Excited to get started on your large format artwork? We understand. The creative process can be great fun, and it’s even better when the design comes together. That said, designs set for large format print often need some extra care before they're ready.
In this guide, we look at getting your file ready to go. Discover which software and file types we recommend, plus important info about scaling, resolution, and much more!
For general design help, see our 10 large format design tips.
1. Choose the right design program
If you have a graphic designer, they’ll know exactly which tools to use. But what if you’re a keen amateur? It all depends on skill level. If you have some experience with design work, your best bets will be Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Affinity Designer. These allow for vector handling and come with a suite of print-ready features.
If you’re completely new to large format print, then Canva and Adobe Express can still work – just be sure to export your file at high resolution.
Bonus tip: Customising a poster, banner, wall graphic, or other product? Try the FREE design tool at the Raccoon store. Just select your item and get designing; the canvas is already set up for you!
2. Design at full size (or a logical scale)
We recommend setting your large format artwork at 100% scale. This keeps the proportions exact and avoids scaling errors, and most projects can be safely worked on at this size. If, however, your file would be too large to comfortably work on, then consider designing at 50%, 25% or 10%.
Keep proportions locked for consistency and to avoid problems as you work. You can include a note in the file name stating it’s at 50% scale so your printing team knows what you want.
Bonus tip: While we’re discussing setup, don’t forget to label your layers clearly. Descriptive names like ‘Artwork’ and ‘Spot White’ rather than ‘Layer 1’ will clarify what each layer is for and may speed up the pre-print checks.
3. Set the right resolution
Inks are printed as dots per inch (dpi), and while magazines are typically produced at 300dpi for close-up reading, large format prints are seen from a distance and require fewer dots to look sharp. 100-150 dpi at full size is ideal, and anything higher will just increase the file size without real improvements.
Logos, illustrations and patterns are best created as vectors. These stay clean and crisp no matter how much they’re resized, making them perfect for large format artwork.
Bonus tip: You don’t want a low-quality image to drag down your design! So, any PNG or JPG image you import should be at least 100dpi so it looks great when printed.
4. Design in CMYK colour mode
If you’ve ever designed for a website, then you’ve likely designed in RGB colour mode. RGB is specifically for screens, however, so it doesn’t translate well to print. In fact, the printer looks for the colour’s nearest match – leading to varied tones that fail to capture your brand.
Start your large format artwork in CMYK colours and keep it that way to avoid unexpected shifts when printing. If you have specific Pantone colours that you want used instead, simply let us know for perfect spot ink matching.
5. Master bleed and safe zones
Adding a bleed extends the background past the trim line, so there’s no unwanted white frame to your design – which could otherwise detract from your message.
Because anything in the bleed will be trimmed away, keep important design elements inside the trim or ‘cutting’ line. We suggest a bleed of 3-5 mm for posters, and 20-50 mm for banners and vehicle wraps.
A safe zone is the margin inside your trim line, used for key text, logos and other graphics. We suggest a safe zone of at least 20 mm for large format print, just to be safe.
Bonus tip: Consider how your print will be mounted. Is your poster going into a frame that will cover its edges, or will your banner have eyelets or stitching that could obscure your content?
6. Outline your fonts into vectors
Using special fonts that align with your brand guidelines? There’s a chance our system won’t have access to them. By outlining your fonts when you’re done designing, you turn them into vectors that work at any size and can be seen by anyone who sees the design file.
This small detail can help speed up the printing process, as it’ll mean less back and forth with your large format print supplier (read our ebook to understand why you need one!). It also ensures there's no replacement text where your preferred font should be!
Bonus tip: Outlining fonts should be one of the last design steps, as you won’t be able to edit them once you do. Save a copy of the file beforehand, just in case you want to make further edits.
7. Supply a print-ready PDF (not just a PNG!)
The last thing you should ever do is send your artwork as a simple PNG file. This will only lose quality as it’s scaled up, making for a print that’s blurry, pixelated, and absolutely not what you’re after. Instead, it’s often best to export as a PDF file.
PDF is the recommended format, as the whole design will look sharp when printed and all fonts and images will be safely packaged together – removing the need for extra steps in most cases. However, we do accept a vast array of file types, including TIFF, EPS, and INDD.
8. Provide a visual reference
If you have a very specific vision and want to ensure the end result looks perfect, send over a scaled-down proof or mock-up that shows your design in context. This can help catch scaling errors, alignment issues, and any missing elements before printing.
While you’re at it, give your large format artwork a final check. Spelling mistakes are easy to miss, and it’s worth looking at your design with fresh eyes before it goes to print.
Bonus tip: Ask friends, family, or colleagues to check your artwork too. They might catch simple mistakes, and they could just think of ways to take your design to the next level!
Let’s get your artwork printed
With your artwork set up correctly, it’s time to make your print a reality. If you have an activation or retail fitout in mind, start your enquiry and book a discovery call so we can get your project moving.
For one-off products, visit the Raccoon branding store. Here, you just choose your product, then either upload your finished artwork or create it from scratch with the FREE online design tool.
Choose from posters, rigid media, window graphics, event furniture, and a growing list of sustainable items. Just hit the button to get started, or get in touch to book your discovery call.
