Many advertisers and entrepreneurs want to be able to print large-scale images so that they can use them as posters, brochures, and billboards. On a computer screen, most photos look great, but when you are printing images that are larger than the size of your apartment’s walls, there are a lot of things to keep in mind.
What is the best way to create massive, high-quality prints? Billboards and advertisements require large-scale images, so here are some tips.
What’s the difference between PPI and DPI?
A digital image’s pixels per inch (PPI) is its smallest units. A large billboard or signage can be dramatically affected by pixels, even though pixels do not have a physical size.
A 1080p monitor, for instance, has eight times as many pixels per inch as an 8K monitor, even when their physical dimensions are similar. As a result of the higher digital resolution of the 8K image, the 8K version of the image will end up looking clearer if it is printed.
DPI (dots per inch) refers to the number of dots printed on a printed image. Printing resolution improves with higher DPI. With billions of dots squirted onto a page, most printers can reproduce images with 2000 DPI.
Viewing Distance: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
An observer can see an image from a distance when they have enough distance to see it.
The distance and visibility chart show letter height and maximum readable distance.
Increasing distance from an image reduces the amount of detail that can be seen by our eyes. According to the chart, billboards must have a minimum letter height of 10 inches to be readable from a distance of 100 feet. Additionally, a billboard must have a height of 54 inches for people to see it from a distance.
Billboard image dimensions: what should they be?
Billboards typically measure 14 feet high and 48 feet wide, corresponding to 672 square feet of advertising space. The majority of billboards are printed at a resolution of 10ppi to 30ppi. Printing billboards at 100% size using 150 PPI is a good rule of thumb. When the size and viewing distance of an image increase, the resolution of the image can be reduced.
The Best Way to Take Large-Scale Images
It is essential to keep in mind that there are other factors to consider when printing large-scale images besides the dimensions and viewing distance.
Quality of photos
A billboard image should have a resolution of at least 11.2 DPI. A modern camera can take pictures at a resolution of at least 16 megapixels-so you can easily photograph large-scale images that will be used on billboards in the future.
Despite this, we recommend hiring a professional photographer that can determine the ideal lighting, resolution, and creative direction, as well as other factors that you need to consider when shooting large-scale images. A qualified professional can create a billboard photo better than you can on your own.
Contrast of colors
When viewed from a computer screen, images and fonts may appear pretty. When the contrast between the text and background is not sufficient, drivers and commuters may have trouble reading it.
Coolors and WebAIM offer online color contrast checkers to determine the appropriate color combinations.
Choose a good printer
Billboards, banners, and signage can be printed in large format by many printers in the United States. It is a good idea to collect quotes from several printers before making a decision. Contact a local printer by email for a quote or visit their website to find out what their rates are. Large-scale images can be affected by the quality of materials, so consider their cost compared to the quality of the print.
It is important not to stop comparing printers and rates when you have to print large-scale images regularly. If a company’s rates change over time, feel free to continue evaluating your options.
Invest in a professional photographer and editor
In case you don’t know where to begin when hiring a professional photographer and photo editor who can create billboard images, it can be challenging.
The good news is that Fiverr has a wide network of photographers and billboard designers who can capture and customize the images you need for your billboards. Furthermore, they know the best font, color, format, and printer for the best results.
