Have you ever asked yourself, what is large format printing? Well, you’re not alone and we’re here to help! At Curry Printing, we consider large format, or wide format, to be anything with a width larger than 13 inches. That can include posters, banners, outdoor signage, window clings, displays, wall panels, building wraps, and so much more.
How Do I Prepare Images for a Large Format Print Job?
We want to make sure you get the best quality for any job and will gladly work with you to get the right files. For this type of printing, we prefer images at the size they will print at a DPI (dots per inch) of 150-300. What does this mean? We don’t want to take a small file, blow it up and put it on a large, printed sign. The file must be large enough to look great when printed. If you’re ever unsure about a digital file size, our expert team is happy to help.
Image Formats
Good file formats: PDF, EPS, AI, PSD, TIFF, JPEG.
Bad file formats: PNG, GIF.
The best image format for your particular project will depend on the type of print job and desired outcome. For example, PNG files are great for web graphics; they use an RGB color profile (combines red, green, and blue light to create colors), can have a transparent background, and get crisp resolution while being a small file size. PNG and GIF file formats are both RGB color profiles and not particularly good for wide format digital printing. Large format and digital printers use the CMYK color profile (combination of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). The desired file formats for large format printing have a CMYK color profile and the printed job will closely match the original file. JPEGs aren’t our favorite files, but technically will work.
Large Format Tips
Let’s ask our resident large format expert! Karen has a terrific idea to help with your large format print job. One important tip to ensuring your project’s a success is to think about how your project will be used. Will the final product need to be mounted, applied to a surface, used as outdoor signage, or hung from a structure? It’s important to consider the longevity of, and how your audience will be viewing, the large format print job. Answering these questions can help our expert team make your vision a reality.
