Tobias Reed Production Knowledge Lead at 4OVER4.COM
Tobias is our voice for cutting, binding and large format, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What file format should I use when submitting banner artwork?
Answer
A print-ready PDF is the best format for banner artwork. It locks in your fonts, colors, and resolution without the compression that degrades other formats, which matters a lot when a file is scaled up to banner size.
- PDF (preferred): preserves vectors, fonts, and layout with no quality loss.
- TIFF: a solid high-quality raster alternative when PDF is not an option.
- Avoid JPEG on large banners: compression artifacts become visible once the image is enlarged.
| Setting | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Color mode | CMYK |
| Resolution | 150 DPI at full size (300 for close-up) |
| Bleed | Per the product template |
- Outline or embed fonts so nothing reflows during preflight.
- Build the file at full print scale to keep resolution accurate.
- Include the bleed specified in the template so trimming never leaves white edges.
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