Glossy 30 mil heavy duty magnets with a variety of uses. Best suited for car door signage. It is highly recommended testing a sample of our car door magnet on the specific vehicle you will be using the car door magnets with, as some cars have aluminum doors and magnets will not stick.

These magnets can also serve as temporary signage for construction sites or other quickly changing work environments. Printed with the same UV ink technology as our outdoor banners and coroplast yard signs for long lasting outdoor use. Not intended for small text size or borders.

4' x 8' (can go custom up to 5' x 10') 3/16" or 3/8" thickness.

Purpose: Best for 1 time use - it's a delicate material - but if taken care of - can last longer, but does tend to wilt / bend Multi-Use material - depending on it's need or use - typical for placing on easels for presentations, etc. Not waterproof.

4' x 8' (can go custom up to 5' x 10') 4 mm thickness.

Purpose: Typically used for Yard or Parking signs (e.g. Real Estate, Election, Reserved For, etc.) Depending on it's use - material will have to be oriented appropriately to ensure the flutes are vertical, in the case of utilizing an H-stake with the sign. H-stake is best used on a soft ground environment (dirt/soil/grass, etc.) This product once printed, may show a linear effect due to its' corrugated flute structure. Ink is UV Cured (dried).

PREMIUM, 59.5" x 150' + 10 mil thickness.

Purpose: This material is very thin and made of Polypropylene with a smooth matte finish. This is intended for indoor banners, POP displays, artful decor, etc. Not scuff resistant or waterproof.

(photo gloss) 59.5" x 150' + 8 mil thickness.

Purpose: This material is a Pigment / Dye / QuickDry - Photo Quality Glossy material. Somewhat delicate, not scuff resistant or waterproof.

(13oz) 16' x 150' (one piece) *** Anything larger we can hem together (any size in 16' increments)

Purpose: Specifically intended for outdoor use, can also be used indoors. Inks are UV Cured (dried). Waterproof & durable. This material is typically used for billboards, building wraps, banners, event flags, trade show signage, parades, etc.

Raster based artwork such as photos, or flattened artwork (from Adobe Photoshop) are made up of tiny squares (pixels) and depending on your resolution and/or final output size desired, the file could have a low quality end result. Any raster elements you wish to use should have a high enough resolution (DPI) before considering them for your large format product.

Vector based artwork such as illustrations or clip-art style elements (from Adobe Illustrator) is made with mathematical calculations, and can be scaled up to any size without losing quality. Keep in mind that any effects used in Adobe Illustrator are raster based and have transparency - this greatly adds to file size and you must have correct settings in your "Document Raster Effects Settings" to ensure best output for these effects. If you're doing a photo-quality print on a 36" x 48" poster, and leave the raster effects settings at default 72 DPI - you may see tiny squares in your drop shadows, as opposed to a smooth shadow.

While it is not mandatory, we prefer Adobe formats (such as PDF) - if you're using a program outside of Adobe, it will have to be exported from whichever program is being used as one of the following file types - PDF, JPG, or TIF - prior to uploading.

We only print 4 color process (CMYK). If you use Spot or Pantone colors, please have them converted to process colors prior to uploading your file.

We use #2 grommets, they are 3/8" and brass in color. Grommets are placed in all 4 corners, and from there they will be placed every 24" as necessary.

We do not sew our hems. Grand4mat.com utilizes a hot air welding system that is far stronger than a standard sewn hem, making the need for double hemming a thing of the past.

Files sizes for Grand4mat can be monsterous, chances are your file may take longer than your typical business card file. Your file size and your network connection are the two main factors affecting upload speed. See our Scale & Resolution Example chart below.

There are quite a few companies that do just this - convert raster artwork to vector. There are even programs you can buy to accomplish this task. You might want to try a Google search for Raster to Vector art services.

Most printing companies run individual jobs on one sheet. We will utilize the maximum square inch of the sheet by impositioning jobs together dispersing the fixed cost of a job between several projects and then we pass the savings on to you.

