If you send low resolution artwork to a banner printer, the final banner will look blurry, pixelated, or soft. From a distance it might look OK; up close it'll look like a bad enlargement. Here's exactly what goes wrong and how to fix it.
What "Low Resolution" Means
Resolution = dots per inch (DPI) at print size. Banner printing needs at least 150 DPI at the final banner dimensions.
Quick test: if your file is a 500 KB JPG and your banner is 5ft x 3ft, it's almost certainly too low res. A correctly sized 150 DPI file for that banner would be 20 40 MB.
What Your Banner Will Actually Look Like
200+ DPI at size PERFECT
Sharp lines, crisp text, smooth photo edges. You can read text at any distance.
150 DPI at size GOOD
Our standard target. Looks sharp at normal viewing distance (6ft+). Unless you press your nose against it, you won't notice.
100 DPI at size OK at distance
Starts to look slightly soft. Fine for a banner viewed from 20+ feet (shop front, roadside). Not fine for a birthday banner you'll stand next to.
72 DPI at size BAD
Pixelated. You can see individual squares of colour. Text edges look stepped.
Below 72 DPI UNPRINTABLE
Responsible printers refuse this. Cheap printers will print it anyway and send you a blurry banner.
Why It Happens (Common Causes)
- Image downloaded from Facebook or Instagram they compress images heavily
- Screenshot used as artwork screenshots are typically 72 DPI
- Logo from a website web images are optimised for small sizes
- Photo from 10+ years ago old phones had low megapixel counts
- Google Images search result usually small thumbnails
How BPSD Handles Low Res Files
When we receive a low res file, we don't silently print it. Our process:
- Flag it immediately we email you within the hour
- Show a sample we explain what it'll look like if printed as is
- Offer alternatives:
- Redesign from scratch (free with any order)
- Source a higher res version of the same logo/image
- Recreate the design in vector format (lossless at any size)
- Get your approval nothing prints without sign off
Full file specs: artwork file specs for banner printing.
How to Avoid the Problem
- Request vector files from designers .AI or .EPS files scale to any size without quality loss
- Use original photos from the original device not downloaded and re uploaded
- If using a logo, ask the brand for their "print ready" version most have one
- Don't upscale in Photoshop unless you have no choice AI upscalers (like Topaz) are slightly better but still limited
Photos Specifically
Related: can you print photos on a banner yes, here's how.
Still Not Sure?
Email your file to hello@bannerprintingsameday.co.uk before ordering. We'll tell you honestly if it'll print sharp, and if not we'll help you fix it free, no obligation.
Or call 020 3669 9854.
