FAQs and Policies

How do I get a quote?

• Submit your project through our online quote form, email [email protected], or call us at (515) 288-2146. Include finished size, quantity, where the graphic will be used (indoor or outdoor, wall, window, vehicle), your deadline, and whether you need design or installation. The more we know up front, the faster and more accurate your quote.

How long is a quote good for?

• Quotes are valid for 30 days. Material and freight costs change, so quotes older than that may need to be updated.

Can I visit the shop?

• Yes. We are at 5037 NE 14th Street, Des Moines. Consultations by appointment. Bring samples, measurements, or photos of the space if you have them.

Who should I talk to about my project?

• Use our main phone line or email rather than an individual's cell or personal social media. That way anyone on the team can see your project history and help you, even when someone is out.

Click Here to see our full File Requirements page

How should I set up my file?

• Send Print-Ready PDF, Adobe Illustrator, EPS, SVG (best) | High Resolution TIFF, PSD, PNG, or JPG (usually fine) | Any other formats may need cleaning up.

• Build at final size or at a consistent scale (for example, 1:10) and tell us the scale.

• Add 0.125 in bleed for most wide-format jobs and 1 in bleed for banners and wall graphics. Keep text and logos at least [1 in] inside the trim on large pieces.

• Convert text to outlines or embed all fonts.

• Raster images should be at least 100 to 150 ppi at final size for large format, 300 ppi for small format. Larger viewing distances can get by with less; ask us if you're unsure.

• Supply logos as vector whenever possible.

What if my files aren't print-ready?

• We can fix them. File repair, vector recreation, missing fonts, and production setup are billed at $85/hr, 15-minute minimum or quoted ahead of time. We will always tell you before charging for artwork time.

How do I send large files?

• Use the Upload Files link on our site. Email works for files under 10 MB.

Will my print match what I see on screen?

• Close, but not exactly. Monitors make color with light; prints use ink on a material. Every screen is calibrated differently, and vinyl, fabric, and rigid substrates each shift color in their own way. Our printers can reproduce a wider range of color than most commercial presses, but some bright screen colors (especially neon greens, oranges, and blues) can't be printed with standard inks.

Can you match my brand colors?

• Yes. Give us Pantone (PMS) numbers or a physical sample and we will get as close as the material allows. For brand-critical work, ask for a printed color proof on the actual material before the full run. Hard proofs may incur extra fees. We’ll tell you about those before we start.

Will reorders match the original?

• We keep color settings on file so repeat orders are consistent. Small variation between print runs, ink lots, and material batches is normal in the industry. If several pieces must match side by side, order them together.

Will I see a proof before you print?

• Yes. Every custom job gets a digital proof. Production does not start until you approve it in writing (email or our online approval).

What am I approving? Your approval confirms the proof is correct, including:

• Spelling, names, and wording

• Phone numbers, emails, web addresses, and street addresses

• Size, quantity, and orientation

• Layout and color (see Color above)

We check every file, but we can't know that a phone number has a typo, if a QR code takes you to the right place, or a name is spelled differently than you intended. Errors in an approved proof are reprinted at the customer's cost.

Can I make changes after approving?

• Ask right away. If we haven't printed yet, we can usually make the change. If material has already been printed or cut, a reprint will be charged.

How long will my order take? Typical production times, counted in business days after proof approval and payment (or deposit):

• Banners: 2 to 4 days

• Yard and political signs: 3 to 5 days

• Soft-Rigid signs (coroplast, PVC, foamcore, gatorboard, ultraboard): 3 to 4 days

• Hard-Rigid Signs (aluminum, acrylic, wood): 3-5 days

• Window, wall, and floor graphics (production only): 3 to 5 days

• Contour-cut decals and stickers: 3 to 5 days

• Small format (cards, postcards, flyers, menus): 2 to 5 days

• Tradeshow displays: 5 to 10 days

• Vehicle graphics and wraps: 5 to 10 days to print, plus install scheduling

• Custom boxes and specialty projects: Quoted per project

• Installation: Scheduled based on current calendar, typically 1 to 3 weeks out

Design time is added on top of production time.

Are these guaranteed?

• No. They're our normal pace, not a promise. Material shortages, freight delays, equipment issues, and weather can affect timing. If you have a hard event date, tell us when you request your quote and we will confirm whether we can hit it.

Can you rush my order?

• Often, yes, depending on the schedule. Rush fees start at $50, and are confirmed before we accept the rush. Same-day service is available for select products only.

When do I pay?

• New customers and orders under $500: paid in full at approval.

• Orders over $500: 50% deposit at approval, balance due at pickup, delivery, or completion of installation.

• Approved business accounts: Net 30 terms, subject to credit approval.

What payment methods do you accept?

• Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, ACH, and checks from established accounts. We charge a 3% credit card processing fee on all orders over $1000.

Do you charge sales tax?

