Ordering corflute signs in Australia is simpler than most businesses think. Upload your artwork, choose your size and quantity, and your signs are in production within a business day. The common problems, signs that arrive with soft print, wrong colours, or blurry edges, aren’t caused by the printing process. They’re caused by artwork that wasn’t set up correctly for large-format outdoor print. Get the file right and the rest is straightforward.
This guide covers the printing process, what to prepare, turnaround times, shipping, and what separates a quality corflute printer from one that cuts corners.
How Corflute Signs Are Printed
Paperlust Printshop prints corflute signs on the EFI Vutek Q3h XP UV LED Press. This is a high-speed, wide-format UV LED printer built specifically for rigid substrates like corflute, PVC, foam board, and aluminium composite.
UV LED printing works by curing ink with ultraviolet light as it’s applied, rather than using heat or solvent evaporation. The result is:
- Instant cure: Ink bonds to the polypropylene surface immediately, with no smearing or offsetting.
- Vibrant colour: UV inks produce saturated, accurate colour that holds up to outdoor conditions far better than water-based or eco-solvent alternatives.
- Durability: Because the ink is cured hard onto the surface rather than absorbed into it, it resists moisture, abrasion, and UV degradation more effectively than other print technologies.
This is why a properly printed corflute sign looks sharp from the moment it arrives and continues to look good through months of outdoor exposure. The print technology matters, and the EFI Vutek platform is industrial-grade equipment designed for exactly this kind of work.
Turnaround Time
Production takes 3-4 working days from artwork approval. This covers the full production process: printing, cutting, and finishing (eyelets if selected). Weekends and public holidays are not counted as working days.
Shipping is on top of production time. Allow an additional 1-3 business days for metropolitan areas across Australia, and up to 5 business days for regional locations.
For time-sensitive campaigns, such as an election or a property listing that needs to go live quickly, order with as much lead time as possible and factor in both production and transit days.
Shipping Across Australia
- $10 AUD flat rate for all orders shipped anywhere in Australia.
- Free shipping on orders over $100 AUD.
- $35 AUD worldwide via DHL Express for international orders.
The flat-rate $10 AUD domestic shipping applies regardless of order size or destination. Shipping from Sydney to Melbourne and from Sydney to Darwin cost the same. DHL Express is used for international shipments, which means tracking, speed, and reliable customs handling for international customers.
If your order total exceeds $100 AUD, shipping is free automatically. For bulk corflute orders, most will qualify.
Artwork Requirements
Getting your artwork right is the most important step in the process. Here’s what you need to know before you upload.
File Format
Submit your artwork as:
- PDF (preferred): Vector-based PDFs from Adobe Illustrator or InDesign are ideal. All fonts should be embedded or converted to outlines. Images within the PDF should be at print resolution.
- AI (Adobe Illustrator): Native AI files work well when fonts are outlined and linked images are embedded.
- High-resolution JPG or PNG: Acceptable for photographic artwork, but only if the file is at 100 DPI or higher at the final print size.
Avoid submitting Word documents, PowerPoint files, or screenshots. These are not print-ready formats.
Resolution
The most common artwork mistake: submitting a file that looks fine on screen but prints poorly at size.
Screen displays use 72 DPI (dots per inch). Print at large format requires a minimum of 100 DPI at the final print size. At 600×900mm, a 72 DPI file will produce visibly soft, blurry results, particularly on text edges and fine detail.
If your artwork is 600×900mm at 100 DPI, the actual pixel dimensions of your file should be approximately 2,362×3,543 pixels. If your file is smaller than this, the output will be soft.
A practical rule: if you’re zooming into your artwork on screen and it still looks sharp at 100% zoom, you’re likely at a safe resolution. If it looks pixelated on screen at 100% view, it will definitely look pixelated when printed.
Bleeds and Safe Zones
Set up your artwork with:
- 3mm bleed on all sides: extend your background colour or design elements beyond the trim edge to prevent white borders appearing if the cut is slightly off.
- 5mm safe zone inside the trim edge: keep all critical content (text, logos, key graphics) at least 5mm inside the trim line to ensure nothing is cut off.
These are standard print specifications and your designer should be familiar with them.
Colour Mode: CMYK
All artwork should be submitted in CMYK colour mode, not RGB.
RGB is a screen colour space: it includes colours that cannot be physically reproduced in print. If you submit an RGB file, the printer will convert it to CMYK automatically, and some colours will shift, often noticeably. Bright blues, vivid greens, and some purples are the most common offenders.
For accurate outdoor colour reproduction, always set up your artwork in CMYK from the start.
Font Embedding
If your artwork is a PDF or AI file with live text (text that hasn’t been converted to outlines), the fonts must be embedded in the file. If a font is missing on the print provider’s system, it will be substituted with a default font, which will look nothing like your intended design.
The safest approach: convert all text to outlines (paths) before exporting your print-ready file. This eliminates any font dependency.
Proofing
A digital proof is provided before production begins. Review the proof carefully: check that all text is legible, colours look accurate, artwork is centred, and no elements are cut off near the edges. Once you approve the proof, production proceeds.
If anything looks wrong in the proof, flag it before approving. Changes after approval and production has started will require a reprint.
What to Watch Out for When Ordering Online
Not all corflute printers are equal. A few things that separate quality print from a disappointing result:
Overseas Printers
Some online sign suppliers route orders through overseas print facilities, particularly in China or Southeast Asia. The attraction is low prices, but the reality often includes:
- 2-4 week shipping times, sometimes longer
- Customs delays and potential import duties
- No local support if there’s a problem
- Colour inconsistencies from calibration differences
- Quality that’s hard to verify before you order
If your campaign has a deadline and you need Australian businesses to be able to contact someone if something goes wrong, use an Australian printer.
Cheap Local Printers That Cut Corners
Not every Australian printer uses industrial-grade equipment or proper materials. Common quality shortcuts include:
- Thinner corflute than specified (advertising 3mm but supplying 2mm or below)
- Low-resolution printing that looks fine on small orders but degrades at larger sizes
- No digital proof process, meaning errors aren’t caught before production
- Eco-solvent or aqueous printing on corflute, which produces softer results than UV LED and fades faster outdoors
Quality indicators to look for: UV LED printing technology, genuine 3mm or 5mm TEKflute corflute, a digital proof process before production begins, and transparent pricing with GST included.
Bulk Orders and Custom Sizes
Standard sizes cover most applications, but if you need quantities above what the standard pricing covers, or you need a non-standard size or format, contact Paperlust Printshop for a custom quote.
Bulk orders, such as election campaigns ordering 200+ signs or event operators needing large quantities of directional signage, typically qualify for volume pricing. Custom dimensions for unusual applications, banner formats, or very large sizes are also available on request.
Reach out before ordering large quantities to make sure you’re getting the best available pricing and that your artwork requirements are met for the specific format you need.
Related reading:
Get Your Corflute Signs Printed
Corflute sign printing starts from $5.68 AUD inc GST with 3-4 working day production. Flat-rate $10 AUD shipping across Australia, free on orders over $100 AUD.
Order corflute signs from Paperlust Printshop and get professional outdoor signage delivered to your door.
Print locally: Corflute signs from $5.68 AUD, printed in Australia. Browse our full signage range at Paperlust Print Shop.
