CounterPoint Counter Mats

General Art Specs

CounterPoint® utilizes state-of-the-art digital Direct-to-Plate and Direct-to-Press technology in its printing process. To avoid additional charges and potential delays, art must be output-ready digital files and should conform to the art specifications listed below and on our Art Check List.

Sm@rt Codes: Art requirements for all of our products conform to PPAI's Sm@rt Code 4C and 4S art specifications. (300ppi Raster Image, or Vector Elements in Spot (PMS) colors or CMYK colors.)

Art Services: Any time art must be created or modifications must be made, art services will be billed as follows: typesetting & minor corrections – $37.50/v minimum; art creation, reconstruction, or significant modification – $75/v per hour.

Color Targets: It is recommended that you supply an accurate color print with your art. This tells us what you expect the product to look like and provides a target for our printing processes. We will print your job without an approved color target but, without an approved color target or a production proof, a job cannot be rejected if the product color does not match your expectations. We can supply a calibrated color target for your approval for $37.50/v. When color matching is critical, always order a production proof.

Color Conversion: Colors should be defined as either spot or CMYK. All spot colors will be matched to the Pantone® coated color guide. Converting spot or RGB colors to CMYK will change the appearance of the color, sometimes dramatically.

Email & FTP: Submit files smaller than 3Mb via email to your Product Specialist. Go to our upload page to send files up to 80Mb. Remember to also send a printed sample of what you expect the art to look like. Refer to the Art Check List (or the PDF version) for details on art submission.

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Offset Lithography: All images submitted for hard surface counter mats are printed as submitted. Image resolution should be set at 300ppi – remember that effective image resolution is decreased when an image is enlarged in a layout program; so, images should be sized at 100% in the Quark® or InDesign® document. While standard offset reproduces color and detail very well, the product surface can sometimes alter the color and appearance of the printed image. When color is critical, we always recommend either a surface proof or a production proof.

Special Inks – Offset Lithography: All inks that are necessary for the Pantone® Matching System (PMS) are stocked. Specialty ink colors PMS 871 Gold, 876 Copper, and 877 Silver are also stocked. Special order inks, such as metallic and fluorescent, are available for $45/v per color. Ink is normally matched to coated Pantone® colors but ink color is not guaranteed to be an exact match. When color matching is critical, always order a production proof.

Dye Sublimation: Sublimation is a specialized process that prints special heat activated inks on an advanced “transfer” paper. The transfer is then registered to a fabric surfaced product. When heat and precise pressure are applied, the heat activated inks turn into a gas dye, which then sublimates into the fabric. Once the image is transferred, it is permanent and washable. When the heat activated ink explodes into gas, it produces a 100% to 400% dot gain. This dot gain impacts all reversed or “knocked out” art. When some elements, such as text, are too small, the dot gain has a tendency to fill in the reversed area or eliminate it completely. For this reason, we recommend all reversed type be set to bold. Serif fonts such as Times should be set at 18 point or greater and sans serif fonts like Helvetica should be set at 12 point or greater. All reversed lines should be 1.5 points or greater. Image resolution should be 300ppi.

During the sublimation printing process, a color target is used as a reference only – to give our press operators an idea of what the finished mat should look like. However, the sublimation process is designed to produce a “pleasing” representation – not an exact match – of the original. Some color variation from a color target is normal and expected. Any time color is critical, we recommend a production proof.

All sublimated fabric counter mats are initially cut to ordered size. However, since they have a natural rubber base and the sublimation process uses high heat and pressure, the dimensions of the final product may vary from ordered size. This shrinkage and/or growth is a normal and expected effect of the sublimation process.

Special Inks – Dye Sublimation: All dyes that are necessary for the Pantone® Matching System (PMS) are stocked. Within the limits of sublimation, precise matching of PMS colors is not always possible. Metallic and fluorescent colors are not available for sublimation mats. When the sublimation process is used to print screens or half-tones of spot (PMS) colors, the half-tone does not always reproduce as expected or as you might experience in standard offset printing. For example, a 25% screen of PMS 186 does not print as light red but turns bright pink. When possible, select a second PMS color that matches the desired screen or half-tone. When color matching is critical, always order a production proof.

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Email PDF Proof: A digital proof in standard PDF format is produced at no charge and emailed for every job (we call this our FREE PDF "Paper" Proof). While not an accurate color proof, this PDF allows you to verify that the art is correct and generally the correct color. Production begins once this PDF proof is approved.

Production Proof: $125.00/v. Production proofs are recommended whenever color matching is critical. A production proof is usually required on larger orders.

Please Note: Jobs cannot be rejected for color unless a production proof has been performed. Even then, the final job must vary dramatically from the proof for any rejection to be considered.

Registration: Please allow ±1/16" registration variance of the print to the product perimeter.

Copyrights: Customers warrant that all images supplied for reproduction, whether digital, conventional or otherwise, are unencumbered by copyright and other usage rights connected to the image(s) and agree to hold harmless and indemnify CounterPoint® for all claims and expenses for any actions in law that may result from the use of these images.

Separations, Files, Plates, & Dies: All separations, digital files, plates, and dies created by CounterPoint® remain factory property. Our storage policy is to keep these materials on file for 24 months. After 24 months, reorders are treated as new jobs and require new art and set-ups. Original art is returned on request.

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