Graphic design questions and answers

We ask for 10 working days to turn around a print and design poster. Please ask if you require a faster turnaround than this. Print-only posters take 3 working days.

The conference organisers have given me display board sizes. How do I know what size poster to order?

You do not need to fill the entire area of the display board provided. Choose the largest available poster size that is smaller than the display board area.

I don't understand the information the conference organisers have provided. Can you help?

Yes. The Graphics Team is happy to work within guidelines set by your conference organiser. Simply submit these details with your order.

How do I fasten my poster to a display board?

Posters are normally fastened using velcro. Some conferences provide this for you but we can supply it if this is not the case. Please specify when placing your order.

Can you provide A4 handouts of my poster?

Yes. We can provide A4 handouts printed on 170gsm silk art for you to use as handouts. Please specify how many you require in the "Additional information" box when placing your online order.

What does "gsm" mean?

How do I collect my poster?

You can collect your poster from the Medical Illustration office at Fourth Floor, East Block, QEH or the Clinical Photography Department (level 0) at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

How do I order a leaflet?

Please see the leaflets page for information.

Leaflets page

How do I order stationery?

Please see the stationery page for information.

Stationery page

How do I order patient information leaflets?

Please see the patient information page.

Patient information page

How do I order other printed items?

Please see our general request form.

General request form

In which format do you require text files in order to design my job?

Microsoft Word or PowerPoint documents are preferred for text and tables.

Which file format do you require for images and graphics?

Images should be supplied as JPEGs at a minimum resolution of 300dpi and at the actual size you wish them to be used.

What does "dpi" mean?

Can I use images downloaded from the Internet?

Images from the Internet will not be of a good enough quality to print from. There may also be copyright issues with images downloaded from the Internet.

Do I need to supply logos for my design job?

If your job requires a University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust or Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham logo, please let the Graphics Team know and they will include it.

If your job requires a different logo, e.g. for another trust, you may need to supply this. The Graphics Team can advise further on this.

graphics@QEHB: 0121 371 6497 / 6493 (internal: 16497 / 16493)
Email: Graphics@uhb.nhs.uk

I'm not sure what I want. Can I meet with a member of the Graphics Team to discuss options?

Yes.

If you work at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, a member of the Graphics Team can visit you in your department, or we can make an appointment for you to visit us at our offices on Fourth Floor, East Block, QEH.

Please contact us to arrange an appointment.

graphics@QEHB: 0121 371 6497 / 6493 (internal: 16497 / 16493)
Email: Graphics@uhb.nhs.uk

Where are you based?

The Graphics Team is based on Fourth Floor, East Block, QEH..

In which format do you require files to be supplied for print-only jobs?

PDF is the preferred format for file supply for print-only jobs. We can work with other formats, e.g. Word and PowerPoint, but these may incur extra charges for file conversion. If you are working in Word or PowerPoint 2007 you can export your file direct to PDF.

What is a PDF?

How can I send you a file?

You can send attach your files to the relevant online order form or email them to Graphics@uhb.nhs.uk.

How will I know that you've received my file?

You will receive an automated acknowledgement when you submit an online request. A member of the Graphics Team will contact you via email to issue a job number when it has been picked up.

Will I be able to see a proof of my job before printing?

Proofs will be sent via email for all design and print jobs. We will not issue proofs for print-only jobs.

Is my file secure?

Information sent via our online forms will not be encrypted upon sending. If you would like to ensure that your information is securely sent, please email us from an approved NHS account, i.e. with an email address ending in ".nhs.uk" or "nhs.net".

The Medical Illustration Department is compliant with UHB Trust policy on data protection. The NHS network is secure for file transfer. However, if we need to send files outside the NHS network (including to our external printers) we will encrypt them with a security password.

Can I receive and send files from my personal (external) email address?

You can use an external email address for supply of files and proofing as long as you follow Trust guidelines for data protection, which includes encrypting all patients' details and images.

Can you send me an editable version of my artwork so I can amend and re-use later on?

No. The graphics Team uses design software that is not compatible with standard office software.

Can you edit or amend my print-only job?

The Graphics Team may be able to edit or amend a print only job but any work done would be subject to standard Graphics charges at an hourly rate of £45 for internal UHB staff and £50 for external clients.

How can I pay?

You can provide a departmental cost code or Trust fund number for internal payments, or you can pay by cheque or cash if the cost is not funded by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Do I need to pay VAT?

Internal orders are not subject to VAT. External orders are subject to VAT at current rate, where applicable.

I can't find what I am looking for on your pages. Can I request a bespoke quotation?

Yes. You can use our general request form to request a bespoke quotation.

General request form

When can I expect my quote for a bespoke job?

We aim to provide quotations for bespoke jobs within 48 working ours of receipt. Please call us if your enquiry is urgent.

graphics@QEHB: 0121 371 6497 / 6493 (internal: 16497 / 16493)
Email: Graphics@uhb.nhs.uk

What is a PDF?

Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) is a standard format for representing electronic documents, allowing them to be transmitted and reproduced accurately.

What does "dpi" mean?

Dots per inch (dpi) is a measurement of the resolution of an image. The higher the number of dots per inch being captured the clearer the image will be. 300dpi is standard for printing.

What does "gsm" mean?

Grams per square metre (gsm) is a measurement of the weight of paper stock. The higher the number of grams per square inch, the heavier the paper will be.

Can you produce illustrations or graphics?

Yes. If you provide a rough sketch or an example of what you would like, we can create illustrations for you.

How can I arrange for new photographs to be taken?

Contact the Clinical Photography Team with your request.

Telephone: 0121 371 2460 (internal: 12460)
Email: Picturethis@uhb.nhs.uk

How do I order promotional items?

Please send us details of what you require using our request form and we will provide a quotation.

Promotional items request form

Contact the Graphics Team

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