FAQ’s
Who? What? Where? When? How?
How do I place an order?
Through our online shop only at tradesignsuk.co.uk/shop. Straightforward to use, built for trade customers only.
How do I register as a trade customer?
Just place your first order online, simple, easy! We only work with verified trade customers — printers, sign makers, print agencies, design agencies. If you do not fall into that category do not order.
Do you ship white label?
Yes. Every order goes out with no mention of Trade Signs UK. Your signs, plain boxes, your customers. They’ll never know we exist.
What file formats do you accept?
PDF is required for most jobs, CNC or laser may require EPS files. There is a full artwork supply list in our Help Page
Do I need bleed on my artwork?
Yes. 3mm bleed on all sides, CMYK colour profile. We run a pre-flight check on every job, so if something’s off we’ll come back to you before it goes anywhere near a press.
Do you offer proofs before printing?
Yes and No. We expect print professionals to check their files thoroughly so do not supply a soft PDF proof before we run. Pre-flight is standard on every job regardless. If we spot production issues like missing cut lines, we contact you first. Nothing goes to print blind. You can order a single print as a hard copy proof to check print quality and details as well.
What's your print quality like?
We print exclusively on HP Latex. Eco-friendly inks, consistent colour reproduction, zero solvent printing. The same result every time, not a lottery.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No. One board or a thousand. Same service either way. If you need larger quantities contact us first, many products are restricted in maximum limits but this is for postage and packing limitations.
Can I get material samples before I order?
Yes. You can order sample packs in our shop. If you are trying a substrate for the first time, it is worth doing before you commit to a full run.
What products do you stock?
Most things you’ll ever need. Foamex, Dibond, Correx, Acrylic, PVC and PVC-free banners, vinyl, estate agent boards, CNC routed pieces, laser cut acrylic, DTF clothing print, and our full EnviroSigns eco range. If it’s in the trade, we probably do it.
Can you do bespoke sizes or shapes?
Yes. If the standard range doesn’t fit, we have CNC routing and laser cutting in-house. Custom sizes, custom shapes, no problem.
What if I need something in a hurry?
We offer an SOS service. Most products turn around in 2 working days. Let us know when you order and we’ll get it moving.
What's the standard turnaround?
4 working days on most products. We’ll always confirm lead times at point of order.
How do you pack orders?
Double-walled bespoke boxes as standard. For large or fragile items, we crate in wood. Your orders arrive the way they left us.
Can I track my job through production?
Yes. We send status updates at every stage: pre-flight, print production, finishing, packing, and dispatch. You’re never left guessing.
How do I pay?
Card payment online via Stripe. BACS is available for account customers but print will not commence until payment is cleared and checked, this may delay production. Payment is required with order. No credit terms at this stage.
How does invoicing work?
You get an invoice with every order, issued instantly. No chasing, no delays.
Is there somewhere I can see my order history?
Yes. Your customer dashboard holds your full job history and order tracking in one place. Everything you need, when you need it.
Is my client's identity kept confidential?
Completely. We ship white label, use no branding, never contact your customers, and never disclose client details. Your trade relationship with us stays invisible.
What does delivery cost?
Flat rate of £7.95 per parcel. Free delivery on orders over £150 ex VAT. There are also delivery upgrades for early or timed specials at the checkout. oversized orders must have the correct dispatch method chosed before ordering.
What happens if something goes wrong with my order?
If the mistake is ours, we reprint and reship at no cost. If goods arrive damaged, let us know within 24 hours with photos using our online form in My Account page. We do not argue over mistakes, but courriers argue over items being accepted and not checksed or signed damaged.
Need more help? Contact our team
You can contact us here by raising a support ticket.
Upload your artwork files here if not already sent with your order
Get Your Professional Signs Online with Trade Signs UK
Why Choose Our Signs Online Service?
- Correx boards for temporary displays
- Durable Foamex signs for long-term use
- Premium Dibond composite panels
- Eco-friendly PVC-free alternatives
- Custom acrylic cut letters
- Professional banners and displays
Artwork Supply rules
Our sign printing process is cutting edge, literally! so make sure your files are sent correctly to avoid expensive mistakes!
File format
Your file needs to be provided as a print ready PDF.
What we mean by “print ready” is that all steps are followed to ensure your artwork is supplied correctly for printing purposes.
Fonts
All fonts used in the design need to be converted to outlines/paths or be embedded within the PDF file. Obscure or software specific fonts i.e. Canva may not embed or print how they look on screen. Smallest font size recommended is 16pt.
Size
Your PDF file needs to be supplied at 100% size unless your banner is over 5m in length. you can then supply at 50% but specify it needs to be scaled in the filename.