• Iowa sales tax applies unless you provide a valid exemption certificate before invoicing. Schools, churches, and nonprofits: send us your certificate once and we'll keep it on file.

Can I cancel my order?

• Yes, until production starts. After that, you are responsible for materials ordered, design and setup time, and work already completed. Because everything we make is custom, finished products can't be returned.

Do you install?

• Yes. We install wall, window, floor, and vehicle graphics, plus signs and displays, throughout Central Iowa and beyond. Installs outside a 30 mile radius are quoted with travel.

Do you need to see the site first?

• For larger jobs, yes. A site survey confirms measurements, surface type, and access. If you provide measurements yourself, we produce to your measurements.

How should I prepare the space?

• Walls: new paint must cure at least 30 days before we apply graphics. Graphics stick poorly to low-VOC, matte, or textured paints; ask us before you paint.

• Windows and surfaces: clean, dry, and clear of furniture, displays, and decorations.

• Access: provide clear access, parking or a loading area, power if needed, and anyone required to let us in after hours.

What if the site isn't what we expected?

• If we find damaged drywall, failing paint, moisture, or extra prep work, we'll stop and talk with you before continuing. Extra labor, return trips, or waiting time will be subject to additional fees.

What about weather?

• Exterior installs depend on temperature and dry conditions. Most vinyl needs 55°F or warmer to bond properly. If weather forces a reschedule, we'll move you to the next available opening.

Do I need a permit?

• Permanent exterior signs usually require a permit from your city, and some landlords or HOAs require approval. Permit costs vary by city/municipality.

How should I prepare my vehicle?

• Bring it in washed, dry, and free of wax, ceramic coatings, and sealants on the areas being wrapped. Vehicles that need extra cleaning are billed at our normal hourly shop rate. Remove personal items from areas we need to reach.

How long will you need my vehicle?

• Most partial wraps and lettering take 1 day; full commercial wraps take 2 to 3 days; color change wraps take up to 5 days. Vinyl needs time to set before it's exposed to weather, so plan for the vehicle to stay indoors overnight.

Can you wrap over damaged or repainted areas?

• We can, but we can't guarantee the result. Rust, chips, clear coat failure, body filler, and aftermarket paint can lift, bubble, or come off with the vinyl when it's removed. We'll point out problem areas at drop-off.

Can you remove old graphics?

• Yes, billed at our normal hourly shop rate. Older or sun-baked vinyl can take much longer to remove, so we quote removal after seeing the vehicle.

When do I pay for vehicle work?

• Vehicle graphics are paid in full before the vehicle is released. Fleet accounts on approved terms are the exception.

How do I care for my wrap?

• Hand wash or touchless wash only. Wait 7 days before the first wash. Don't use a pressure washer within 24 inches of edges, and avoid waxes or polishes that contain petroleum distillates.

Can I pick up my order?

• Yes. We'll contact you when it's ready. Pickup hours are Mon to Fri, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Extended pickup hours are available upon request

Do you deliver or ship?

• Local delivery is available upon request for an additional charge. We ship UPS or freight anywhere in the US; shipping is quoted separately. Inspect shipments on arrival and report damage within 3 business days.

How long will you hold my order?

• Completed orders are held 30 days at no charge. After that, storage fees may apply. Orders unclaimed after 90 days may be recycled, and payments already made are not refunded.

How long will my graphics last? It depends on the material and where it lives. Typical outdoor life:

• Vinyl banners: Up to 1 year

• Coroplast yard signs: 6 to 12 months

• Short-term vinyl (promotions, events): 6 months to 2 years

• Laminated premium vinyl (wraps, exterior graphics): 3 to 7 years

• Aluminum and ACM signs: 5+ years

South-facing graphics, heat, road salt, and frequent washing shorten these. Indoor graphics last much longer.

What's covered?

• We stand behind our workmanship for 1 year from installation. If a graphic we installed lifts, peels, or fails because of our work, we'll repair or replace it. Many materials also carry manufacturer warranties, which we'll pass along to you, if applicable.

What isn't covered?

• Physical damage, vandalism, accidents, or abuse

• Improper cleaning (pressure washers, solvents, abrasive pads)

• Failure of the surface underneath, such as paint, drywall, rust, or prior repairs

• Graphics installed on surfaces we advised against

• Graphics installed by anyone other than Vital Signs

• Normal fading and wear over time

Can you design my project?

• Yes. Design is billed hourly or quoted as a flat fee for larger projects. Simple layouts using your existing logo and text are often included.

How many revisions are included?

• Two rounds of revisions are included. Additional rounds are billed at our hourly rate. Changing direction after a concept is approved may require a new quote.

Who owns the artwork?

• You own the finished printed product and any artwork you supplied. Production files we create are kept on file for reorders for up to one year. If you'd like the editable source files to use elsewhere, we can release them for a fee based on the design time involved.

Do you keep my files?

• Yes, we archive production files for up to one year so reorders are fast and consistent.