Whether it’s a giant banner or a tradeshow backdrop, large format printing presents unique challenges for designers. Here are six handy tips for smoothing out the process.
Use Vector Resources As Much As Possible
Not only do vector images scale up or down perfectly, they also have a much smaller file size which reduces the slowdown on your computer. Anyone who’s ever worked on a several hundred megabyte Photoshop file knows how painful that can be. Plus, it won’t take forever to spool to the printer when your printer tries to print it.
Work At a Smaller Scale (Using A Vector Program)
It can get a little ridiculous trying to design a 40 foot banner to scale @ 300 dpi and most apps have limits to the maximum canvas sizes anyway (Illustrator’s max size is 227.5 inches, InDesign’s is 216 inches). It’s very helpful to work at ½ to ¼ scale and have the printer scale it up. If you need to use raster images in your designs, calculate the necessary working resolution based on the full sized design and link to them externally instead of embedding them. Be sure to inform your printer, too.
Back on Printing Large Format? Read This First, commentor Ammon Re had this to say about the resolution of bitmap/raster images for large scale printing:
The process we use is governed purely by the end result and size. Viewing distance governs the file setup and image quality. I use the following rules of thumb:
- Close viewing less than 1 metre but larger than half a metre 200 dpi Minimum.
- Medium viewing 1 to 3 metres 150 dpi Minimum.
- Distance 3 metres and above can range from 150dpi, 4 to 6 metres 100 dpi and 6 metres above 75 dpi at full finished size.
Stick To Process Colors
Sure the company logo is a specific spot color, but most large format printers are typically ink jets. Plan accordingly.
Font Legibility
Most large format pieces are designed to be viewed from a distance. Be sure to use large text sizes that are very easy to read. Try to stay away from really fancy fonts with details that will blend into your design and may fall apart when printing. You’ll also want to consider the contrast and how busy your design is so that your type doesn’t get lost in your creative.
Take A Step Back From Your Monitor
Stand about 10-20 feet away from your monitor and see if your design still looks and works great when viewed from a distance. As designers we tend to focus on the details but in a large design piece nobody is going to see the minutia from far away.
Print A Small Scaled Sample First
You generally only get one shot at printing a large format piece. Large format printing is EXPENSIVE and you more than likely won’t get a mock or preview piece. Printing a smaller scaled version on an 11×17 or equivalent will help you to catch printing errors, misalignment or other issues before you send it off to the printer.
So, what experience have you had working with large format design pieces? Have any other tips or tricks to add?
Some great tips there, and I can certainly relate to them – we’ve been designing quite a lot of roll-up banners (2 metres tall or higher) recently!
Richard,
So what would be your #1 tip for large format printing? Anything we didn’t mention here?
Nice tips, I would recommend also the following tips for printing at large sizes.
As specified in the article use vector, be sure to convert all paths to outline strokes with a resize the line-thickness is sometimes out of bounce and creating weird results. The same goes for text, convert to paths, so nothing messes up the design.
Consider using a rip before sending it to the manufacture company, read more about rip or not to rip.
Beware of the kerning of typography, from a distance text seems more closer together, especially with bold variations. Try adding some letter-spacing to increase the legibility from a distance.
I believe stepping back from the monitor can help, but what I always do is print some letters at 100% on a inktjet and take a look at them, this is the only way to help you imagine how big it is actually going to be.
Here is a example of some work I did a couple of months ago, about 8 x 10 metres. http://www.designworkplan.com/images/ebuilding.jpg
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What a interesting post, and convenient timing! I’ve just completed twenty 1 meter x 2 meter Printed and coated Foamex Boards.
I set the artwork at one-quarter size, but unfortunately, vector output wasn’t an option, as the designs contained photography and other complicated graphical elements in the background. There were for Next Distribution, and I’ll writing a post on them which will be out next week.
@ Sander, that’s a huge print…what kind of canvas is it?
Sander,
It’s sure amazing to see your work so big isn’t it? I love it!
