Large Format Image Preparation: The Decisions That Matter
Preparing images for banners, vehicle graphics, trade show displays and billboards.
Imogen Clarke
The key figures
- Viewing distance
- resolution requirements fall as viewing distance grows
- Scaled files
- artwork is often built at a fraction of final size
- File size
- full-size files can become impractically large
- Bleed
- large format needs generous bleed for mounting
Why this is worth getting right
Large format follows different resolution rules, and files built like print brochures become unmanageable.
Do this, not that
Do
- Ask the printer for resolution at final size
- Build at a scale factor when needed
- Include generous bleed and safety margins
- Check text legibility at viewing distance
- Supply fonts or outline them
Don’t
- Print-resolution files at billboard size
- Small text on distant displays
- Insufficient bleed for mounting
- Images upscaled from web sources
When to bring in help
Our advice Bring in help when preparing artwork for large displays.
Where this comes from
- Adobe Help Center — Photoshop User Guide
- Adobe Help Center — Illustrator User Guide
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
Working on something like this?
We take on Image Editing & Retouching work for teams who want it done once, properly. Tell us what you are building and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right studio for it. Start a project.
Where to go next
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
