PRINT JOBS

Email commonvision@umbc.edu with your files, see tips on this page.

3D Printing Submission Form

Sending us your print files

Email your documents to commonvision@umbc.edu with the following information (or you can bring them in on a flash drive):

  • QUANTITY Let us know how many of each file you want.

  • PAPER TYPE We have all sorts of paper - glossy, sticker, cardstock, and more! Stop by The Commons 309 to check out our stock.

    • If you already have paper you want us to print on we need the original packaging to verify it is compatible with our laser printers.

  • FINISHING If there are any finishing services such as cutting, coil binding, etc.

  • DEADLINE Let us know the date your prints are needed. Based on workload and job complexity we may or may not be able to meet your requested date.

  • FILE FORMAT Flatten your files as much as possible into .pdf (preferred), .jpg, or .png files.

  • BOOKLETS For booklet printing, export a .pdf of your file, in addition to packaging your file with all of your fonts and images. (InDesign > File > Package or Illustrator > File > Package).

  • PAYMENT INFORMATION We accept payment via Campus Card, Department Card, or authorized Chartstring Number.

TIPS FOR Setting Up Your File

  • SIZE Under page setup, change the height and width to the dimension of your final print-out. If your poster is very large, you can work at half-size. (For a 42” x 46” poster, you can set your file to 21” x 23”).

  • COLOR SETTINGS Set your document to CMYK colors, not RGB. RGB is for video, broadcasting, and film, NOT printing.

  • IMAGES For images have a minimum resolution of 150dpi.

  • LOGOS If you plan on using any UMBC logos, please refer to the UMBC Style Guide.

  • FONTS Keep it simple. Use no more than 3 fonts. It is best to use standard fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Myriad, or Palantino. Be sure the font size is large enough to read. A good rule of thumb is 28 point for text and 38 for titles if your poster is larger than 20x30.

  • LAYOUT For readability, make sure there is enough contrast between text and background colors. Dark type on a light background is best, and avoid placing type on top of an image. Do not fill every inch of the poster. Leave some white space to make the poster more readable.

INFORMATION ON 3D PRINTING

  • Please submit your print request using our 3D Print Order Form and we will get back to you with a quote before we proceed with printing.

  • PRICING Pricing for this service is a $5 setup fee then 0.25 per gram of filament. There may be an additional $5 cleanup fee (or more depending on the complexity) if you would like us to remove support structures for you.

  • FILE TYPE All we need is an STL or 3MF file!

  • OUR PRINTER: We print on a Prusa i3 MK3s+. It is equipped with an MMU2s, meaning multi-color prints are possible, up to 5 filaments (Note: multi-color prints are currently PLA only). We use a 0.4mm nozzle. For more information on this printer visit the Prusa website.

  • SIZE: Our printer can accommodate 250 mm x 210 mm x 210 mm ( 9.84 x 8.3 x 8.3 in ) ( xyz ).

  • FILAMENTS: We have a variety of PLA and PETG colors. Come check out our samples! Our 3D printing staff is happy to make suggestions for material choices.

  • SLICING: We use PrusaSlicer, which is a free open-source program you can download to check your model for print issues. We usually use 0.2 mm layer height for a balance of quality and speed. This can change (+/- 0.1 mm) depending on the application of the object. Smaller layer lines result in a better-looking print but take longer to print and are not always needed. We usually use 10 – 20% gyroid infill with at least 3 perimeters. This is a good balance of strength, cost, and time.

  • 3D MODELING SERVICES: $15/hr for students and $35/hr, please note this service may not be available due to workload.

  • TURNAROUND TIME Please give us a 5-10 business day turnaround as 3D printing is not a perfect science and may take several attempts to get you a good print.

  • NOTE We can only create items that take 8 hours or less to print per item. Right now we are having our printers only run when people are in the office and cannot handle anything that takes longer.

  • FILE/MODEL TIPS: 

    • Please be wary of extremely thin geometry (< 0.4 mm). Too thin and it either will not print or it will be very fragile. A quality 3D printed object will be very durable, but never as durable as typical molded plastics.

    • Try to consider the best orientation of the object for printing to reduce the need for support material. Support material is generated structures that originate from the build plate and connect to the object as a scaffolding where necessary. To reduce cost and waste, and to have a cleaner print, this should be minimized. 

    • Check your model for erroneous geometry (open edges, flipped normals, etc.). PrusaSlicer will show you if your model has errors, but it cannot automatically be fixed, you will have to modify the file.

    • We can scale models at your request, but it is best practice to set the scale before exporting and sending your model.

    • Our 3D printing staff is happy to inspect your STL and suggest changes that would result in a cleaner and more durable print.

UMBC Business Cards

commonvision does not produce UMBC Business Cards. All UMBC stationery is to be purchased based on UMBC Style Guide guidelines.

Passport Photos

We are no longer offering passport photos as a service. We can print existing ones if you send us the file. As of July 1, 2023 Campus Card offers passport photo services by appointment.