To send artwork for flex or banner printing, export a print PDF (or CDR, AI or EPS) at the exact finished size or to scale, in CMYK, with fonts converted to curves and any photos at a resolution suited to the viewing distance. Large files go by email or a Drive link rather than WhatsApp. Get these right and your proof will match your design, with no surprises on the print.
Which file formats work best
| Format | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| PDF (print quality) | Almost everything; keeps vectors and fonts | Export as high quality print, not the smallest file size |
| CDR (CorelDRAW) | Very common in Pune print shops | Mention the CorelDRAW version; convert text to curves |
| AI / EPS | Logos and vector layouts | Outline fonts and embed linked images |
| TIFF / high-quality JPG | Photo-heavy designs | Must be large enough; avoid re-saving JPG many times |
| PNG | Logos with transparency, small items | Rarely large enough for a big banner |
| Word, PowerPoint, WhatsApp image | Rough reference only | Usually needs to be rebuilt for print |
A Canva design is fine if you download it as PDF Print at the full size. A screenshot or a WhatsApp-forwarded image loses most of its detail, so send the original file.
Banner printing resolution: DPI and viewing distance
For a business card you need 300 DPI because it is read at arm’s length. A banner is read from metres away, so the eye cannot see that much detail, and the file can be much lighter. This is the key idea in large-format work: the further away people stand, the lower the DPI you need at full size.
| Item | Typical viewing distance | Resolution at full size |
|---|---|---|
| Standee, poster, counter banner | 1–3 ft | 150 DPI |
| Wall graphics, shop board read across a shop | 3–10 ft | 100–150 DPI |
| Event banner, stage backdrop | 10–30 ft | 72–100 DPI |
| Hoarding, building banner | 30 ft and more | 30–72 DPI |
A quick check: multiply the print size in inches by the DPI. A 6 × 3 ft banner is 72 × 36 inches; at 100 DPI that is a 7,200 × 3,600 pixel image. If your photo is 1,200 pixels wide, it will look soft when stretched to 6 ft.
Logos and text should be vector (CDR, AI, EPS or PDF). A small JPG logo blown up to 6 ft will look blurred however good the printer is.
Colour mode: CMYK, not RGB
Screens show colour in RGB light; printers lay down CMYK ink. Bright screen greens, oranges and blues often print duller because the ink cannot reach them. Design in CMYK if your software allows. If you have a brand colour that must match, tell us the CMYK values or send a printed sample, and check it on the proof.
For deep, rich black on large areas, a “rich black” mix prints better than plain 100% K. For small text, use plain black so it stays crisp.
Bleed, safe margins and eyelets
- Bleed: extend background colour or images 1–2 inches past the edge, so trimming leaves no white line.
- Safe margin: keep text and logos at least 2–3 inches inside the edge on banners, more on hoardings.
- Eyelets and pockets: remember the edges will carry eyelets or a folded pocket. Do not place phone numbers there.
- Frames: if the flex wraps around a frame, add the wrap to every side and keep it plain.
Fonts: convert to curves
If the font you used is not on our system, the file will open with a substitute and your layout will shift. Before exporting, convert all text to curves (CorelDRAW) or outlines (Illustrator). In a PDF, make sure fonts are embedded. Keep an editable copy for yourself, because outlined text cannot be retyped.
Marathi and Hindi text
Devanagari is where most file problems happen. Matras and conjuncts (like क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ) can break when a file is opened on another computer, especially with older non-Unicode fonts. Always convert Marathi and Hindi text to curves, and read every word on the proof. In Maharashtra, shop name boards need the name in Marathi, so this matters for most shop sign boards.
Working to scale for big prints
Very large designs make very heavy files. For hoardings and backdrops, it is normal to design at a fixed scale, such as 1:10 (a 40 × 20 ft hoarding set up as 48 × 24 inches) with images at 10 times the target DPI. Tell us the scale when you send the file. Make sure the aspect ratio of your artboard matches the final size; our banner size guide lists common ratios.
Sending big files
- WhatsApp is fine for small files and for discussing the job. It compresses images, so send print files as a document, not as a photo.
- For larger files, email red3mediaofficial@gmail.com or share a Google Drive or WeTransfer link.
- Name the file with your name, size and quantity, for example sharma-clinic-10x4ft-1pc.pdf.
- Zip a folder if you are sending linked images with an AI or CDR file.
Mistakes we see most often
| Mistake | What happens on the print | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Logo copied from a website or WhatsApp | Blurred, jagged edges | Ask your designer for the vector logo (CDR, AI, PDF) |
| Design made at A4 and stretched | Soft text and pixelated photos | Set the artboard to the final size or a true scale |
| Wrong orientation or ratio | Stretched layout or empty strips | Match width × height to the ordered size |
| Text right at the edge | Cut off or hidden by eyelets | Keep a safe margin of 2–3 inches |
| Fonts not converted | Wrong font, broken Marathi | Convert to curves before export |
| Thin light text on a busy photo | Unreadable from a distance | Add a solid band behind the text |
| Very bright RGB colours | Duller print than the screen | Design in CMYK and check the proof |
Each of these shows up on the proof if you look for it, which is one more reason to read the proof at full zoom on your phone before approving.
No design file? That is fine
Send your text, logo and any photos, with the size, and we can set a layout for you. You will see it on the proof before anything is printed. To get started, attach what you have to the quote form.