When creating your design canvas, the most important thing to remember is that your artwork should be setup at an equal proportion to the print you are ordering. For example, if your order is for a banner with a 3:1 proportion, your artwork should match or be as close as possible to this.
It’s often best to use a smaller scale. This can be in the form of a half-scale or quarter-scale as this will reduce the filesize. If your design exceeds 5m in either direction, please use a smaller scale. Adobe software and PDFs are great to use as they have an in-built limit of 5080mm for either width or height. However, some software (such as CorelDRAW), allow the creation of canvases beyond this size. Unfortunately, this will cause issues when we edit your artwork to send you a proof of how your product will look like so they should be avoided.
| Scale | Artwork Canvas Size |
| 100% (Full) Scale | 5000mm × 1000mm |
| 50% (Half) Scale | 2500mm × 500mm |
| 25% (Quarter) Scale | 1250mm × 250mm |
| 10% Scale | 500mm × 100mm |
To calculate the canvas width and height you will need for a smaller scale, simply take your full-size measurement (eg: 5000mm) and multiply it by your desired scale. We’ve included these below:
| Scale | Fraction |
| 50% (Half) Scale | 0.5 |
| 25% (Quarter) Scale | 0.25 |
| 10% Scale | 0.1 |
So, for a quarter-scale design: 5000 × 0.25 = 1250.
Bleed
All standard banner and print artworks should be supplied with at least 5mm bleed (when scaled to full-size). This will ensure your printed design can be hemmed or trimmed with no white edges showing.
Colour Mode
All artworks should be created in CMYK colour mode, this is the colour system our machines operate from. If artworks are sent to us in RGB mode we will change them into our CMYUK colour mode and inform you of the colour change. If you are unhappy with the change in colour we will work with you to ensure we get the closest colour match possible for your desired end result.
For Roller Banners
The easiest way to create your Roller Banner artwork is to use our pre-made templates, which are available for you to download from our website or can be sent to you via our sales team. These are setup at the correct proportion, and also include guides to ensure your design fits perfectly in the unit. However, if you need to create your Roller Banner canvas yourself, please make sure to get the width and height correct as these come in a variety of sizes. Roller Banners also require an additional section at the bottom of your graphic, which will be rolled into and hidden within the unit mechanism. This area is very important and can vary in size, depending on the model of unit you have chosen to purchase. For our units, the height of this area is 150mm, so typically the height of the graphic will be 2150mm. This 150mm section should be kept free from any important content (text, logos) and only used for background images and colours.
Pantone Colours
If you wish to use any Pantone colours, these must be included as embedded colours in your artwork and we request that you inform us which colours you have used.
Overprint
Please beware of setting any text or objects to overprint. As we do not proof-check artworks before printing, overprinted objects can cause serious issues and there is a chance that they may only be noticed by you when you receive the finished item.
Rich Black
To achieve the richest, deepest black possible in your design, we recommend using Pantone Process Black Coated. If you are unable to use Pantone colours, we recommend using CMYK values of 50%C, 50%M, 50%Y, 100%K. If 100%K alone is used, the richness of the black may not be satisfactory.
Outlining Text
While artworks saved as a PDF will often not cause any font issues, we request that you outline any text before sending your file(s) to us. This is usually necessary when using fonts with restrictive embedding licenses or if your design software does not natively export to PDF.
If you require hem and eyelets, we recommend allowing an inner-margin of 60mm within the perimeter area around the edge of your design. This will leave space for the weld of the hem and eyelets and should be kept free from any important content (text, logos) and only used for background images and colours.
Our standard distribution for eyelets is one in each corner with one per metre (no greater) in between. If you would like eyelets with a custom distribution or positioning, please let us know as this can be provided at no extra cost.
If you would like to use our eyelet mark to indicate where you would like eyelets placed, please use the Illustrator files below. The center of the mark should be 34mm from the edge of the design canvas. However, if you would like to use your own marks to indicate eyelet positions, please use a light-coloured circle with a border to contrast the background (if necessary). This circle should be 8mm in diameter (when scaled to full-size), and again, the center of the mark should be 34mm from the edge of the design canvas.
If you would like your design trimmed to size, please ensure the design uses the correct proportion. We need it to be supplied with the required 5mm bleed and contain crop marks to indicate to us where we will need to start cutting.
The most common confusion with pole pockets arises when some customers expect the pockets to be added to the overall size of the banner. Instead, we produce pockets inclusive of the overall size. This method requires an internal ‘pocket allowance area’, which varies in size depending on the diameter of the pole that will be used to hold the banner up.
This pocket allowance area should be used on any edge where the pole pocket will be present. In the same way as hems, we recommend this area is kept free of any important content (text, logos) and only used for background images and colours.
Below are the values for some popular pole diameters:
| Pole Diameter | Pocket Allowance Area (when scaled to full-size) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25mm | 92.5mm | ||||
| 30mm | 105mm | ||||
| 35mm | 117.5mm | ||||
| 40mm | 130mm | ||||
| 45mm | 142.5mm | ||||
| 50mm | 155mm | ||||
| 55mm | 167.5mm | ||||
| 60mm (Scaffolding) | 180mm | ||||
| 65mm | 192.5mm | ||||
| 70mm | 205mm |
If you need to calculate the pocket allowance area for a pocket of another diameter, please use this formula:
Pole Diameter × 2.5 + 30mm
This formula (and the values above) include a little extra for ‘wiggle room’, as well as an additional 30mm which will be used by the weld.
For all double-sided prints, please supply your artwork with to include at least 10mm bleed (when scaled to full size). This allows for small amounts of movement in the printing process without any white edges showing on the finished item. Please make sure that your crop mark offset is high enough that your crop marks do not overlap your bleed. This also allows for movement in the printing process and will ensure your crop marks are not visible when your graphics are finished.
We also recommend keeping any important content well within the finished size to also allow for this movement without any clipping.
Shape & Contour Cut
Artwork to be shape-cut should contain a clearly visible path that you would like us to use. Any text in your design should be outlined and any images should be embedded in the file. Each cut path must:
We process the path solely for our cutting machines – the path is not printed and so isn’t visible on your product when reproduced. Please note, cuts containing a high level of intricacy may lose accuracy on thicker materials such as our Foamex board.
We strongly prefer artworks to be supplied in PDF format, though we also accept EPS, AI, TIFF and JPG/JPEG.
When exporting your print-ready file, make sure you include your previously added bleed as well as crop marks. These will ensure the cut position of your design is correct.
Each design should be either a separate file (preferred), or a separate page within a PDF.
Each design/file should be named to include the width and height of the design, as well as a brief description, such as:
If you have an order that contains multiple designs at the same size, please also include the quantity required of each design in the filename:
One you have exported your print-ready file, we strongly advise opening and checking it yourself before sending it to us. We do provide proofs, so any hidden issues in the supplied artwork may be picked up, however please do check the file before approving.
By checking the file, you’ll be able to quickly recognise any errors and rectify them before uploading the file to us. Please note, if we receive artwork containing any issues or problems, this can delay your dispatch date.
Once you have placed your order online with us, you will be prompted to upload your files through our upload service, WeTransfer. However, if you experience any problems with WeTransfer, please email our studio team for alternative options.
If you’d like to contact us regarding your artwork, please email our studio or call us on 01634 724772 and ask to speak with a member of our studio team.
Get in touch via our contact form to find out more about how Wallace Print can help you transform your print project. Our expert account managers are on hand to provide advice, quotes, and assistance – however, and wherever you need it.
Get in touch via our contact form to find out more about how Wallace Print can help you transform your print project.