When you are done displaying your banner - in order to maximize your future usage, you must keep it clean, dry, and in a dry cool place while it is not in use. Your outdoor vinyl banner will probably get pretty dirty from all the elements during it's time being displayed. The best method of cleaning your outdoor vinyl banner is to lay it flat (if possible) on a clean area, table or floor. It is recommended that you use a mild dishwashing liquid and luke warm water to rinse. Do not use any harsh abrasive or petroleum type cleaners. Clean and dry each side before storing. You must ensure it is completely dry prior to roll up and storage. Any wetness left on the banner will cause mildew and may ruin some of your banner over time.

Once your banner is completely dry - roll it up with the image outward - to avoid any cracking of the printed side. Do not roll your banner super tight or super loose - this will allow for some breathing room while it is stored. Place your banner back in box and store it flat, not vertical. If it is standing up vertically, it may wilt and warp causing wrinkles over time.

2-step H-Stake: Typically used for 24" x 18" and smaller. For signs larger than 24" x 18" we recommend using 2 separate H-Stakes.

We do not colormatch.

Magnets are not always shipped flat, so it is highly recommended to lay them flat on the hood or roof of your car in the sun for a couple of hours before use. This will help evaporate any moisture build-up that accrued during shipment, if any, and it will help your magnets maintain a flat profile. You may want to keep them in a flat box or on a flat surface at all times and only handle them when cleaning and installing, to help maintain their flatness. We recommend you keep your magnets clean on both sides, as well as the placement area on your car door or area of your choosing must also be clean and free of oils, dust, dirt, and other build-up. It's a good idea to take your magnets inside your home or garage away from the elements and lay them flat in a cool dry place, while not in use. You can clean your magnets with a soft moist cotton cloth with water, no abrasive cleaners. It's recommended that you do not stand them up on their side, as they may wilt and might not lay completely flat on the surface of your car door after wilting. These suggestions are to help the longevity of your magnets.

Yes, absolutely. Just like 4over.com Grand4mat.com is a resource for the trade only. We do not and will not compete with you, the trade customer, for your hard earned customers and clients. To sign up for a trade account click here.

Grand4mat recommends professional installation for all of its products. Please take care when ordering any Grand4mat product. Take into consideration where the product will be placed and stresses it may be subjected to, such as wind. Grand4mat stands behind all of its products and will QC all orders to the best of its ability but Grand4mat will not be held responsible for damages resulting from improper installation or use.

The reason you might have chipping on some edges of your product is most likely due to the heavy ink coverage that you used in your artwork. Once your prints are cut down, there are chances that if you used dark colors at the cut lines - there will be some chipping that occurs after the cutting process. The Ultra-Violet Curable (UVC) inks we use on our rigid substrates differ from other common types of inks. Our UVC inks do not dry, however, they solidify after a tenth of a second of exposure to intense UV Light. This UVC ink is formed into a mechanical bond to the substrate surface whereas a solvent printer heats up the media being printed upon to allow the solvent to actually penetrate the substrate, leaving the ink embedded in the media. While we do our best to avoid an imperfect product being shipped out, there are occasions that in the packaging and shipping process that these imperfections surface due to friction and rubbing, are then ultimately beyond our control. To avoid issues with ink "chipping" off the edges of your printed piece, avoid heavy ink coverage on the edges. Any color bleeding off the edge of the printed piece should be below 140% TAC.

PDF, JPG, TIF / PC or MAC
PDF is highly recommended.

