Coda Custom Topsheets

Coda Monoboards(monoskis), Snowboards, Skis, and Topsheets

CUSTOM TOPSHEETS

If you have been studying how to build your own snowboard or skis from websites like snowboardmaterials.com or skibuilders.com, then you have read about using your own custom graphic topsheets. There are only a couple places on the web to get your own topsheets, and CODA is one of them.

If there are no issues with your graphics file, then the turn-around time to ship is about 3 days from receipt of your graphic. Also, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions while prepping your graphic or if you have trouble with the upload form. Sometimes, restrictions built into customers' internet service providers cause uploading to fail. In such cases, we can configure a secure file transfer specifically for you.

Graphic uploads occur after completion of your purchase, or at your convenience using our graphics upload page. Bulk orders receive a quantity discount as listed on the order configuration page.

Custom TopsheetsAll CODA custom board or ski graphics are dye-sublimated on a glossy white, press-ready topsheet material that is industry standard.

custom topsheet: $40

Upload / Mail:   After completing your payment, Paypal will redirect you to the CODA graphics upload page where you may upload your graphic file directly to our server.  Snowboards and skis are much larger than a letter-size sheet of paper or photograph, and, accordingly, a high resolution graphics file large enough to cover the top of a board or ski will be quite large, even at 300 dpi.  You may compose your graphic at much higher resolutions, but a 170cm x 25 cm image at 1200 dpi could easily reach gigabytes in size, uncompressed.  With files so large, upload transfers may take some time, even with a fast connection.  If you prefer, you may send a CD-R or DVD+/-R by traditional mail, instead.

For traditional mail, send your file to:

CODA BOARDS
707 Valarie Rd.
Ridgecrest, CA
93555
USA
FILE SPECIFICATIONS

colors:

color space:

DPI (dots per inch):

formats:

millions+

All graphics will be converted to CMYK before printing.  If you edit in a different color mode, such as RGB or indexed color, then fully saturated colors may get clipped before printing.  This is due to the difference between the display range of computer monitors and real world color range of printer inks.

200dpi, at least.  Lower resolutions will look fuzzy.  Higher resolutions may take a long time or fail to upload.
300 dpi or greater recommended.

JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF, ZIP.   Please use an archive application like Winrar, 7zip, or Winzip to compress large, uncompressed files such as files in .tif, and .psd formats.  This will reduce upload time.

sizing: dimension examples/recommendations at 300 dpi
model	print dimensions in cm.		pixel dimensions at 300 dpi
	width	length	width	length
V-O	33	178	3898	21023
V-O-XL	33	193	3898	22795
V-2-10	33	178	3898	21023
V-2-9	33	178	3898	21023
V-2-SM	33	159	3898	18780
V-3	33	178	3898	21023
V-J	see the templates page for recommended sizing
Working on a 300dpi image of this size is not recommended for old, slow computers.

image editors: To prepare an original design, you will need an image or layout editor such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Gimp, or Coreldraw. Gimp is a free, open source image editor similar to Photoshop. It is available for free download at www.gimp.org.
Our template page provides Photoshop ".psd" and plain ".gif " file templates of CODA carving monoboards and snowboards, for convenience. If you are not designing for a CODA board, then these will at least give you an idea of image file dimensions. We've sized these templates according to the 300dpi specifications in the chart above. You can work directly on the template file, but keep your content separate from the template masks and outlines by creating new layers for your content. You don't want those masks and outlines actually appearing on your board, so delete them when your are finished. Also, be certain to fill the template all the way to the rectangular document bounds (full bleed). If you only fill the outline of the board footprint, then the surrounding white space might end up on your finished board.

