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Posted on 08/02/07 2:36:33 PM |
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T.D.
* Posts: 5 Reply |
photos for billboard design
Hello All, Does anyone have information regarding billboard design? I'm especially confused/concerned about using photos. Most billboards seem to have photographic elements but I haven't been able to find specific info on resolution. I would greatly appreciate any info/tips on any aspect of designing billboards. I thank ya'll in advance for any assistance. |
Posted on 08/02/07 2:59:01 PM |
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David Asch
Tech Support Posts: 1913 Reply  |
Re: photos for billboard design
Depending on the size of billboard, the photos are generally quite low resolution. Often around 100-150 dpi* as they are intended to be viewed from afar. Unless you're Bert Monroy and enjoy working with 1.8Gb images @300dpi! _________________ Leap and the net will appear |
Posted on 08/02/07 3:29:58 PM |
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T.D.
* Posts: 5 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
Mr. Asch, thanks for the reply. The billboards are 10.5 feet X 31 feet. I've downloaded a template from an internet printer and the scale is 1 inch = 1 foot. I'm assuming I'll be working on a scaled-down version otherwise my computer will melt! I'm new to billboard design and really worried about what this might look like blown up. |
Posted on 08/02/07 3:51:42 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply  |
Re: photos for billboard design
Hi T.D. Regarding Sign Design in general, it's best to work with vector artwork as much as possible; i.e. all text, borders, frames, etc. And use images where necessary. That way your filesize will be dramatically reduced. Also, working with vector artwork allows the fabricating company the flexibility to use a mixture between digital prints and vinyl. Thus, reducing cost to your client. The text, borders and such can be cut-out using a plotter and adhered to the sign. But one of the requirements is that those elements must be vector formatted. Every fabricating company that produces digital prints produces at different resolutions. So check with them in order to optimize your image. To save filesize on your working layout, you could have a low-resolution copy of your image on the design. And supply a high resolution composite as a separate file when you upload the artwork to the fabricating company. Also, you may want to ask if any part of the billboard design would be used in later signs; especially if it's planned to be a routed sign. A routed sign must be all vector artwork. I always work in scaled layouts. The only time an image is brought to 1"=1" is when the image is actually printed. (per your fabricating company) Hope this helps, Chris |
Posted on 08/02/07 4:28:57 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
I forgot to mention, if your using vectors...make sure you have ALL your strokes outlined with a path or have the option 'scale strokes with image' selected. Otherwise, when the fabricating company puts your layout to actual size, you will lose all your strokes! And the layout will not look like the way it was approved by the client. (I learned this the hard way  ) |
Posted on 08/02/07 5:31:28 PM |
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T.D.
* Posts: 5 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
Sir, (Chris) Thanks so very much for the information and your time. This is way more detailed info than I've been able to find elsewhere. Tina |
Posted on 08/02/07 6:00:26 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
Glad to help, T.D. What program are you using for the layout? -Chris |
Posted on 08/02/07 6:01:42 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7052 Reply  |
Re: photos for billboard design
I've done designs for billboards in the past, and it's surprising how big the dot is - more like 25 dots per inch. They're huge. Ad agencies have asked for artwork to be done to A3, which they then blow up to fill whatever size billboard they need. In my experience, working at 300dpi at A3 size (roughly double US Letter) gives you all the resolution you need. |
Posted on 08/02/07 6:14:49 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
When I was working for the sign company, you'd be amazed at some of the images we would receive; one in particular had to be pulled off the company website...at 72 dpi and about 200 kb! I had to play hell trying to smooth it out, but it worked and ended up as a 6'x4' digital print. You're right, it doesn't take much to get a good print. Most optimized files we received were no larger than 15 mb or so, and they printed perfectly. |
Posted on 08/02/07 7:17:31 PM |
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T.D.
* Posts: 5 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
Chris, It sounds like Illustrator would be the most appropriate, although I'm much more comfortable with Photoshop. I'm at the early planning stage right now and haven't gotten further than wondering about the right technical approach. |
Posted on 08/02/07 7:25:29 PM |
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T.D.
* Posts: 5 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
Mr. Caplin, Thank you, I'm feeling much better about my options. Also, thank you very much for a wonderful book and a generous forum. |
Posted on 08/02/07 7:46:32 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
I'm much more comfortable with Photoshop. [/quoted] Often times, sign companies receive Photoshop files and convert them to vector graphics. It's a painstaking process, but most sign companies offer this free...so long as they're the company that's going to build the sign. Basically, they put your design at a low transparency and recreate the sign with paths using their software (Illustrator, Corel Draw, or Flexi Sign Pro). Be sure to supply all the fonts that are used in the layout, otherwise the sign designer will be ripping their hair out trying to find your font! Double check with the fabricating company to see if they would convert your design for you. It may be another route you could take? (As a tip, ask this to a sales associate or the owner of the company...not a person from the graphics department. After the sales associate says yes, then have their designer look at the work. Otherwise, the designer will more than likely say no and come up with a number of reasons as to why other than the fact that he/she doesn't want do go through all the work of converting someone elses layout.) hehe, I was guilty of that, as are most designers at sign companies.  It really is a backbreaker having to spend half a day converting an image to vector. But if the boss wants it done...the boss gets it done.
Chris |
Posted on 08/02/07 7:52:47 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: photos for billboard design
Remember, by going that route--you're trusting someone else to work on your design... So be specific on exactly what you want. (all measurements need to be defined) |
Posted on 08/02/07 11:40:57 PM |
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Eggbox
Ovoid Opportunist Posts: 797 Reply  |
Re: photos for billboard design
Hi TD and welcome to the forum. If you want to work in vector art as Chris has suggested then, rather than spending lots of pennies on Illustrator, I would recommend you look at Xara X. There is a trial download from xara.com and I believe it costs about $80. Don't let the price fool you it is a brilliant programme. There are others on this forum who also use it and may even come up to tell you more. Ted |