What artwork resolution do banners and large signs need?
Large format is viewed from a distance, so 100 to 150 DPI at final size is plenty for banners and signs, versus 300 DPI for stickers. Add 0.5 in bleed, keep text 2 in inside the edge on banners with grommets, and send vector artwork whenever you can.
| Banner / sign resolution | 100-150 DPI at final size |
|---|---|
| Sticker resolution | 300 DPI at final size |
| Bleed | 0.5 in on banners and rigid signs |
| Safe area | 2 in from the edge where grommets or hems land |
| Preferred files | PDF, AI, EPS, SVG; high-res PNG or JPG accepted |
Resolution, honestly
A 300 DPI file for a 4 x 8 ft banner would be enormous and pointless. Large graphics are read from many feet away, so:
| Product | Resolution at final size |
|---|---|
| Stickers and labels | 300 DPI |
| Rigid signs read up close (lobby, ADA) | 150 DPI |
| Banners and yard signs | 100-150 DPI |
| Very large fence and building banners | 72-100 DPI is acceptable |
Vector beats everything
A logo supplied as PDF, AI, EPS or SVG scales to any size with no quality loss. If all you have is a raster logo, send the largest version you own and we will tell you whether it holds up. Do not upscale it yourself in Photoshop; that adds pixels, not detail.
Bleed and safe area
- Bleed: 0.5 in beyond the trim on banners and rigid signs.
- Safe area: keep text and logos at least 2 in from the edge on banners. Hems fold the outer edge and grommets punch through it.
- On yard signs, keep content clear of the bottom few inches where the stake legs sit and grass may cover it.
Color
Design in CMYK. Send Pantone references for brand colors. Large solid areas of a critical brand color are the case where asking for a printed sample first is genuinely worth it.
If you do not have artwork
Use the banner designer to build it from a template, or send us your content and logo and our team will lay it out.