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Wide Format Banners and Posters

Guide to File Preparation for Wide Format Printing

Printing Services offers Wide Format, full color printing from an Epson 10,000 printer. It is a 44-inch wide, 6-color printer (CMYK with an additional light cyan and light magenta) that utilizes archival-quality inks, which do not fade, even in direct sunlight. This printer will run a large selection and styles of paper stock. Listed below is a small sample of what is available.

While in the planning stages of designing your wide format project, please feel free to contact Printing Services at 869-0164 or by e-mail at http://printingservices@missouristate.edu/ We will be more than happy to help you determine what would best fit your application and imaging needs.

Please make sure to follow Missouri State University's Identity guidelines for logo usage. You can find these guidelines at http://www.missouristate.edu/identity/default.htm

Wide Format Paper Stocks

  • Double Weight Matte – heavy matte paper, good for indoor use and short outdoor use — will last longer outside when laminated.
  • Premium Luster – same as Double Weight Matte, but with a gloss finish. Great for photographs.
  • Scrim Vinyl – great for outdoor usage, very durable, high tear strength even in windy conditions. Only comes in a 42" width.
  • Canvas – artist canvas with a printable surface. Gives your project that extra touch of class. Can be used indoors.
  • Coated Bond – lightweight matte proofing paper. Good for indoor uses. Can be used outdoors if laminated.
  • Fine Art Paper – archival, museum-quality paper that comes in a smooth or textured finish.
  • Backlit Film – used with display frames that have back lighting.

Recommended File Formats

Printing Services highly recommends Adobe software applications Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign. Microsoft software applications Word, PowerPoint and Publisher, as well as PDF files are acceptable. All projects created utilizing Microsoft applications should be designed to ensure a color is chosen for the font . Do not use "automatic" as the font color. Using the "automatic" color feature creates your text in RGB and will screen and your fonts and make them appear pixilated(jagged).

Please include a laser print of each file.

Listed below are guidelines for each software application.

File Size

If the finished size of your file is more than 36 inches long, it will need to be created at half size. If the finished size is more than 72 inches long, the file will need to be submitted at 1/3 or 1/4 size. Ensure to reduce dimensions of your document proportionately to have it produce correctly, while keeping the resolution of any images high enough to reproduce at full size. Any file with a finished size less than 36 inches can be submitted at full size. Improper sizing of your file will increase production time and costs.

For Example:

  • Finished size is 72 inches x 24 inches; the file should be made 36 inches x 12 inches.
  • Finished size is 84 inches x 24 inches; the file should be made 1/3 size at 28 inches x 8 inches.
  • Finished size is 24 inches x 36 inches; the file can be submitted at full size.

Types of files accepted

InDesign: InDesign is the best software program to use to create your banner or poster, since it is an actual page layout program and works well, providing more than one option when we convert your file to run on the wide format printer. By using InDesign we can adjust and correct your document as needed with minimal difficulty. To submit an InDesign file, please utilize the "Package" feature that will provide: 1) a digital copy of your InDesign document [.indd]; 2) copies of the fonts used in your document; and 3) links for any artwork, logos and photos within the project.

Illustrator: When submitting an Illustrator file, be sure to include a digital folder on your disk containing: 1) your original file; 2) a folder labeled "Fonts" which, will contain a copy of the fonts that you used in your document; and 3) a folder labeled links which will contain your artwork used (illustrations, photos, etc.). The text also can be converted to outline and the photos may be embedded. Please note that we cannot make changes or fix files once type is converted and photos are embedded. At this point, any corrections would require the customer to submit an updated file. Often times we can improve the resolution on low-resolution photos, so it is recommended that the photos be submitted as links rather than embedded, unless you have adjusted the resolution to your satisfaction before submitting the file. We recommend a resolution of 300 dpi or larger. Illustrator files can be submitted as either an Illustrator document (.ai) or as an encapsulated postscript (.eps) file.

Photoshop: Photoshop files work well, but only when saved as tiff files with layers. Changes and corrections may only be made to the original Photoshop document and then saved as a tiff file. Please provide on disk the original Photoshop document (.psd), as well as the document saved as a tiff (.tif) file. If using the official University maroon (PMS 505), you should ensure the ink values are correct before bringing the file to Printing Services. The correct ink values are cyan-0%; magenta-100%; Yellow- 65%; and Black- 75%. We can only edit the ink values in an actual Photoshop document (.psd).

Press quality PDFs also may be used, however some images or logos may require higher resolution so that they will produce banners and posters of a higher quality. The resolution cannot be changed once the file has been saved only as a pdf. Please check your PDF file and make sure it is correct before submitting it for printing.

Jpeg files can be used. They are better when saved as tiff files with layers. Changes cannot be made once the file is flattened, so be sure and bring a copy of your original Photoshop file.

Word files can be used, but there are many problems with copy repositioning itself when moved from one computer to another. Please bring both your Word file and a PDF of your word file.

PowerPoint: Bring both a hard copy and an electronic copy of your PowerPoint project saved as a tiff file. One consideration when printing posters and banners from PowerPoint is that the type will sometimes appear pixilated (jagged) up close, but generally not so much as to detract from the overall appearance of the poster. Text will sometimes shift position on PowerPoint files, so care should be taken when converting a file to a tiff from PowerPoint. Please proofread your final file carefully before bringing the file to Printing Services. This is one reason that we ask for a copy of the original PowerPoint file, in case we need to make adjustments.

Publisher files are not recommended. There will be an additional charge for working with Publisher files. Unfortunately, we also cannot guarantee the quality of the finished product when using a file that was created in Publisher.

Upon submission, all Microsoft files (Word, PowerPoint and Publisher) must be opened and tested within Printing Services before a production schedule and delivery date can be given. The normal production time for wide format projects is 5-working days. The finishing options listed below can add 2 to 3 days to the production cycle. Shorter production times are possible, however, the Printing Services Manager must provide approval.

Any additional time spent by Printing Services' staff color correcting, resizing or reworking your file will incur an additional charge and delay production.

Finishing Options Available

  • Lamination
  • Mount to Gator or Foam board
  • Grommets
  • Drapery weights
  • Rod Sleeve that allows a dowel rod to slip threw to hang or carry your banner.
  • Protective sealant
  • Twist and Turn Ceiling hooks and hangers

Wide Format Check List

  • Make sure file is proper size for final output.
  • Include fonts, links and laser printouts with file.
  • Make sure all copy on Microsoft documents has a designated font color, not automatic.
  • Make sure file is saved properly for the software application that is used.
  • Determine type of stock you wish to use.
  • Determine what type if any finishing options you need.
  • Fill out Printing Services Job Order Form and send with file.

Wide Format Samples

We have many samples on a variety of stocks available for viewing at Printing Services. Below are links that show a few different projects we have produced.

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