trim area with crop marks. (Don't place crop marks inside the work area.)
- Artwork should have 1/8" (0.125") bleed extending past the trim line. This is to prevent minor cutting variations from leaving unintended results at the trim edge.
- Safe Area is the 1/8" (0.125") area inside the trim line. Do not put critical information or images within the Safe Area. This is to prevent minor cutting variations from leaving unintended results at the trim edge.
- If you want printed borders, they must be placed a minimum of 1/8" (0.125") inside the trim line and include bleed. This is to prevent minor cutting variations from leaving unintended results at the trim edge.
For a checklist on file setup, please Click Here.
File Orientation
Please click the link below for an explanation of file orientation.
Bleed and Safe Area
We require that you extend any images that run up to the trim line a minimum of 1/8" (0.125") past the trim line to create "bleed". Depending on what program you use to create your file, this may or may not change the total image area of your file. Programs like Photoshop that do not allow the creation of "bleed" or the addition of crop marks will require an image area that is 1/4" (0.25") larger than your desired final overall image area in both dimensions.
Safe Area is the 1/8" (0.125") area inside the trim line. Do not put critical information or images within the Safe Area. This is to prevent minor cutting variations from leaving unintended results at the trim edge. If you choose to make less than this minimum clearance, we will NOT be responsible for items that are cut off in this area.
For assistance in file setup, please Click Here for our product layout templates.
Proofs and File Check
- Online PDF Proof: You will be sent a link to view your proof via email. Please keep in mind that this is only a proof for content and positioning; the color on your screen may vary from the color of your final product, depending on your monitor and viewing conditions.
- Hard Copy Proof: The Hard Copy Proof can either be picked up on-site or shipped to you. Please keep in mind that this is a proof for content and positioning and is not printed on your actual job stock. Color may vary slightly when printed on the stock you ordered. When ordering a Hard Copy Proof, you will receive a complimentary Online PDF Proof, as well.
- No Proof, Run As-Is: This option is for the industry professional who is certain their project is ready to hit the press and does not require the additional security of a proof.
File Check:
If our prepress department sees anything questionable with your file, we will contact you via email with our concerns. Should prepress email you, please note that your job is not considered fully submitted until you respond to this email. This should be factored into your turnaround time.
Please Note: The charge for our technical team to review your file when first submitted is included in the price of your order. If they note technical concerns with your file, they may email you with their concerns so you can upload a corrected file. If subsequent uploads still contain errors, you may be charged an additional prepress fee to review your file again.
Design Online
You can create a personalized design in just a few minutes. Once you click the "Start Your Design" button, you're taken to a huge library of design templates. You can search by specific category or select "generic" for personal use. Making changes to the text, font size and uploading a picture or logo on your chosen template is as easy as using a basic computer program. After you're done making changes, you are able to instantly view an online proof and order it for print.
There are professional design templates for almost any personal and business need.
Assisted Design
If you like one of the Design Online templates but would prefer not to handle the designing yourself, this option is ideal. Simply let us know which template you like and supply the information you would like to appear on your design. We will handle the rest!
Keep in mind that the images on the template will remain the same. Only text can be edited and basic logos added.
There are professional design templates for almost any personal and business need.
Check out all your Design Online template options.
Custom Design
We create fully custom designs that help represent your company, brand or product in a professional way. Custom Design includes consulting to come up with a concept and design revisions, so you're truly part of the process. You can also add either a basic or corporate custom designed logo to your design.
There are 3 design packages to meet your needs:
1. Full Custom Design:
With this option you get complete, professional custom design for the product of your choosing. This includes consulting to discuss the concept, images, text, and revisions.
2. Full Custom Design plus a Basic Logo
With this option you get the complete design just like Custom Design Option 1 plus a basic logo. Basic logo design consists of a single font with a simple icon. See the examples under the "Logo Samples" tab.
3. Full Custom Design plus a Corporate Logo
With this option you get the complete design just like Custom Design Option 1 plus a corporate logo. Your corporate logo design has no limit to font styles so long as they are in our library. You also get a fully designed graphic to accompany your text. See the examples under the "Logo Samples" tab.
To see Custom Design pricing, number of images and revisions for this product, select "Custom Design" on the dropdown menu in the calculator and click the link underneath the menu.
Keep in mind that this price is estimated and includes limits on the amount of images and revisions that can be made before incurring additional charges. We will notify you prior to performing any services that cost more money.
Basic Logo Samples
Corporate Logo Samples
