What Is the Best Print Size for an Event Banner?
One thing all impressive displays have in common is amazing visuals that stand out on the exhibition floor. Large format printers, which can print images on nearly any material, enable larger-than-life visuals.
Large scale trade show graphics are a special breed, whether you’re developing graphics for a banner stand, a fabric display, or a stiff hanging sign. When creating files for big scale printing, typical conventions and criteria for developing standard graphics may not always apply.
We offer a few pointers to assist you obtain the greatest results from your big scale graphic design.
Adobe Design Suite
Learn about the three primary Adobe programmes used to create big size graphics.
Illustrator
Illustrator is capable of producing vector-based pictures that can be scaled up without losing clarity. Raster-based pictures from Photoshop may also be used.
Illustrator files are often less in size than Photoshop ones. Illustrator is perfect for planning out and designing large-scale graphics since smaller files are simpler to transfer and print throughout the design phase.
Photoshop
Photoshop is a raster-based programme that is mostly used for photo/image manipulation. Raster graphics scale down with no loss of quality since they are made up of pixels, while increasing causes pixilation.
Make sure your photographs are high enough resolution to accommodate the huge print area while using Photoshop. Illustrator is ideal for producing design components such as shapes or colour blocks.
InDesign
If your designer often makes brochures for your organisation, it is probable that they utilise InDesign, a tool that is great for page layout for printing. It is not recommended for large-format printing due to page size limitations. Instead, utilise Illustrator, which has the same possibilities but allows for more accurate formatting.
Vector (.EPS) files are the best file format.
Vector files created using Illustrator, as mentioned in the software breakdown, are the optimum format to use on large-scale designs. A .EPS vector file operates on mathematical scale principles and is entirely resolution independent. As a result, it may be drastically scaled up while retaining its original lucidity.
Non-vector pictures, such as TIFFs or JPEGs, would likely become highly fuzzy, pixelated, and deformed when scaled up to huge proportions in Illustrator. As a result, vector files are preferred.
Utilizing Bitmap Files
Vectoring is not possible for all photos and graphics. You may need to import pixel or raster-based artwork from Photoshop into your projects at times. If you do this, you must keep correct dpi in mind to minimise quality loss.
When employing a bitmap, the viewing distance must be taken into account. Detail in graphics is less visible when seen from 10-20 feet away, therefore a lower ppi (100 ppi) may sufficient. Top Class Signs & Printing’s enormous hanging sign is a wonderful illustration of this.
While lesser resolutions may be acceptable for giant banners that hang far away, the recommended practise is to have a ppi in the 100-300 range to guarantee it appears sharp from any distance. Remember that higher dpi resolutions might result in very huge file sizes.
For perfect colour, use Pantone colours
Pantone colours may assist you match your large-scale images with other graphics, your brand, or promotional goods. Including them in your design helps guarantee consistency when your image is printed.
For printing, the CMYK and RGB colour models are the common possibilities. While the RGB colour model has a few advantages, including a broader spectrum of colours and frequently lower file sizes, the CMYK colour model is the one most printers use. This implies that utilising CMYK will provide a more accurate colour representation for your images.
Alternatively, you may probably submit a colour sample (brand logo, table throw, existing design) to your display house, and they can assist you match to the correct Pantone hue.
Use caution while selecting typefaces and design elements.
Not all design aspects that perform well in small-scale design will work well in large-scale design. You should keep in mind that small-scale design on brochures, business cards, or sales sheets will be absorbed at close range. Large-scale graphics are distinct in that they will be seen from a distance as well as up close. You must produce graphics and designs that are noticeable from both close and far distances.
Remember that your audience will most likely view your banners or display graphics from a few dozen feet away. As a result, use photos that are not fully illegible from a distance.
Here are a few golden tips for keeping your display visuals looking excellent from a distance:
Keep graphics and text distinct and well-spaced.
Use legible typefaces and reduce copy to a minimum.
To ensure visibility, use high contrast colours across backgrounds and overlay artwork or text.
Don’t get too caught up in little minutiae. Large size images provide a lot of visual area. When the expense of printing is considered, it might be tempting to fill the area with as much information as possible.
Unfortunately, too much information in a big scale image might reduce its effect. Those watching it from a distance will miss most of the detail, and the main message may be missed. Instead, concentrate on the overall design and don’t be scared to employ “negative” space.
Make small-scale test copies.
Large-scale printing is expensive and time-consuming, so you only have one opportunity to print it and view it at full size. Fortunately, you may still get a sense of how the whole design will appear by printing a small-scale test copy on 11″ x 17″ size paper that is properly scaled to match the bigger version. From here, you can ensure that everything is correctly aligned and that the designs and fonts fit together.
In addition, examine the design from a distance of 5-10 feet, or the size comparable to the distance your audience would be gazing at the full-sized display. This allows you to double-check if the design is intelligible and text readable.
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