| By :
Mark Etinger
When designing for large format, you must take into account the scale and quality of the original material. This not only refers to the aesthetics, but the grain and pixellation of the project. When working with design programs it is easy to get lost in the style and embellishment, while forgetting that the image will need to be crystal clear when printed. For this reason when you work with any computer graphics you want to be sure you are working with vector images. Vector images use geometric primitives, meaning they display images based on the specific lines and points, not by pixel. They can be magnified without loss of clarity because they follow mathematical patterns for their established information. Work with scales and have the printer scale it up. PPI stands for pixels per inch and DPI stands for dots per inch. Do research or ask the printer what is recommended for the size of your project. There will be noticeable differences in quality depending which proportion you choose. There is a myth that 300 ppi is ideal for printing, but that is purely in reference to small scale printing and really depends on the quality of the image. Stick to process color designs for ink printing. The four key colors are cyan, magenta, yellow, and Keystone (black). They mix together to create the colors necessary for the job. Vinyl banners, especially large ones, need clear designs so that when they print the colors they will blend properly. Keep contrast and saturation in mind when you edit levels. Make the font legible. Most likely you are having something printed that must be read from a distance. Billboard printing, for example, must always have crystal clear font. The font should be crisp at large sizes. Avoid anything too bulky, or script heavy. Use colors that stand out from the background image with the font. With the technical stuff out of the way you can focus more on the aesthetics. Use color therapy when designing. Hot colors, like orange, yellow, and red are all very noticeable. Cool colors are easier and more pleasing on the eyes. Look at how colors interact with one another. Putting color back to back can create illusions as to depth. They may also change the way each color looks. Back-to-back the colors may dull or brighten each other. Color complementing is crucial. Keep your vinyl banner or billboard simple. Give a lot of information using very little material. Avoid being wordy, avoid complicated themes. Keep it simple and you will be successful. All of these factors are important when designing for large formats.
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