If you're supplying artwork for a banner print job, these are the specs that save everyone time (and prevent blurry prints).
Supply a print ready PDF at 150 DPI, CMYK colour, with 3mm bleed, 20mm safe margin, and fonts outlined or embedded. That covers 95% of banner jobs with no back and forth.
File Formats, Accepted
- PDF (preferred, fonts embedded or outlined)
- AI (Adobe Illustrator CC or earlier)
- EPS, PSD (flattened, 150 DPI at print size)
- PNG / JPG at 150 DPI or higher, full print size
Why PDF is the safest bet
A print ready PDF locks in fonts, colour profile and image data in one file. Nothing shifts between your screen and our RIP.
Resolution
For banners viewed 10+ feet away, 150 DPI at actual print size is plenty. If your file is a 1MB JPG for a 5×3ft banner, it's almost certainly too low-res.
A 1MB phone snap cannot become a 5ft banner. Resolution has to exist at the start, you can't add it later.
How to check your image size
In Photoshop, Image > Image Size. Set the width to the banner size in inches at 150 DPI. If you see an upscale warning, the file is too small.
Colour Mode, CMYK
Banner printers use CMYK inks. Convert your file to CMYK before sending. RGB files print with unexpected colours, especially reds and blues.
Bleed
Add 3mm bleed on all sides, extra image area beyond cut lines so there's no white edge if alignment shifts.
Safe Margin
Keep important text and logos at least 20mm inside the final edge. Hemming folds ~15mm, anything too close gets hidden.
Bleed and safe margin are not optional decoration. They are the difference between a sharp banner and one with chopped logos.
Fonts
Either outline all fonts (convert text to curves) or embed them in the PDF.
Quick outline check
In Illustrator, select all text, then Type > Create Outlines. Save a copy, keep the editable version for future tweaks.
Don't Have Artwork?
Send us a logo, photo, wording, and a rough idea. Our artwork service is free.
Call 020 3669 9854.