That is an excellent point about outlining strokes!! Thank you! Great tips on the typography too. I’ve found it difficult to gauge just how big the type will be from the monitor and you’re right, it does help to print out a few sections at size. I can top your large format print, though, with a 52 ft x 9 ft banner (approx 16m x 3 m)
Andrew,
I wrote about this subject back in April, too (this post is from my husband). If you set the art at 1/4 size, did you quadruple the final resolution, too? I bet even though a majority of your artwork was raster, you could have done the text in InDesign. I’m sure you know that it is next to impossible to do the complete banner in Photoshop–the file size is just too huge! Unless you were able to use Smart Objects? Did you have to make the boards that small because of the canvas size limitations of Photoshop? The interesting thing is, if you make the dimensions 1/4 size and quadruple the resolution, the file size is exactly the same because it still has the same amount of image info. The reason you do this bit of trickery is for working in Illustrator and/or InDesign or because the dimensions are beyond the capabilities of PS.
The first time I did a large format piece I stuck to PS, but realized later how much easier it is to put everything together in InDesign, even if it’s just doing the text in InDesign. Your text will be much cleaner in the final print and changing a couple of quick items in the text will be sooo much faster–opening, editing and saving again takes a fraction of the time.
All I’ve been working on today is a trade show display! Thanks for the tips…
Excellent, Jerrol. Some great comments too.
I don’t have much need for large-format printing these days, but have bookmarked this post and imagine I’ll direct some others here.
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@ LaurenMarie,
I set the file to normal resolution, which was 300dpi, and the file was exactly 1/4 size as per printer specification.
Yeah, the file size was a real drag in PS on my Mac, but I included the follow measures to counteract the slow down.
1. Set History to only 4 states
2. Closed other applications
3. Made myself a cup of tea while it saved
Like you stated, I could have done the text in InDesign, but there would be no point in this case, as the image Mb size would’ve been the same, and the text was part of the image.
I just did another project in InDesign, and it was a breeze just changing heading text using the Masterpages. Brilliant!
Jerrol and Lauren, this is a nice set of tips which will be very handy. Great post.
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thanks for the tips, i’m now working on a 23′x 20′ billboard, good thing i was able to read this article…
i’m having a hard time with gradient mesh, can you give me some tips. thank you
orly,
I think gradient mesh can get distorted if you blow it up too much. You might want to check out this article on the subject.
This site specializes in printing images on canvas, the site has a most helpful blog on this topic, CanasPress
Thanks everybody for the helpful words about large scale printing. But it also worries me in a way because of this:
I recently started to work with the gradient mesh tool. I made this (rather) simple design
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66543105@N00/3080379444/
with the idea to have it silkscreen printed on a big flag from 2 x 5 meters as part of an art installation.
the printer wants me to provide a vector doc of course.And yes, main problem will be the “banding” effect.On screen it looks wonderful and I can imagine the end result.
Does anybody know how to solve this problem? Is it possible with a design like this anyhow? I read about maximum sizes of gradients, do I need to construct my document differently.
As you alreay might have guessed, Im not a hardcore graphic designer, just an artist who works with graphical tools sometimes. So my skills aren’t the best developed.
I hope someone can assure me that a piece like this will be possible to produce on large scale. Maybe there is a simple solution, but i havent found it yet.
HELP~!
thanks so far for your attention.
Willum,
I’m not all that familiar with silkscreen limitations, but I don’t know that gradients are very easy to do at all, if it’s the kind of silkscreening I’m thinking of. Complicated vectors are generally not good for any kind of large format printing, either, regardless of the printing process. You’re best off asking your printer these questions as he/she is most familiar with his/her own process. Don’t be afraid to ask, it’s better for both of you if you ask before the print is made rather than be surprised with the results after.
Gradient Mesh should be ok as long as it isn’t too complicated; that image you linked to should be fine. There shouldn’t be any limitations to gradients other their complexity (like if you use multiple transparencies or layer modes), that’s pretty much the only time you run into trouble.
Try printing it scaled down and see if you notice anything, if not you should be ok. You can also try printing a few full sized pieces of just the gradient area.
Interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll likely be coming back to your blog. Keep up great writing. Have a excellent day!
Our company often has to explode small pictures for use of printing on rocks or large mural tiles. One thing we fight with is coloring…if you are not careful, odd shading will be added to the final print. Thanks much.
I’m not all that familiar with silkscreen limitations, but I don’t know that gradients are very easy to do at all, if it’s the kind of silkscreening I’m thinking of. Complicated vectors are generally not good for any kind of large format printing, either, regardless of the printing process.
thanks for the tips, i’m now working on a 23′x 20′ billboard, good thing i was able to read this article…
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