Convincing a customer that their file is low resolution

[JulieS]

Any tips on this? Customer wants a large sign made from a terrible .jpg or whatever that looks great on their business card or website. I thought it was a brilliant idea to enlarge the image on my screen to approximate what the final size would be, then do a screen clip of a section of the logo, then paste that into an email to them with an explanation. Seemed to me like that would be a foolproof way to help them see how their final product will look. Well, inevitably, the customer replies with, "Why can't I see the whole logo on my screen?"

Y'all have any solutions that are even MORE foolproof?

Here's an example:

 

[visual800]

absolutely! what you did wwas what I do and they insist charge them for vectorizing it OR get paid upfront and print as is THEN they will understand...this is rampant right now in the world of logos its horrible

 

[Solventinkjet]

absolutely! what you did wwas what I do and they insist charge them for vectorizing it OR get paid upfront and print as is THEN they will understand...this is rampant right now in the world of logos its horrible

Yup. Vector or high resolution files tend to magically appear when an extra charge is mentioned.

 

[Boudica]

Any tips on this? Customer wants a large sign made from a terrible .jpg or whatever that looks great on their business card or website. I thought it was a brilliant idea to enlarge the image on my screen to approximate what the final size would be, then do a screen clip of a section of the logo, then paste that into an email to them with an explanation. Seemed to me like that would be a foolproof way to help them see how their final product will look. Well, inevitably, the customer replies with, "Why can't I see the whole logo on my screen?"

Y'all have any solutions that are even MORE foolproof?

Here's an example:
View attachment 176435

This is exactly what I do - make it actual size, take a screenshot snippet and tell them this is how it will look printed. If your customer is questioning why they can't see the whole logo in this quality snippet.... they have much bigger issues.

 

[victor bogdanov]

Run it through Topaz ai and it will probably be good enough

 

[myront]

Yeah, I pretty much do the same snippet but I try the other methods to get the logo first. Website first, a lot of times there'll be an svg file. If that doesn't work, google "Company Name" FileType: pdf. Usually get a vector from a pdf. Email the web builder and ask for a vector. Lastly, do a quick trace or run it through a trace service such as vectorizer.ai

 

[Stacey K]

I do the same thing. Some people understand quickly and others it takes several emails or a phone call. If the customer is in the area and it's not a rush I offer them to stop in and look on my computer.

 

[Boudica]

I do the same thing. Some people understand quickly and others it takes several emails or a phone call. If the customer is in the area and it's not a rush I offer them to stop in and look on my computer.

If the customer is actually in our Studio, I'll show them on my screen - OR... I'll print it on my desktop printer - just the part that fits the page, I don't shrink it to fit. It will only print part of the graphic but enough to show them what the quality of the image will look like in real life. I just went through this a few weeks ago, and held up the piece of paper so the customer could stand back and see it from a likely viewing distance. In your face it was pixelated, but they could see that from far enough away, it looked fine (passable at least). This is what I would do if they don't have access to the proper vector file, and it's too complicated to just run through some enhancing software.

....it comes up a lot, and there are a lot of ways to deal with it.

 

[Gino]

Ya can't fix stoopid. What you did is all the further I'd go. Tell them to stop in and show them a vector aside of their raster image. If they don't see it after that........ tell them you evidently can't help them.

 

[Boudica]

Ya can't fix stoopid. What you did is all the further I'd go. Tell them to stop in and show them a vector aside of their raster image. If they don't see it after that........ tell them you evidently can't help them.

I try too hard. it's true.

 

[somcalmetim]

Ya, try topaz AI, it does a pretty awesome job of upscaling photos...
It does more than just upscale dpi...some of the very small detail goes a lil weird but it does a good job actually reconstructing things...

 

[Muzza]

Tell your customer to go to the computer store and get a bigger screen......and while they out shopping, a 12 pack of brain cells should be on the list.
Depends if they're going to be a valued customer., you don't get paid for them wasting your time!

 

[CanuckSigns]

Here's the way I look at it, I can usually tell fairly early on in the initial conversation if this person is likely to know what a vector file is. If I get the feeling that they don't, I add a small charge to the quote to cover sending their file off to get vectorized.

On the off chance that I my spider sense didn't kick in for a perticular client I use a service that charges me $12-$15 to vectorize a logo, the time saved in not going back and fourth with 10+ emails of "is this what you need" is worth the $15 cost to me, not to mention you give the client a higher quality product. If $15 is going to make any difference to your profit on a job, you have bigger problems to worry about.

 

[ProSignTN]

Canva Sucks.