Artwork Requirements for Print
Send vector or high-resolution raster files where you can. I check files before print and tell you honestly if something will not hold up at banner size. No obligation.
Backdrop Artwork: What I Look For
Band backdrops and banners follow the 2026 Band Backdrop Hot Sheet artwork guidance. The same rules apply whether you are printing a pub banner or a festival backdrop.
- Good artwork makes a big difference on a backdrop.
- Artwork that looks fine on a phone screen may not scale to a large backdrop.
- Vector artwork is preferred because it scales cleanly.
- High-resolution raster images can also work.
- As a guide, raster images should be around 100–150 DPI at full print size.
- CMYK is ideal, but not a deal breaker.
- If you are unsure, send me what you have and I'll tell you what can be done.
- You can send ideas, images, or hand-drawn art.
Preferred File Formats
- PDF (preferred for most jobs)
- Adobe Illustrator AI or EPS (vector)
- High-resolution PNG or JPG at final print size
Raster vs Vector: Why It Matters
Raster images (photos, JPG, PNG) are made of coloured pixels. They look fine until you stretch them beyond their native size; then edges go soft and blocky.
Vector images (AI, EPS, outlined PDF) use lines and curves. They scale to any banner width without losing detail, which is ideal for logos and clean graphics.
I often redraw a supplied raster logo as vector when a band wants it huge on a gig backdrop. That is normal, not a criticism of your file.
Raster vs vector: vector scales cleanly to banner size
- Photos for banners need to be BIG: high resolution at the size you want printed
- A logo saved from a website is rarely enough for a 2–3 m backdrop
- If you are unsure, email what you have before you order
Resolution and Bleed
Banner-sized art needs real pixels or vector shapes. I print CMYK; neon RGB screen colours may shift.
- Target roughly 100–150 DPI at final print size for raster work
- Add about 50 mm bleed on full-bleed designs
- Outline live text in vector files when possible
- Include fonts or convert text to outlines in native AI files
Logo Only? That Is Fine
Many band and business jobs start with a logo and a plain-English description. I lay out the banner and email proofs before production. On business jobs I'll go through proofs with you until you are happy to print.
- Send the best logo file you have (vector preferred)
- Say what text must appear (band name, tagline, phone, web)
- Note if artwork must match an existing backdrop or banner job
“Ask Steve for a price, gave him a copy of the bands logo. Steve provided a refreshed version of our logo which was fantastic which I accepted, purchased a 4m x 2m band banner & received it yesterday, all I can say is I am impressed. Steve also went out of his way to help me with additional logos that he did not have to do. I cannot say enough about the service.”
— Sam McCaughey, The Blue Shamrocks
Common Mistakes
- Stretching a small logo to full backdrop width
- RGB neon colours that cannot print faithfully in CMYK
- Missing fonts when sending native Illustrator files
- Low-resolution phone photos of printed posters used as source art
- Too much text on business banners. Keep the message short
Unsure If Your File Is Ready?
Email what you have. I'll tell you if it is workable before you order.