Artwork guidelines
How to set up your file for banners, signs and stickers.
Last updated
Good artwork makes a good print. Follow these guidelines and your order goes through quickly. We check every file will print well, and if something is not right we will tell you before we print.
Artwork guidelines: print-ready checklist #
- PDF at the finished size (or exact scale), one page per design.
- 3 mm bleed on every edge of rigid signs and boards, with text at least 10 mm inside the trim.
- CMYK colour, with Pantone references for brand colours.
- 150 to 300 dpi at the finished size: 300 dpi for small items read close up, 100 to 150 dpi is enough for large banners.
- Fonts outlined (converted to curves) or embedded.
- Safe areas respected: 50 mm clear of hems and eyelets on banners, the bottom 150 to 200 mm of a roller banner kept free of text.
File types #
PDF is best, with fonts embedded or converted to outlines. We also accept AI, EPS and SVG, and high resolution JPG, PNG or TIFF. Word, PowerPoint and Canva files are fine as a starting point, but please export a PDF at full quality if you can.
Size and resolution #
- Set your document to the finished size you ordered, or to exact scale (for example 1:10 for a large banner).
- Large format items viewed from a distance, such as banners, hoardings and roller banners: 100 to 150 dpi at full size is enough.
- Small items viewed close up, such as safety signs, stickers and labels: 300 dpi at full size.
- Logos and text work best as vector artwork, which stays sharp at any size.
Colour #
Supply artwork in CMYK where possible. RGB files are converted to CMYK for print, which can make very bright greens, blues and oranges look slightly duller. If you need an exact brand colour, give us the Pantone reference and we will match it as closely as the material allows.
Bleed and safe areas #
- Rigid boards and signs (Foamex, Dibond, Correx): add 3 mm bleed on every edge and keep text at least 10 mm inside the trim.
- PVC and mesh banners with hems and eyelets: keep text and logos at least 50 mm from every edge, because the hem folds over and eyelets are punched close to the edge.
- Roller banners: the bottom 150 to 200 mm can be hidden by the base or a table. Keep important content out of it.
- Flags: keep content away from the pole sleeve side.
Common sizes to set up #
Set the document to the finished size and add the bleed on top. These are the sizes most orders use.
| Product | Finished size | Document size with 3 mm bleed |
|---|---|---|
| A4 sign or board | 210 x 297 mm | 216 x 303 mm |
| A3 sign or board | 297 x 420 mm | 303 x 426 mm |
| A2 sign or board | 420 x 594 mm | 426 x 600 mm |
| A1 sign or board | 594 x 841 mm | 600 x 847 mm |
| Roller banner 850 mm | 850 x 2000 mm | Finished size; keep the bottom 150 to 200 mm clear |
| 6ft x 3ft banner | 1829 x 914 mm | Finished size; keep text 50 mm from the edges |
| 8ft x 4ft banner | 2438 x 1219 mm | Finished size; keep text 50 mm from the edges |
Large banners can be designed to scale, for example 1:10, as long as the proportions match the size you ordered.
Text #
For signs read from a distance, use a simple bold typeface and good contrast. As a sign-trade rule of thumb, allow about 25 mm of capital letter height for every 3 metres of viewing distance. Check every spelling, phone number and web address before you order. We print what you approve.
Need help? #
No print-ready file? Every product has an Artwork choice: upload your own file (free file check), or pick a fixed-price design option: typesetting, design from your brief, a logo redraw or a new logo. The fee shows as its own line in your basket and covers the whole quantity of that item. You can also book the Artwork & Design Service on its own, or contact us and our designers will set your file up.
These artwork guidelines apply to every product. For help choosing a size first, see our guides to what size banner you need and roller banner sizes.