Colours
We run CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Key) colourspace on all printers. Please ensure you convert colours from RGB or spot pantones to CMYK for best results.
Bleed and Trim
Your file needs have a 3mm Bleed on all sides. Do not supply external crop marks as our RIP will automatically deduct 3mm around the file for trimming.
Example: a 1000mm square sign will be 1006mm page size.
Quiet Zone
Similar to bleed, we recommend that all text and graphics are kept 10mm from all edges. Visually this “quiet Zone” looks better and avoids any issued with cutting through your design.
Image Resolution
We recommend an image resolution of 150dpi for general details, however anything around 100dpi for larger signs will be fine. Just consider your file size when uploading!
Cut to shapes
If you require a contour cut sign, we require a cut path vector on the top layer set to overprint and in the “CutContour” Pantone found in our finishing guide below. we recommend a max 50 nodes and to keep cuts simple shapes. fine details may not cut or break easily.
White ink
Some Acrylic signs require white ink either behind the graphics as full flood, or spot white, or as stand alone white print graphics. Please see our white ink supply guide for specs on this added service.
Check List
File supplied as PDF
Fonts converted to Path or embedded
Supplied at 100% scale
CMYK Colours supplied
3mm Bleed on all sides
10mm Quiet Zone on graphics
150-300 dpi images
Cut to shape pantone line if required
White ink layer pantone if required
IMPORTANT – Managing sign printing expectations
Large Format Signs and displays are designed to be viewed at a distance, (usually of at least 1-2 metres for POS and often from 5 metres plus for shop sign fascias and banners).
This means that images supplied for Large Format Sign products do not need the high resolution required for litho printed items. We recommend that you provide images for signs at a maximum of 150 dpi.
The reproduction of any image will not exactly match a litho print of the same image. This is due to the printing process and ink configurations for sign printers.
All products should be handled with care. Minor scratching and creasing can occur during production. Please remember that these products are intended for viewing at a distance; these minor scratches and creases are not visible at these distances. Soft materials such as PVC Foam (foamex) arrive supplied with minor blemishes and scratches from the factory, it can very easily dent and scratch so we do not guarantee against this.
Need Help Choosing the right Lamination?
Choosing the correct laminate can make or break your sign job.
We have a full range of high performance laminates for all occasions and applications.
Drytac – Weathershield Matte or Gloss:
High performance, polymeric PVC with UV stabilisers and absorbers.
Uses complex plasticisers resulting in significantly improved durability and weatherability.
Weathershield Matte or Gloss also has minimal shrinkage and odour.
Recommended for outdoor signage or high-end indoor graphic applications where the best protection is needed.
Recommended Uses:
We recommend this laminate for all dibond signs to protect the surface from scratches and UV bleaching.
As dibond is the board of choice for outdoor signs it is a great addition to protect your signs and extend their usable lifespan.
Outdoor Durability & Ratings
Weathershield films are outdoor durable for 7 years.
They also boast several fire ratings, making the films ideal to use in public spaces.
Drytac – Protac Scribe Drywipe:
High performance, PVC with Gloss finish designed for use with drywipe pens.
Also approved for food contact according to UK and EU regulations.
Durable laminate film with low shrinkage.
Recommended for protecting prints on foamex for use as a wipe erase board.
Recommended Uses:
We recommend this laminate for foamex boards used as a dry erase display, schedule board, year planners or maps.
Can easily be cleaned and written on multiple times with spacial dry erase markers. Not suitable for permanent pens or chalks.
Outdoor Durability & Ratings
not suitable for outdoor use.
Drytac – Protac Anti-Graffiti:
High Gloss Anti-Graffiti lamination film.
PET film with coating on the surface resists spray paint.
UV protection and low shrinkage laminate.
Recommended Uses:
Ideal for a variety of applications, including bus shelters, construction barricades and outdoor advertising locations in high traffic areas.
Protac anti-graffiti has a fire rating, making it perfect for applications in public areas that require compliance with strict fire regulations, such as airports, hotels and hospitals.
Outdoor Durability & Ratings
Fire rated BS 476 Part 7
outdoor durability of 5 years
What could happen if I choose wrong?
Making the right choice is important!
Opting to go for an inferior or cheap laminate could ruin your prints, especially when outside in weather and UV rays.
The example here shows just one year of use with an inferior quality, cheap calendared laminate PVC. The laminate shrinks and loses its adhesion properties resulting in large wrinkles and cracks.
Likewise opting for no lamination at all will increase the risk of scratches and colour bleaching dramatically
Trade Signs that don't
cost the Earth!
THE ONLY CHOICE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Get in touch
help@trade-signs.uk
A Signs Chippenham Ltd company
a part of the digiprint group
Unit B5 Ashville Court, Chippenham, SN14 0ZE