Most large-format print problems trace back to an artwork file that wasn't set up for the final print size, not to anything that happens on the print floor. Here's what we check before a job goes to print.

Resolution should match viewing distance, not screen habits

A file that looks sharp on screen at 72dpi can look pixelated once printed several metres wide. As a rule of thumb, resolution requirements drop the further away a sign is meant to be viewed from — a bus stop poster needs far higher resolution than a building-scale banner viewed from across the road.

Bleed and safe margins aren't optional extras

Bleed around the edge of the artwork stops trimming from leaving a thin white border. Keep important text and logos clear of the very edge too, in case of slight movement during cutting or fitting.

CMYK, not RGB

Files designed on screen are usually set up in RGB, which doesn't translate directly to print. Convert to CMYK before sending artwork over and you avoid colour shifting between what you see on screen and what comes out printed.

Logos need to be vector, not a website screenshot

A vector logo — AI, EPS or vector PDF — scales cleanly to any size. A low-resolution raster logo pulled from a website will look soft or blocky printed large, so it's worth tracking down the original vector file rather than reusing whatever's on the homepage.

Confirm the substrate before you lock in colours

Different substrates — vinyl banner, mesh, fabric, rigid board — can affect how colours print, particularly with backlit or perforated materials. We'll confirm the material choice before you finalise colours if it's likely to make a visible difference.

Ready to send artwork over?

Send us the file as it stands and we'll flag anything that needs fixing — resolution, bleed, colour mode — before it holds up production.