Has anyone experienced this scenario? Client: "I'm sending you the file to print" Me: "What size should it be?" Client: "It's already sized"
So I import the file to corel and just to be sure send the client a proof with the dimensions and cost based on the size.
A rather large pdf file imports to corel X4 at 48" x 48". Turns out that it's just a raster image at 300 dpi. So I base my pricing on those dimensions. Client agrees with the price but then discovers that the file was suppose to be 8ft x 8ft. If I open the file in photoshop which is usually not my first choice, it does in fact come in at 8ft. Not sure why corel X4 only imports at 4ft. I'm guessing a file size limitation. Client doesn't understand that the pricing will now be adjusted accordingly. Insists that they gave us the file at size.
I don't understand why designers think that their files are automatically to size. I get this all the time but it's usually with jpg's. I say you should always include specific dimensions to your print service.
Myron
Hello tracym; What is the working size of the clients program? You could tell the client that it's so much a square or running foot in the estimate, and so much for over prints. I have never had any problems with X4 importing PDF files.
George
George, the problem is that clients assume that the artwork they send is to size. What I'm finding in many cases is that the artwork comes in at different sizes. The 700MB pdf they provided imports to X4 just fine and says it's 4ft x 4ft. I priced it based on 4ft because they didn't tell me otherwise. I gave them the price and they were happy with it but they weren't aware until after seeing the proof that it should be 8ft not 4 but want to stay at the original price because they insist that it was sized correctly at 8ft. Since the pdf had no vectors in it at all I decided to try photoshop. Sure enough it came in at 8ft not 4ft like X4 said.
Am I making sense here?
Yea Myron I understand what you are saying, ( Remember I DON''T print.) I do have to open pictures from all kinds of things, and do out source printing files in PDF all the time. but I haven't had a problem in a long long time with sizing since Corel went from the 30"x30" work space. Bellow is a standard proffing I send.
Yep that's the way ewe do proofs too. We show the exact finished dimensions.
"Can you print this? It's at size."
Just wished designers would give dimensions because with just an image I have no idea what the "correct" size is. 9 times out of 10 it will not come in at the size you made it.
I have my clients and other designers send a png. File if its going to be a bitmap type file. And to make sure to have it scaled at full or half size with dimensions. Or work will be kick back till this is provided... that solved all that issues. Then I provide a new mockup with to scale with dimensions.