Print files
How many DPI for large-format printing
In large-format printing the required resolution depends on the viewing distance. A fence banner viewed from a few metres is fine at 100 DPI, a billboard seen from the street at 30–50 DPI, and a wall mural in a room at 100–150 DPI.
- Fence banner
- 72–100 DPI
- Roll-up, display wall
- 100–150 DPI
- Wall mural, canvas
- 100–150 DPI
- Billboard
- 30–50 DPI
Why less than 300 DPI is enough
From a few metres the eye cannot tell apart dots 0.25 mm apart (100 DPI). A 300 DPI file for a 3 × 1 m banner would be 35,433 × 11,811 px and several hundred megabytes, with no visible difference in print.
Example: a 300 × 100 cm banner at 100 DPI is an 11,811 × 3,937 px file. With 2 cm bleed on each side: 304 × 104 cm, i.e. 11,969 × 4,094 px.
Vectors instead of pixels
Texts, logos and shapes are best left as vectors in the PDF. They are sharp at any scale and do not inflate the file. Resolution only applies to photos and raster graphics. In the kreatorproduktow.pl designer a vector PDF keeps texts as vectors, and for bitmaps you set 150 DPI for banners in the template.
Frequently asked questions
Is 72 DPI enough for a banner?
For a banner viewed from a few metres, usually yes. Up close, e.g. at a trade show stand, 100–150 DPI is better.
How large can a banner file be?
Many RIP programs have limits, e.g. tens of thousands of pixels per side. The kreatorproduktow.pl designer creates files up to 12,000 px on the longer side, which is why very large formats use a lower DPI.
What about small text on a banner?
Text in a vector PDF is sharp regardless of DPI. Too small text will simply be unreadable from afar: on a banner viewed from 5 m, letters should be at least a few centimetres tall.
See also
Try the designer on your own products
30 days free, no card and no automatic payments. Standard costs 58 EUR net per month, Premium 80 EUR. One shop and one order system are included.