WELL PLANNED
good method

POORLY PLANNED
bad method

     If you are not designing for a CODA board, then please be certain to enter the finished dimensions of your board or skis in the instructions portion of the graphics upload page. Image Perparation: Regarding the image itself, any range of colors and any design content is acceptable.  Any number of colors is okay.  While we cannot guarantee exactly hitting pantone colors, we usually get pretty close. All graphics will be converted to CMYK before printing.  If you edit in a different color mode, such as RGB or indexed color, then fully saturated colors may get clipped before printing.  This is due to the difference between the display range of computer monitors and real world color range of printer inks.  If you flatten your ".psd" layers it will reduce file size, thereby decreasing upload time.  However, it is important that you delete any template mask or outline layers before your flatten.  It is a good idea to remove these layers, regardless, because it wil also decrease your upload time.  Vector based art is acceptable, as long as it arrives a format we can open and process.  Vector based art is not required.
     We print topsheet graphics with a wide format, dye-sublimation printer followed by heat press transfer to the topsheet material.

The printed graphic will shrink during the transfer process.
Design elements intended to match the edges of the board will be problematic.
     While our templates reflect compensation for this shrinkage, plan your graphic accordingly.  Design elements intended to match the edges of the board will be problematic.  For example, designing a border to run a 2 cm. wide ring along the perimeter of your board will probably turn out poorly.  Plan any text or signage to layout an adequate distance from the edges of the board or skis.  Otherwise, the shrinkage of the heat transfer may cause the text or signage to get clipped off the side of the board or skis.  We'll try to review your graphic and advise you of any such oversights.
     Typically, expect a 2-3cm. contraction in the length of your design, and a .5cm shrink in the width.  We recommend designing your graphic 8 cm. longer than your board length, and 4 cm. wider than its span.  Again, our templates have already factored this change into the board masks and outlines.

template illustration

     Print dimensions of 33 cm. x 185 cm. will accommodate all CODA boards except the V-0-XL.  See the chart above for specific, example sizing.  Complex, detailed graphics prepared at a resolution less than 100 dpi (dots per inch) may turn out looking fuzzy or dull.  We recommend a target resolution of 300 dpi for photographic or complex imagery.  Also, if you send a jpeg file or tiff file with jpeg compression, beware of setting a compression quality too low to avoid image pixelation and odd-looking artifacts.
     However, as the chart above shows, a 300 dpi image of this size is a really big file.  If your design is more graphical in nature, with broad spaces of solid color and hard edges, then a lower resolution should be fine. The "pinup" design in the CODA Select gallery is an example of such an image.  Any vector graphic is scalable and can be delivered as a small image.  For a photographic image, try to make the resolution as high as your computer can manage.  Don't be surprised if 300dpi brings even a fast machine to a screaming halt. Branding:      In most circumstances, we ask that CODA name branding appear on the boards and skis we fabricate.  If you are placing a custom topsheet-only order, then CODA branding is not necessary.  You won't be building a CODA board.
     Board templates and various samples of the CODA name logo, the CODA symbol, and the CODA carver insignias appear on the template page.  While we have no objection to you designing your own version of the CODA name, we reserve the right to reject any alterations to representation of the CODA name, for our protection.  Please try us, though.  Personal customization is the heart of CODA.
     If you do not incorporate the CODA name into your design, then we'll contact you inquiring after your preferred placement of our branding.  It is acceptable to leave the work of adding the branding up to us.  Just describe your branding placement preferences in the "instructions/comments" field of the upload page form. Hard Copy Conversions: Do you have actual artwork, postcards, photographs or other hard copies you would like printed onto a board or pair of skis?  Such documents must be digitized by scanning or digital photography.  Most copy centers, such as Fedex-Kinkos, can perform scanning services.  Digital photography of 2d images is more challenging.  While CODA's graphic artists may perform these services, we may also refuse to assume responsibility for the original artwork and documents.  These orders will also have a greater turnaround time.   If digitizing your hard copy presents a time consuming challenge, then a surcharge may apply in addition to the charge of safely transporting your hard copies to us.   Contact us to inquire about hard copy conversions.

• PROCEED TO THE TEMPLATES PAGE •

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