This depends on what the final output size will be, and its viewing distance.
Please reference our Scale & Resolution Example Chart and Letter Visibility Chart below:

Scale & Resolution Example Chart
* Final Size	Artboard Size	Scale	Resolution/DPI
18" x 24"	18" x 24"	1/1	300 DPI
24" x 36"	24" x 36"	1/1	200 DPI
36" x 48"	36" x 48"	1/1	150 DPI
3' x 6'	3' x 6'	1/1	100 DPI
4' x 8'	12" x 24"	1/4	900 DPI A.O.R. - 75
8' x 20'	8" x 20"	1/12	900 DPI A.O.R. - 75
14' x 48'	7" x 24"	1/24	600/900 DPI A.O.R. - 50 to 75
* This chart gives some examples on how to set-up your file for size and resolution. A.O.R. - Actual Output Resolution

Letter Visibility Chart
Letter Height	Max Impact Distance	Max Readable Distance
3 inch	30feet	100 feet
4 inch	40 feet	150 feet
6 inch	60 feet	200 feet
8 inch	80 feet	350 feet
9 inch	90 feet	400 feet
10 inch	100 feet	450 feet
12 inch	120 feet	525 feet
15 inch	150 feet	630 feet
This is based on dark text on a plain white background in clear weather conditions There is an approximate 10% variance when using various color combinations.

Letter Visibility Chart
Letter Height	Max Impact Distance	Max Readable Distance
18 inch	180 feet	750 feet
24 inch	240 feet	1000 feet
30 inch	300 feet	1250 feet
36 inch	360 feet	1500 feet
42 inch	420 feet	1750 feet
48 inch	480 feet	2000 feet
54 inch	540 feet	2250 feet
60 inch	600 feet	2500 feet
This is based on dark text on a plain white background in clear weather conditions There is an approximate 10% variance when using various color combinations.

It is not always necessary to scale your artwork down but here are a few good things to know.

Vector Art
Will your file be over 200"? If yes you will want to scale it down by half. While Illustrator has a maximum document size nearly 228". Acrobat and others will only read up to 200" resulting in lost artwork. So while the artwork looks ok in Illustrator, it will not print correctly.

Raster Art
Will your file be over 30,000 pixels along either axis? If yes you will need to reduce the resolution of the file to reduce the overall file size to 30,000 or less. This will maintain the correct file size and aspect ratio. Don't be worried about losing quality. A 30,000 pixel document at 150dpi is nearly 16' and would not be viewed close up anyway.

No, please ensure all fonts are outlined prior to file upload. If using Photoshop, please provide the flattened file only.

Absolutely not. Grand4mat's upload and design tool gives us exactly what we need to know when trimming your order. Please do not include crop marks, color bars, registration marks or any other indicators that you do not want printed on the final piece.

Yes. Borders are an issue because all substrates will vary from batch to batch making exact cuts very difficult. We recommend that you do not design your file with a border. If you do Grand4mat will not reprint an order with borders of varying widths. If you absolutely must have a border make it at least 2 inches in thickness, however Grand4mat still does not recommend borders.

Primarily used to intentionally overlap inks for a number of reasons, overprint can cause unexpected results. We suggest that you turn all overprint objects off before submitting your files.

On Screen View

After Printing

In this case the logo was set to overprint. The colors from logo are mixing with the colors from the background. Unexpected results may occur if you have accidentally set certain objects to overprint. Always check logos and other artwork before submitting.

Rich black is an ink mixture of solid black, 100% K, with additional CMY ink values. This results in a darker tone than black ink alone. If you print black alone as 100% K, the resulting black may not be as dark as you might like.

100% K on screen

100% K after print

We recommend using
C 60 M 40 Y 40 K 100
This will give you a deep, dark, rich black.

Grayscale images that are converted to CMYK will have a color shift in the final print. That shift may be green or yellow.

Grayscale On Screen

Grayscale After Print

Always check the CMYK values of your grayscale in the final CMYK document. If there are other values other then K in your grayscale image, there is a chance that the color will vary.

To eliminate all values other then K, use your Channel Mixer (adjustment layer) in Photoshop, then click "Monochrome" and adjust accordingly.

8mil - no bleed, no crops - make your artwork exactly the size you are ordering.

10mil - no bleed, no crops - make your artwork exactly the size you are ordering.

Coroplast - ensure you have .5" on all sides of your artwork, do not add crops.

Foamboard - ensure you have .5" on all sides of your artwork, do not add crops.

