Outdoor Display Artwork & Design Guide: How to Prepare Print-Ready Files
Quick answer: Print-ready artwork for any product in our Outdoor Displays range should be supplied as a PDF, in CMYK colour, at 300dpi resolution, with 3mm bleed on all sides, built to the exact size of your chosen banner. Don't have artwork yet? Print Studio Scotland's in-house design team can build it from scratch at £30 per hour.
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 and full print size, images stay sharp rather than pixelating. This matters even more outdoors than indoors, since outdoor displays are often viewed from close range as well as from a distance — a low-resolution logo that looked fine on a website will often look noticeably soft once blown up to banner 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 line at the edge of your banner. Any background colour, image or design element that touches the edge needs to extend into this 3mm zone.
Sizing Your Artwork by Product
Outdoor Banners
Build your file to the exact finished size of your chosen banner (6ft x 2ft up to 12ft x 4ft), plus 3mm bleed. Because Outdoor Banners are hemmed and eyeletted, keep important text and logos a little clear of the very edge — the hem and eyelets sit right at the border of the finished banner, so content placed too close can end up harder to read once fixed in place. Custom sizes are available; let us know your exact measurements and we'll confirm the correct artwork size to work to.
Outdoor Pop Up Banner
Each size and shape — Small and Medium Circle, Small, Medium and Large Horizontal — has its own downloadable template on the product page, built to the correct dimensions and bleed for that specific shape. Always start from the template for your chosen size rather than resizing a design built for a different shape, since circular and horizontal graphics aren't simply scaled versions of each other.
Outdoor Roller Banner
The Outdoor Roller Banner has a single downloadable template at 850mm (w) x 2305mm (h), available on the product page. Since the banner prints two graphic sides, you can supply either the same design for both sides or two different designs — just let us know which when you place your order.
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 banner size. A logo pulled from a website is usually far below 300dpi at full banner 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 or hemming.
- Key content too close to eyelets or hems. On Outdoor Banners especially, text or logos placed right at the edge can be visually crowded by the hem and eyelets once the banner is fixed in place.
- Using the wrong shape template for the Pop Up Banner. Circular and horizontal graphics need their own dedicated template — don't stretch or crop one to fit the other.
Don't Have Artwork? We'll Build It
Our in-house graphic design team creates artwork for any product in the Outdoor Displays range from scratch, charged at £30 per hour — from a simple, clean layout using your existing logo and brand colours through to a fully bespoke design. Our team will supply drafts for approval, where you can suggest any tweaks you'd like, ahead of print. Contact us before placing your order for a quick, no-obligation quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file format do you need for outdoor display 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 product and size.
Can I send a JPEG or PNG instead of a PDF?
We can generally work with high-resolution JPEG or PNG files if a PDF isn't available, but a print-ready PDF built to the correct template is always the most reliable option and reduces the risk of colour or sizing issues.
Do you have artwork templates for every outdoor product?
Yes — download links for the correct size template are available on each product page: Outdoor Banners, every shape and size of the Outdoor Pop Up Banner, and the Outdoor Roller Banner.
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.
How much does your design service cost?
Our in-house graphic design team creates artwork for any outdoor display at £30 per hour, with drafts supplied for approval before anything goes to print. Contact us before ordering for a quick quote.
Can the Outdoor Roller Banner have a different design on each side?
Yes — it includes two printed graphic sides, so you can supply the same design for both or two completely different designs.
Ready to Order?
Download the template for your product and size from the relevant product page, browse the full Outdoor Displays collection, or read our Outdoor Displays Scotland buying guide for help choosing the right product first. Need design help? Get in touch and we'll quote your artwork.