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.
Restaurant 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 — how Every Door Direct Mail works.
Read →StationeryBusiness card stocks & finishes
Thickness, coatings, and specialty finishes — how to choose the right card.
Read →VehicleWhat goes into vehicle wrap cost
Partial vs full wraps, materials, and what drives the price.
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
When and where campaign signs can go up — the 2026 window explained.
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 a vehicle wrap
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 →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
The November deadline nobody plans for.
Read →Want a hand instead? Tell us about your project and we'll handle the file setup for you.