Designing for large format printing - help please!

Casseopia · 01-30-2011, 04:56 PM

Hello all!

I'm new to the forum (but have a feeling I'm about to become a very persistant regular!)

I'm lucky enough to have got an amazing new full-time design job and I can cope with most of what needs to be done. However - one area I'm pretty inexperienced in is designing for large format printing.

This week I was asked to design a 3.8 metre wide pop-up stand. I have the spec and have designed to the dimensions stated. However - not having designed at this size before, I was wondering if anyone has any advice of what I should be aware of? Am terrified it will print and there may be mistakes it's impossible to hide from at that size!

Am wondering about things like RGB vs CYMK, resolutions, that fact that I'm designing in Photoshop not Illustrator (It's what I've always used and I know I need to start using illustrator but there was no time for this job)

Thanks in advance.
P

hank_scorpio · 01-30-2011, 05:39 PM

Several threads on this already. Check the Search funciton and type in Large Format

Casseopia · 01-30-2011, 05:44 PM

OK - thanks, I will do...

P

hank_scorpio · 01-30-2011, 05:51 PM

On the CMYK Vs RGB - talk with the printers - they can advise you on what colour mode to deliver.

<b> · 01-30-2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eugenetyson

talk with the printers

For that matter, talk to the printer about the whole thing. They might have advice on resolutions, bleeds, color settings, etc.

For example, putting the words "large format" and "Photoshop" into the same sentence immediately brings up the issue of HUGE file size. Last week, I sent off a 2-gig Photoshop file to a specialty printer for use on a large trade show fabric background. The printer had some specific templates and file preparation instructions, so it was important that I talked to them before diving into it — it saved lots of time, effort and money.

Casseopia · 01-30-2011, 06:21 PM

Thanks for that guys. Problem was, I was asked to do all this in a couple of days, and at this point they hadn't even chosen the print shop! I had a spec to work with that said nothing about delivery method or resolution. And to top it all - I have only just started work as a designer with this company and was only just getting to grips with their design elements and ethos.

I said yes to the job not thinking there would be so much to consider.

They would ideally like me to send this to the printers tomorrow pm. My worry is that I have designed at too high a resolution (300dpi) in Photoshop and that I'll have to start again. Aaagghhh!

Best I can do I guess is keep trawling the forums (am doing that now) for tips, call the printers first thing and hope a day is enough to re-jig the file for what they need.

Talk about in at the deep end!

Thanks for all the help so far. Not only great advice but it's calming me down to know I'm not alone here!

<b> · 01-30-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casseopia

My worry is that I have designed at too high a resolution (300dpi) in Photoshop and that I'll have to start again. Aaagghhh!

Often, large-format printing doesn't need to be razor sharp since it's often meant to be seen from a distance. That being the case, the resolution can often be below 300 ppi. The printer should be able to give you feedback on that, and if they say, for example, that 150 ppi is fine for what they do, sampling it down to that should work, and shouldn't set you back at all. And really, even if you do send them more data in the file than needed (300 ppi as opposed to something less), it shouldn't really matter.

Casseopia · 01-30-2011, 06:42 PM

Thanks <b>. I have just learned from trawling the forums that a lower res is fine for a large format print (I have been working with a 1.73 Gb file for a couple of days - what an idiot! Luckily I have a Mac with good processing power.)

I will definitely talk to the printer first thing.

I have much to learn and need to get up to speed PDQ. Thank God for this forum!!!

hank_scorpio · 01-30-2011, 07:00 PM

For the record I actually searched the forums and put together a list of threads for you - but the internet connection went as I hit reply and I lost them all. Being Sunday I was too lazy to get them altogether again.

Casseopia · 01-30-2011, 07:09 PM

LOL - I don't blame you. Thanks for the thought.

As it goes, am typing this in my pyjamas with my head nearly touching the keyboard and dreaming of my pillow.

I was so joyous when I got this high profile job, now I'm beginning to wonder what the hell I'm in for! A vertically steep learning curve with hopefully no mistakes, lots of late nights and getting to know you all on this forum it seems!

So brilliant that people are willing to share their hard-earned knowledge.