Printing Services
Basics
The Service Desk and Ticket Center is equipped with a 42" inch roll-feed HP large-format printer. This device is commonly used to print large poster and banners. The minimum print size is 17"x22". We provide printing services to all faculty and staff, students, and guests. Please note: Resizing services are not available. All files must be submitted at the exact size of the desired print.
- $3.50 per square foot for plain paper
- $5.00 per square foot for semigloss/photo paper
In order to provide the best service, we do not take email requests for printing. We require that all customers complete the online Printing Request Form at the bottom of this page or at the Service Desk. Files may be submitted online through the form or delivered in person. Printing services will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.
Software and File Formats
Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Creative Suite is the recommended software for designing your poster. Other software such as GIMP (free online!) is also good for design purposes. All files must be converted to PDF format before being submitted and printed. Fonts should be embedded, or text may be converted to outlines. Microsoft PowerPoint, although widely used, is discouraged for anything but the simplest poster designs, as PowerPoint files frequently look different printed than they do on your computer screen. It is not uncommon for PowerPoint posters to print with missing graphics, mismatched colors or incorrect formatting. Please contact us (850.474.2406) if you plan to use any other format to make sure we have the ability to open it.
Image Editing Software on Campus
Image editing software (Adobe Creative Suite, Gimp) is available in the John C. Pace Library Skylab (5th floor). We highly recommend you use these programs instead of Microsoft Office or Paint.
Formatting and Design
Posters must be no larger than 42 inches on one side. It is usually advisable to set the paper size to exactly 42" to avoid unnecessary cuts after it is printed. The second side can be either smaller or larger than 42", up to 100 feet. Note that margins of 0.5 inch or larger are required on each side, so depending on your software you may need to set your page to 41" if it is measuring editable space rather than paper size (as in PowerPoint).
Be sure to embed fonts in your poster file whenever this option is available, or convert the text in your image to outlines. If you cannot or do not know how to do this, then make a copy of the font files you are using and bring them with you. In Windows, your fonts are stored in a folder that is easily accessed from the Control Panel.
Other Tips
- We recommend that your document’s resolution be set between 200 and 300 ppi, or that you submit vector artwork.
- Don't attempt to "upscale" your graphics and photos. Printing pictures larger than they actually are will make your final product look pixelated or distorted.
- Choose font sizes that can be read from about 4 feet away. Anything smaller than 20 points is probably too small.
- Dark backgrounds are discouraged. Besides consuming large amounts of ink, dark backgrounds may oversaturate the paper and cause it to wrinkle or smudge.
- Always preview your poster on your screen at 100% and have a colleague proofread it before submitting. It is also a good idea to print a small copy on a regular color printer for proofing. Printing a full-size draft copy is cost-prohibitive, and you will be charged if you need a second copy.
Printing Request Form
Please complete this form to submit your artwork and printing request for posters and banners, or visit the Commons Service Desk for a printed request form. You also may complete this form online and submit artwork in person. Please note: Resizing services are not available. All files must be submitted at the exact size of the desired print.
