At what res do I output for transparencies?
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Tip #110
At what res do I output for transparencies?
Ravi bohra drops in from bom3.vsnl.net.in wanting to find out:
"if i want to output my design to a billboard can i make a 12x18" size file at 300 dpi and then output it to a transparency? will that be enough for a good output? what other ways are there for finding out the poster size i have to make which can be blown upto a good large size without much problems?"
[ Fred sez: this look like a case of 2400 dpi res, at least? Ravi didn't say how big the billboard is... and being from Indonesia it could mean something very different than billboards in the US of A. Joe Kling has done work for some big-time clients who buy billboards, so we thought we'd bounce the question to him... ]
Joe Sez:
First you should determine what is the size of the final output.
__ Also, be specific as to what is the final size of the billboard. Is it 20' X 50' to be seen by passing traffic from the roadside or is it 30" X 40" to be viewed as a poster? In any case, you will probably be working with a service bureau to output the final piece. Ask them what the resolution and color space requirements are before you do all of the work.
__ US companies that produce large billboard signs for view from the roadside have special programs that take artist's files and tile them out to huge vinyl panels. These signs usually plot out at 36 - 72 DPI.Here's a scale of how your file would reconfigure:
- 12" X 18" X 300 dpi is the same as
- -24" X 36" X 150 dpi
- -96" X 144" X 36 dpi
- -192" (16 feet) X 288" (24 feet) X 18 dpi (some billboard output is actually this low)
My best advice is to confer with your output vendor to see what their requirements are.
[Agreed!]
Thanks, Joe for fielding this one for us.