At Lawton, we know that great print begins long before ink touches paper. It starts with design. The right creative direction doesn’t just make something look good—it ensures your project is functional, brand-aligned, and production-ready. Our design services are built for businesses that need more than just a “pretty file.” We create assets that translate seamlessly from screen to substrate, keeping every technical detail in check so the finished product meets the highest standard.
Why Design for Print Is Different
Designing for digital alone often overlooks the nuances of print production. Resolution, color modes, bleeds, and typography aren’t just nice-to-have considerations—they are critical to ensuring the final piece looks sharp and professional. For example:
Resolution: A 72 dpi web graphic will look pixelated on a banner. We build at 300 dpi (or higher for large-format) to ensure clarity.
Color Management: What you see in RGB on your screen isn’t what comes off the press. We set up files in CMYK or spot colors to guarantee consistency with brand standards.
Bleeds & Safe Zones: Trim marks matter. Extending artwork beyond the cut line prevents white edges, while safe zones protect key elements from getting sliced off.
Typography & Fonts: Embedding fonts and aligning kerning/tracking correctly ensures type stays true across systems.
These are the fundamentals of professional prepress—and they’re second nature to our design team.
Creative + Technical = Results
Our designers don’t just create visually compelling layouts—they think like printers. Whether it’s a retail point-of-purchase display, an engineering plan set cover, or a museum exhibit panel, we balance creativity with the technical expertise needed to get it right the first time.
For instance:
A construction signage package isn’t just about a bold logo. It requires durable substrates, legible typography at a distance, and OSHA-compliant iconography.
A direct mail postcard isn’t just about a clever headline. It requires USPS-approved sizes, clear addressing zones, and proper ink coverage for automated sorting.
A museum exhibit graphic isn’t just about aesthetic storytelling. It requires calibrated color profiles so photography reproduces true-to-life across multiple panels.
This blend of artistry and production knowledge is what sets Lawton apart.
Make Your Files Press-Ready
If you’re designing in-house, we’ve also got your back. Our Prepress Checklist walks you through the most common mistakes we see before jobs hit the press—like missing bleeds, low-resolution images, or unflattened transparencies. Following these steps will save you time, money, and the frustration of reprints.
The Lawton Advantage
When you work with our design team, you’re not just outsourcing “creative.” You’re partnering with people who understand the entire lifecycle of a print project—from ideation, to proofing, to final output. That means fewer revisions, cleaner results, and peace of mind knowing your brand is in good hands.
At Lawton, design isn’t an afterthought. It’s the foundation of everything we produce. Let us help you transform your next project from concept to creation with precision, creativity, and print expertise.
Lawton’s new EFI Pro 30h+ expands our wide format capabilities with faster rigid board and roll production, white ink, multilayer printing, and clear spot effects. See the machine arrive, meet the team trained to operate it, and explore what it adds to our Dallas Fort Worth production workflow.
Lawton has grown with FC Dallas since the earliest days in Frisco — designing and printing graphics that energize Toyota Stadium. From press backdrops to tunnel walls, our prints don’t just decorate the space — they amplify it. Because big moments deserve bold visuals.
Joey has been with Lawton for over 20 years, handling construction plans and document archiving. He shares how he got started, why he’s stayed, and even a funny shop story.