Producing a large banner - Adobe Tools

Ask the printer - there is no set scale, they might even want you to do it full scale. I have worked anywhere from 1/48 to full scale on large signage.

They might even have a template.

peace

Mark,

As every printer/producer of such banners has their preferred workflows, and since these are not as standard as, say, offset lithography, ALWAYS ask the printer first. As Paul suggests, the more savvy producers have templates. In addition, you should be able to get mechanical specs, and have someone to speak with for any specific questions you may have.

Generally, for large-scale graphics, and especially since they are not commonly viewed from normal book-reading distance, much coarser resolution is used, and without any deterioration of the apparent sharpness of the artwork. For 11'x5' billboards going on the sides of delivery vans, I've worked at 1"=1'0" (1/12 scale) with my 300 ppi graphics effectively becoming 25 ppi. And these usually had an even coarser halftone screen applied.

For larger freestanding highway billboards or those going up on the sides of buildings, 1/48 scale or even coarser would be acceptable.

As, from the size of yours, it appears that it will probably go across a building facade, it would probably be similar to what I've described.

One general rule here: if you can keep your type as vectors (either within Photoshop or by importing your image into Illustrator, InDesign, or QuarkXPress), it will help the appearance of your text -- particularly in smaller sizes. And it will allow for easier editing.

Neil

Neil,

Are you sure about that 25ppi? 1/12 means you'd be enlarging the 300ppi 12x ( not dividing ). If you enlarge that 300ppi 2x = 150ppi, 4x = 75ppi, 5x = 37.5ppi, 6x = 18.75ppi., etc., etc. Each time you enlarge 200% to reach 1200%, you're cutting the resolution in half.

If the printer's halftone screen = 25 lpi, then your resolution = 50ppi. If you prep your banner @ 25% ( or 1/4 ), then the image resolution = 200ppi ( 200 @ 2x = 100ppi, @ 4x = 50ppi ).

John.

If you create a piece of art that is one inch square at 300 ppi, and then enlarge it 12x (to one foot square), as long as you haven't resampled the art, you have 25 ppi resolution in the new size.

For signage and billboards which are not seen from normal reading distance, you can use much lower ppi art, and it will still appear sharp from its intended viewing distance.

25 ppi is certainly not unreasonable for something that is normally seen from, say, 15 or 18 feet away, or is seen in a distracting environement where folks don't linger, such as a public corridor.

===

Your math is not calculated correctly. There is an inverse relationship between magnification and resolution.

5x enlargement: 300/5=60.
6x enlargement: 300/6=50.
12x enlargement: 300/12=25.

I wouldn't worry about the printer's lpi screen resolution here. You can print out the 25 ppi artwork with a 200 lpi screen and it would not appear any different from its appropriate viewing distance than if were printed with a 12.5 or 25 lpi screen.

Neil

Neil,

We'd better agree to disagree. My math is right on. You're essential doing division in your formulas. And your theory on line screen vs. resolution is incorrect. If you print a 25ppi image using a 200 line screen, you will be generating only 10 levels of gray ( posterization based on a 600 dpi printer ). Industry standard is 256 - 264 levels of gray.

John

You can disagree about a lot of things, but not math.

that 300ppi 2x = 150ppi, 4x = 75ppi, 5x = 37.5ppi, 6x = 18.75ppi




is wrong. It should be:

that 300ppi 2x = 150ppi, 4x = 75ppi, 8x = 37.5ppi, 16x = 18.75ppi




When you half the resolution, you double the magnification, not moving up incrementally.

That is what Neil was saying.

Don

Here's the formula I am using:

a.) 300 x 2(1) = 150 @ 200%
b.) 300 x 2(2) = 75 @ 400%
c.) 300 x 2(3) = 37.5 @ 600%
d.) 300 x 2(4) = 18.75 @ 800%
e.) 300 x 2(5) = 9.375 @ 1000%
f.) 300 x 2(6) = 4.6875 @ 1200%

In theory, every time you double the size, you cut the resolution in half ( see a. ).

To answer Mark's original post, I would set the file size 25% of the original ( or 1/4 ) @ 300ppi. This should be more than enough resolution for any printer and keeps the file manageable.

John,

Not to get argumentative...But, your math is calculated incorrectly, as well as the perceived quality of coarse-screened art from its appropriate viewing distance.

Neil

Neil and Don are correct here John - it's simpler than it seems.

Either that or I am not delivering enough resolution and I haven't had a complaint yet.

peace