Artwork guide: what to send for print
How to prepare a file for a banner, sign or display so it prints sharp at full size. Send what you have; a specialist checks every file before it prints.
File types
Best: a vector PDF, AI or EPS, because it scales to any size without losing sharpness. Good: a PNG, TIFF or JPG at the final print size at 100 to 150 pixels per inch, or at a quarter of the size at 300 to 600 pixels per inch. Avoid screenshots, small web images and Word documents; they look fine on a screen and blurry at six feet wide.
Resolution
Large-format print is viewed from a distance, so it needs less resolution than a brochure. For banners and signs, 100 to 150 pixels per inch at the final size is enough; for small decals and posters read up close, aim for 300. If your logo is only a small file, send it anyway: a vector version can often be rebuilt from it.
Bleed and safe area
Extend background colours and images past the edge of the design by at least 1 inch on banners and signs (0.125 inch on decals and posters), so trimming and hems never leave a white edge. Keep text and logos at least 2 inches from the edge of a banner, because hems and grommets take that space.
Colour
Design in CMYK if you can. Screens show RGB, which is brighter than any ink, so very bright greens and blues print a little duller. If a brand colour must match, give us its Pantone number and we match it as closely as the material allows.
Fonts and text
Convert text to outlines or embed the fonts in the PDF, so the file prints with the typeface you chose. Make the smallest text at least 1 inch tall on a banner read from 10 feet, and larger for anything read from the road.
No artwork yet?
Send your logo, the words you want on the piece and any colours. Our designers set it up at the final size and you approve a digital proof before anything prints. Say so on the quote form under Artwork.
Ready to see your design printed big?
Send us the size and quantity. We reply with pricing, material options and a digital proof of your artwork.
