What file do I need for signs and banners

PDF is usually the best choice for text and logos because it can preserve vector shapes instead of turning everything into pixels. Embed fonts or outline them so letters do not change on another computer. PNG suits artwork that needs transparency. JPG works for photographs, but repeated saving can introduce compression marks around lettering and edges.

Make sure the file contains the final message, correct phone number and current date. A preview screenshot is not the same as an exported print file. If your design is double sided, identify both faces clearly. Check arrows on each side, since the physical direction must remain correct for viewers approaching from different directions.

At 100 DPI, an 18 x 24 inch file needs 1800 x 2400 pixels before bleed. A 72 x 36 inch banner needs 7200 x 3600. You can work at half the physical dimensions at 200 DPI and retain the same total pixel count. Tell us the intended finished size so a half size document is not mistaken for the final dimensions.

Changing the DPI label alone does not add detail. A 300 pixel wide logo stretched across 8 feet has only about 3 pixels per inch, far below the target. Increasing that file's dimensions cannot restore clean edges that were never present. Ask for the original vector logo or simplify the design instead of assuming an enlarged screenshot will become sharp.

Extend backgrounds 0.25 inch past the trim on each edge so small cutting differences do not leave an unprinted border. Keep names, phone numbers, logos and other essential content at least 1 inch inside the finished edge. The bleed is outside the finished size; the safe text area is inside it. They solve different problems.

For a banner, avoid placing essential information where grommets or mounting hardware will cover it. If you select pole pockets, consider where the pockets sit before exporting. Do not use thin border lines tight against the trim: slight cutting variation is much more noticeable with a narrow frame around the artwork.

Export from Canva as a print PDF when available, with the document set to the intended dimensions. A high resolution PNG or JPG can also work. We accept a website logo or phone photo of an old sign for checking and can fix usable file preparation issues free. Include the actual text separately if a photo is difficult to read.

A small logo, blurry photograph, glare or severe perspective distortion may not contain enough information for a clean print. We cannot invent missing detail or reliably recover unreadable wording. If the source is unsuitable, use a better original or choose an existing template and enter the message online before ordering.

You can use the online design option for signs or the banner builder and existing templates. Uploading your own file is a secondary path for artwork you already have. Every cart item needs a design or uploaded file; do not place an artless order expecting to email the artwork afterward. Every file is checked before printing, but you should still verify spelling and the chosen finished size yourself.