Print & design guides
Practical, plain-English guides to get your files print-ready and your marketing working harder, straight from the SHIFT studio in Buffalo, MN.
MN contractor license number on ads
Where the license number has to appear on trucks, signs and print.
Read →HVACWhat HVAC contractors should print
Truck lettering, service paperwork and the seasonal push, in order.
Read →Real estateMinnesota real estate sign rules
Where a listing sign and an open-house arrow may legally go.
Read →AccessibilityMinnesota ADA sign requirements
Which signs need braille, the section 703 specs, and where they mount.
Read →FleetsFleet graphics that stay consistent
Templating, compliance and what drives cost per truck.
Read →PaperPaper thickness chart
How thick 80 lb, 100 lb and 14 pt actually are, in points and mm.
Read →Trade showsTrade show booth sizes
What fits a 10x10, and how to size the back wall and table.
Read →ProcessHow to read a print proof
What to check before you approve, and what approval means.
Read →RestaurantsRestaurant signs & printing
Storefront vinyl, durable menus, food-truck graphics & repeat-business print.
Read →Real estateReal estate signs & marketing
Listing signs, riders, EDDM postcards & agent branding.
Read →ContractorsContractor branding & signage
Truck lettering, job-site & yard signs, door hangers.
Read →BreweriesBrewery branding & print
Stickers, taproom signage, table tents & event banners.
Read →NonprofitsNonprofit & event printing
Banners, programs, donor signage & fundraiser print.
Read →HealthcareClinic & healthcare signage
Wayfinding, window & wall graphics, patient print.
Read →File setupHow to set up print-ready files
Resolution, bleed, color, and format: the basics that make print come out sharp.
Read →Wide formatBanner sizing & grommets
Pick the right size, material, and grommet spacing for indoor or outdoor banners.
Read →Direct mailEDDM explained
Mail a whole neighborhood without a mailing list. Here is how Every Door Direct Mail works.
Read →StationeryBusiness card stocks & finishes
Thickness, coatings, and specialty finishes: how to choose the right card.
Read →SignageYard sign buying guide
Coroplast vs aluminum, sizes, stakes, and design tips.
Read →Wide formatBanner material guide
13oz vs 18oz vs mesh: which to use and when.
Read →StickersSticker materials explained
Vinyl vs. paper vs. clear: durability, lamination, and which to pick.
Read →Campaign seasonMN political sign rules for 2026
The 2026 window explained: when and where campaign signs can go up.
Read →Direct mailGetting a return on direct mail
Targeting, offers, and design that make mailers pay off.
Read →SignageSign permits in Wright County
When permits matter and how rules vary by city.
Read →Vehicle graphicsUSDOT number lettering
No required letter height, and magnets are legal. What the rule says.
Read →Direct mailEDDM vs. targeted mailing lists
When to saturate a neighborhood vs. buy a targeted list.
Read →VehicleHow to care for vehicle graphics
Washing, sun, lifespan, and safe removal to protect your investment.
Read →File setupCanva files for print
Bleed, RGB-to-CMYK, and the export a printer wants.
Read →New businessGrand opening checklist
Every sign and print piece, on a countdown.
Read →SignageRigid sign materials
Coroplast vs. aluminum vs. PVC vs. foamcore.
Read →Print basicsPaper weight explained
Why 80 lb text and 80 lb cover are not the same.
Read →ColorPantone vs. CMYK vs. RGB
Why your logo looks different once it prints.
Read →File setupLogo file formats
Vector vs. raster, and what to send a printer.
Read →FinishingMatte, gloss & soft-touch
Coatings, lamination, and spot UV compared.
Read →BinderyBooklet binding methods
Saddle stitch vs. perfect binding vs. coil.
Read →Wide formatHow to hang a banner
Hardware, tension, and surviving the wind.
Read →Direct mailUSPS mailer size rules
The size limits that set your postage.
Read →Minnesota rulesMN cottage food labels
Exactly what the law requires on the jar.
Read →PermitsWest Metro sign permits
What each Hennepin County city asks for.
Read →AdvertisingBillboards in Maple Grove
What a board costs, and what works instead.
Read →Food trucksFood truck branding
Truck graphics, menu boards, and merch.
Read →EventsCraft fair booth checklist
Signs, table throws, and what to pack.
Read →SchoolsBooster club print guide
Sponsor banners, senior night, fundraising.
Read →AgricultureFarm & ag signage
Entrance signs, produce stands, field markers.
Read →Minnesota rulesCampaign sign disclaimers
What Minnesota law requires on every piece.
Read →SchoolsSchool referendum printing
What districts and vote-yes committees may print.
Read →CampaignsCampaign literature guide
Push cards, door hangers, and walk pieces.
Read →CampaignsPolitical direct mail
Persuasion and GOTV mail that lands on time.
Read →CampaignsCampaign print budget
Where a local race's print money actually goes.
Read →Ballot questionsBallot question campaigns
Issue committees are not candidate committees.
Read →CampaignsCandidate branding
A name people can read at 40 mph.
Read →CampaignsTaking campaign signs down
Why November 13 is not a state takedown deadline.
Read →Want a hand instead? Tell us about your project and we'll handle the file setup for you.
Make the next order easier
Practical guides to keeping print on hand, specifying roll labels, and estimating the paper in a job.
Plan your next print reorder
Separate usable stock from leftovers, choose a reserve, and prepare a clear repeat-order request.
Read →LabelsOrder roll labels that fit your workflow
What to send about core size, winding direction, hand application, and machine specifications.
Read →PaperEstimate the paper mass of a print run
Understand flat sheet counts, text and cover stocks, and why paper mass is not packed shipment weight.
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