Display Board Artwork & Design Guide: How to Prepare Print-Ready Files

Quick answer: Print-ready display board artwork should be supplied as a PDF, in CMYK colour, at 300dpi resolution, with 3mm bleed on all sides, built to the exact dimensions of your chosen size and board. Shaped Display Boards additionally need a clearly marked cut line. Don't have artwork yet? Print Studio Scotland's in-house design team can build it from scratch at £35 per hour (a flat £15 for Super Size Cheques).

The Four Things Every File Needs

1. The right file format: PDF

A print-ready PDF is the standard we work from — it preserves fonts, colours and layout accurately regardless of what software created it. If your artwork is currently in Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign, export or "save as" a PDF before sending it over.

2. The right colour mode: CMYK

Screens display colour in RGB; printers reproduce colour in CMYK. If your file is built or exported in RGB, colours will shift once converted for print — often becoming duller or noticeably different from what you saw on screen, particularly with bright blues, greens and oranges. Set your document to CMYK from the start if you're designing it yourself.

3. The right resolution: 300dpi

At 300dpi (dots per inch) and full print size, images stay sharp rather than pixelating. This matters more than people expect on a display board because viewers can often stand close to it — a low-resolution logo pulled from a website will often look noticeably soft blown up to A1 or A0 size.

4. The right bleed: 3mm

Bleed is extra artwork extending 3mm beyond the final trim edge on every side. It gives the finishing process a small margin for error so you never end up with a thin white or unprinted line at the edge of your board. Any background colour, image or design element that touches the edge needs to extend into this 3mm zone.

Building to the Right Size

Every board size in our range has its own downloadable artwork template, available on the relevant product page, built to the exact dimensions and bleed for that size. Foamex, Shaped and Correx templates cover A4 up to A0; Super Size Cheque templates cover our two dedicated cheque sizes. Starting your file from the template is the easiest way to avoid a sizing mistake — see our Display Board Sizes Guide for the full chart if you haven't settled on a size yet.

Setting Up Artwork for a Shaped Board

Shaped Display Boards need one extra element: a clearly marked cut line showing exactly where the board should be cut, in addition to your design artwork, with 3mm bleed extending beyond the cut line. If you're not confident setting this up yourself, our design team can prepare the cut line for you as part of our design service.

Setting Up Artwork for a Dry-Wipe Board

If you're choosing the dry-wipe laminate option — whether on a standard Foamex board or a Super Size Cheque — leave a clear, uncluttered area for writing. Busy backgrounds or dark colours behind the writable area make dry-wipe pen text harder to read, so a lighter, simpler background works best where text will be added by hand after printing.

Common Artwork Mistakes We See

• RGB files sent as if they're CMYK. The most common cause of "why do the colours look different" queries. Convert to CMYK before exporting your final PDF.
• Web images stretched to board size. A logo pulled from a website is usually far below 300dpi at full board size. Ask whoever supplied your logo for a high-resolution vector or print file.
• No bleed included. Designs built exactly to the trim size, with no 3mm allowance, risk a thin unprinted edge after trimming.
• Missing or unclear cut line on shaped boards. Without a clearly marked cut line, we can't confirm exactly where you want the board cut — always include one, or ask our design team to add it.
• Fixing holes not accounted for. If you're adding chrome wall fixings or drilled holes, keep important design elements away from the edges and corners where holes will be positioned.

Don't Have Artwork? We'll Build It

Our in-house graphic design team creates display board artwork from scratch at £35 per hour — from a simple, clean layout using your existing logo and brand colours through to a fully bespoke shaped design with cut line included. Super Size Cheques use a set template, so design for these is a flat £15. Because design and print happen under the same roof, there's no back-and-forth between a separate agency and printer: the person designing your board understands exactly how it will print and cut. Contact us before placing your order for a quick, no-obligation quote and estimated timescale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format do you need for display board artwork?

A print-ready PDF, built in CMYK colour at 300dpi resolution with 3mm bleed on all sides, at the exact size of your chosen board.

What do I need to include for a shaped display board?

Your design artwork plus a clearly marked cut line showing the exact shape you want cut, with 3mm bleed extending beyond the cut line. Our design team can add this for you if needed.

Why do my colours look different once printed?

This is almost always caused by artwork built in RGB (the colour mode used by screens) rather than CMYK (the colour mode used for print). Converting your file to CMYK before export gives the most accurate preview of how colours will actually print.

What resolution do my images need to be?

300dpi at the final print size. An image that looks sharp on a website or in an email is very often well below this once scaled up to A1 or A0 board size.

Do you offer artwork templates for every board size?

Yes — every size across our Foamex, Shaped, Correx and Super Size Cheque ranges has its own downloadable PDF template, available on the relevant product page.

How much does your design service cost?

Our in-house graphic design team creates display board artwork at £35 per hour. Super Size Cheques use a set template, so design for these is a flat £15.

Ready to Order?

Download the template for your size from the relevant product page, browse the full display board collection, or read our Display Boards Scotland buying guide for help choosing the right product first. Need design help? Get in touch and we'll quote your artwork.