Help / Prepare your image files

Foreword

Our technicians do not intervene on your files because we respect your files as you have prepared them.
We recommend that you prepare your files following the indications below.

Type of files accepted

Important: For certified proof, your files need to be CMYK, encoded to 8 bits.

Image size:

For the vast majority of our services, the prints and finish are made to measure.
If you want to include extra margins, you need to include them directly in your file.

For PDF files, We automatically deal with the Trimbox or Bleedbox if they are present.

For certified proof, please prepare you files to the exact size required and a 300dpi resolution. See specific information for certified proof.

For printing On rigid or Flexible media , see section wide formats.

Resolution and weight of files:

The weight limit per file is 2 Gb.

We recommend you to preparing your files at the desired final print size, and to adapt them to the resolution recommended by our imagers and the printer.

Resolution recommended by our imagers and printer

* This is not the the "print" resolution but the “recommended” resolution in order to obtain a photo quality print, or “wide format” for printing on rigid and flexible media.

Color space and file encoding

Picto Online deals with the color spaces RVB, CMYK, Gray scale.

The “lab” spaces and “indexed color” are not accepted.
Important: For certified proof, only CMYK are accepted.

The files can be coded in 8 bits or 16 bits.

File compression

For JPEG files, we recommend using the compression “JPEG maximum quality”.
We accept TIFF files with a compression LZW.

Files names :

We accept file names up to 255 characters. However, we advise you not to abuse of this feature, because it can generate complications for the proper development of your order.

The files cannot contain special characters (*,$,/,#,@,%,etc…). Only the shifted characters, spaces and hyphens are accepted.
Extensions are mandatory (.jpg, .JPEG, .tif, .TIFF, .pdf) in order for your file to be recognised.

Preparing files for mounted prints

Picto Online allows you to order prints mounted on different medias: Dibond, alu, PVC, foamcore. In this case, you do not have to intervene on your files. We will prepare them to be mounted.

Specific case of an image with a thin margin, close to the edge of the print

This specific case is particularly difficult to handle. We advise not to use very thin margins because, without anticipation, the margins risk being cut on certain edges. We recommend using margins of minimum 1cm.

Specific case of mounted prints for black and white baryta paper on aluminium or dibond media

We want to bring to your attention the danger to mount baryta paper on aluminium or dibond. Depending on hygrometry, baryta paper can vary of more or less 2% in dimensions, which is not the case of dibond and alimunium, on which you which to mount it. Depending on the conditions of the exhibition, on the quickness and the frequency of the hygrometric variations, the baryta print can therefore crack or slightly peel off. By ordering this specific service, you accept this risk and we will not take responsibility.

The option “Extra margin for mounting”

This option is for clients who want to prepare their prints for future mounting, independently from Picto Online.
In order to be able to mount a print an extra margin is necessary, meaning that it needs to be bigger by a few millimetres than the final format desired. This extra margin allows compensating for potential positioning complications during the mounting and therefore unsure an optimal cut of the final print. By choosing this option, we will enlarge your image by 2mm each side, in order to prepare it for future mounting. For example if you order a 60x90cm print, the final format will be 60,4x90,4 cm.

On the left, without the option.  On the right, with the option "Extra margin for mounting”".

The option “Check or signature before finishing”

Picto Online offers you the possibility to verify and/or sign your print before mounting or framing. In order to activate this option, go to the recap page of your order and click on “check or signature before finishing options”.

By activating this option, you will receive an email shortly after the end of the printing phase of your order. You will then be able to check and/or sign it at Picto Bastille and Picto Défense before it is sent to mounting.</br If you do not activate this option, your print will automatically go to mounting and it will be impossible to cancel it. In case of objection, you will need to reorder your print.

Preparing your files for framing

Good to know: Framing can hide up to 10mm of your print. Be aware that your visual needs to adapt to this constraint. You can either ignore it if it does not cause any problems for the edges to be hidden, or you can add an extra margin.