13oz Vinyl - no bleed, no crops - make your artwork exactly the size you are ordering. We suggest you keep any important text / artwork 2 inches inward from the edge of your artwork as to avoid any elements being cut off / hemmed over.

Magnets - ensure you have .5" on all sides of your artwork, do not add crops.

If you send us an RGB file, there is a chance that a color shift may occur and you may not be satisfied with your job.

These colors are in RGB

These are the same colors but in CMYK

You should always start and finish your designs in CMYK color mode. Never use PMS or Pantone Colors.

Often times, your artwork itself is set-up correctly - however, when you save as PDF - your PDF file will only output the size you have in your document set-up. To ensure your bleed is always acknowledged, you must include the bleed on your artboard (Document Set-up) in addition to the actual size of your finished size desired. i.e. If you order a 24" x 18" Coroplast, your artwork with bleed and document set-up both should actually be 25" x 19".

Coroplast - Due to the nature of Coroplast, most of your light colors and/or pastels are more susceptible to streaks, fingerprints, smudges, and smears. Cyan and Light Cyan are often an issue as the ink does not penetrate the substrate heavy enough to cover some of these smudges or fingerprints. When setting up your files, try to avoid large areas of solid light colors and gradients. If you must have a large area of solid color, try to keep your T.A.C. (Total Area Coverage) above 150 if possible. This means that when you add up all of the CMYK values, your total will add up to 150(%) out of a full 400% build. i.e. Rich Black T.A.C. is 240% C-60 M-40 Y-40 K-100.

Foamboard - Foamboard does not have as many issues as Coroplast, but on occasion smudges and fingerprints do happen. We still recommend you maintain your T.A.C. to be 150% and above. Foamboard is somewhat pourous when compared to Coroplast and Magnets, on most light colors you might see a more absorbed look when printing with Foamboard. Additionally, the Foamboard is not as bright white as the Coroplast or Magnets, visibly it is a couple points lower on the brightness scale.

Magnets - Our magnetic substrate is especially prone to fingerprints and scratches. If you follow the T.A.C. as mentioned above in the Coroplast portion of this FAQ, you should be fine.

No. Even the smallest transparency issue will cause problems with a printed file. It is always best to flatten any file you send to Grand4mat. Outline fonts and ensure that your file is in CMYK mode for best results. Grand4mat considers flattening transparency part of basic file setup and will not check for this issue. If you are uncertain how to flatten transparencies in your file or if you would like us to explain how to check for transparency problems please contact Grand4mat prior to submitting an order.

At this time Grand4Mat can only accept 1 piece of artwork for any single job of any quantity.

Different versions of Illustrator have different presets in the "Save PDF" dialog. The PDF presets in Illustrator CS will not save the PDF to the correct document size if any artwork extends past the edge of the document size. It will include all objects, including those that are not visible, producing a PDF with excess white space. This will produce a PDF that is the incorrect size. If not caught prior to submission it will not print as intended.

For Illustrator CS2 and above it is recommended to use the "High Quality Print" preset.

Every file is different and it is not feasible to include all possible issues in this FAQ. It is always best to double check your PDF for size and excess white space before uploading.

All Grand4mat products will be shipped using UPS, and due to some restrictions set forth by UPS we have had to take measures to ensure competitive shipping rates.

All banners eight feet and under on their shortest side will be rolled and shipped in mailing tubes. This provides the best quality to Grand4mat customers. All banners ordered over eight feet on their shortest side will be folded and shipped in a square box. If you are ordering a banner over eight feet on the shortest side and would like to request that your banner not be folded please contact our estimating department. We will need to setup special shipping arrangements for you.

All rigid Grand4mat orders will be boxed and shipped according to their size.

Grand4mat processes H-stake orders separately from sign orders. Stakes and signs should both arrive on the same day but it is not uncommon for boxes shipped ground to arrive on subsequent days.

We are currently producing all Grand4mat orders in our production facilities in Glendale California.