Printed umbrellas can be useful in a lot of situations. They’re a great way to advertise your business. You can also present them as gifts or souvenirs, and could even sell them in gift shops. They also serve practical purposes, i.e., they shield you from the rain or harsh sun rays. But then, the process of printing umbrella designs can be hectic. This is especially so if you are doing so for the first time. The easier thing to do is to have a printing company, such as ours, do all of the work for you. From manufacturing the umbrellas to selecting the designs and then printing them.
Alternatively, you may want to do some of the work yourself. Ideally, this entails creating your preferred design and then sending it across for printing. This is important because it could reduce the cost for you. More so, you can enjoy the process of coming up with a unique design, suited to your taste.
If you choose the latter, there are a few things to bear in mind. Here are 6 things to know before sending an umbrella design for printing.
1. Know the Right Umbrella Size and Fabric Type
The purpose for which you need the umbrella will influence the type that you settle for, this is why it is important to sort out this detail before you begin printing. If the umbrella is for personal use, then your personal style may also be a consideration to have. For promotional purposes or souvenirs and gifts, this is entirely different. A practical umbrella that is sturdy and durable would be the wiser choice.
Another factor you may want to consider before sending your umbrella design for printing is the fabric type. How long the print on the umbrella lasts largely depends on the kind of fabric you use. More so, it can determine how useful the umbrella can be for protection against sun and rain. In this category, there are many options but one of the most common choices is polyester. Polyester is great for blocking out the sun, it is usually wrinkle-resistant and dries easily after being wet. There is also the oxford fabric. Price works to the advantage of this fabric. It is relatively inexpensive and can fit your budget perfectly. It is also ideal for outdoor uses.
2.Know Your Preferred Design
There are no restrictions on the type of designs you can print on your umbrella. If you are promoting your brand with the umbrella, it will make sense to make a design with your logo on it. You may also want to place a catchy phrase associated with your business. You may choose to give the print design a professional and serious look. Although some companies also decide to include some elements of fun, it is ultimately up to you to decide what suits your company best.
If, on the other hand, the umbrella design is for more personal use such as for gifts and souvenirs, then you have all the liberty you desire. You can print a favorite quote, or picture – the aim will be to make your umbrella desirable and thus draw attention to it. Also, be conscious to select colors that complement one another. If you are in doubt, you can run a quick search online or ask a friend for their opinion. You can also run your idea by our Umbrella Expert for some advice. You also have to bear in mind that printing more than one color may cost you more.
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3. Know the Design Creation Process
Now that you have settled on the umbrella type and design you want, the next step is to begin your design. There are a couple of programs that are excellent for creating artwork. One of such is Adobe Illustrator. Alternatively, you can also decide to make use of either PhotoShop or Corel Draw. If you have some knowledge about designing, then coming up with one will be easy peasy. However, if you need an expert to create your umbrella designs, you can reach out to us. We handle it excellently.
A few things to bear in mind while designing. The first is to ensure that you are layering correctly. A correct layering process places one color on a different layer. This will help us easily identify them before printing. Also, make sure to group objects according to color patterns. Objects that share a similar color should be grouped. This will ensure that we do not miss any detail. Also, bear in mind that there are several printing processes (they will be discussed subsequently.) Each printing process has certain peculiarities. For instance, screen printing is not ideal for printing tiny fonts. In this case, digital printing will do. If you have a printing preference, you have to make sure your design matches that process.
When you are finished with the design, your work is done. You can then send it across to us to print. Make sure that all the design objects are properly saved on one file. Also, it will be a good idea to save your work as a vector EPS. There are benefits to vector images that non-vector images do not have. Double-check the artwork using other computers. This will be to assure yourself that the artwork appears the same regardless of the computer it is on.
4. Know Your Options for Printing
Generally, there are three printing options. The first is Screen printing. This is a process where the ink is transferred to the item using a mesh. The first step will be to create a mesh screen with a stencil. Afterward, ink is then squeezed into the stencil and then directly on to the umbrella. The mesh itself is impervious to ink. Screen printing allows just for fo four colors. It is the most economical method and the most common also. Additionally, it is ideal for printing on outdoor items such as umbrellas.
The next option is Digital printing. Digital printing allows the transfer of the umbrella design using heat. The printing press is first heated to a certain degree and then pressed on to the item. It is then left for a considerable time and then released. Digital printing offers a shorter production time, although it comes at a significantly higher cost. It is also quite good for printing colored patterns.
The last type of printing process is Dye sublimation. In this process, the printer makes use of sublimation ink on the umbrella’s surface. The combination of heat, pressure, and time causes the ink to convert from a liquid to a gaseous state. This now gaseous ink penetrates the material, making it to be longer-lasting.
5. Know the File Types to Save Your Design
It is generally advisable to send your umbrella design to us as a vector PDF or EPS file. Thus, it is crucial to point out the distinction between vector and non-vector files. Vector files are created using a formula. This is distinct from other procedures in that others are created using colored blocks or pixels. Vector files come in different forms, such as EPS, AI, and PDF.
Vector files can be resized to suit your needs. When vector files are either blown up or reduced, the picture quality is not diminished. You have to bear in mind that on their creation, vector files are typically quite large. Thus, when you create your artwork/design as a vector, you will need to resize so you can attach it and send us an email.
Non-vector files include JPEGs, GIFs, and PNGs. They have low resolutions and lose their sharpness when expanded. For a non-expert, you may not easily know the difference between vector and non-vector images. However, one trick you can employ is zooming the image. If any curved line in the image remains unchanged, then it is a vector image. If, on the other hand, the reverse is the case, then you have a non-vector image.
It is possible to want to use two artwork designs on one umbrella. You will, however, have to save each design separately. Then further, you have to send the two files separately too.
6. Know the Costs
Finally, pay attention to costs. The number of panels that you print your design on can affect how much you get to pay. The type of print and coverage area will also determine how friendly the cost of printing will be. As already discussed earlier, digital printing is the most costly of all the printing types. The number of layering will also increase the cost. Bearing the cost in mind will help you properly budget for how much you will spend on printing umbrellas. However, to get a quote for your estimated printing costs, you can reach out to us, and we will ease your curiosity.
Conclusion
With this information at your disposal, the process of printing your umbrella design has been simplified for you. But as you begin, remember that if you get stuck in any part of the process we are available to assist with the umbrella design. Feel free to contact our Umbrella Expert for assistance or send us an email with your request.
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