Preparing Art for Custom Inflatables

How To Send Us Your Art

Before building your inflatable, we will need certain types of artwork from you. This might include logos, graphics, or other images. You can usually get these files from your company's art department, design house or ad agency.

Surface Art & Graphics

Send Flat Art Files

Note: We cannot use a photograph of a three-dimensional object. Instead, please provide flat artwork, e.g. the files used to create the product's packaging.

If possible, supply a color correct file of your final graphics, including call-outs for critical Pantone swatch colors. Under normal circumstances, artwork must be provided 3 to 4 weeks prior to the shipment of your inflatable.

Vector Graphics

Customers whose inflatable or banner will require digitally printed text or logos should use a vector-based file format. Vector graphics are good for producing crisp outlines for logos and illustrations, independent of size.

Instructions For Your Art Department

• Recommended file formats are .AI  or .EPS.
• RGB Color mode is recommended.
• Convert all fonts to outlines and embed any linked images.

Bitmap Images (Raster Images)

Instructions For Your Art Department:

• Recommended file formats are .PSD or .TIF.
• Do NOT use any type of file compression (such as .JPEG or .GIF files).
• RGB Color mode is recommended.

Raster Art Size Specifications:

Resolution: We recommend the final art be at least 50 dots/pixels-per-inch (DPI/PPI) when printed at full scale. You can quickly determine the minimum size of your art file by using the equation below:

Art size at scale (inches) x 50 (dpi) = Art File Dimensions Needed (in pixels)

For example, if the banner for your inflatable will be 60 inches by 24 inches, the art file you send should be at least 3000 x 1200 px

• 60 in x 50 dpi = 3000 px
• 24 in x 50 dpi = 1200 px

Additional Notes

If your files contain a combination of raster and vector artwork: Make sure to embed your raster images in the file, or include them separately if linked. Include a copy of all fonts used, and provide Pantone, HEX, or RGB color codes for us to match.

3D Models

Customers with 3D assets can export models and textures from their 3D software package. In most cases we are able to use this model as a direct reference to create our production model and digital surface art.

Recommended Formats:

3D Model

File formats: .FBX or .OBJ (.FBX is preferred for models containing materials and textures)

• A smoothed final mesh will usually work well.
• Include a lower-res copy or version with smoothing history intact if possible.
  
  

Texture maps: 

File Formats: .PSD, .TIF, .PNG

• Include any materials, surface maps and texture files for our reference when creating your inflatable.
• If we will use your textures as surface art for final production, provide very high resolution maps (16k) or split maps into multiples (e.g. two  8k maps, four 4k maps).

Models with Environmental Effects

If you have a 3D file that includes a fully rendered image with lighting, shadows, and reflections that looks exactly like what you want to have created, we can only use your file if your 3D software can bake those lighting and effects directly into the texture files before you send them.

Otherwise, we will need to recreate those renders in our own software, and we prefer you send the 3D model of the shape with any surface materials and textures you used, and allow us to handle the rendering, including lighting and environment setups. By managing the lighting and environment in our native 3D software, we can give you a true representation of what how final result will look.

If you have any further questions or concerns, contact us.