SALE | Save 20% on Value-Pro through 9/30/25, SHOP NOW!
Ace Tips: 4 Essential Tips for Designing for Large Format Printing (Without Losing Quality)
Getting graphics ready for print can feel tricky, but it does not have to be. The files you send to a printer make a big difference in how your booth looks on the show floor. If colors are off or images are blurry, your display can lose impact fast.
The good news is that with these 4 simple steps, you can avoid those problems and make sure your design looks sharp and professional.
Use GRACoL CMYK for Color Accuracy
GRACoL (General Requirements for Applications in Commercial Offset Lithography) is an industry-standard color setting designed specifically for the graphic arts.
If you're using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, set your file color mode to CMYK, then update your working space to Coated GRACoL 2006 under Edit > Color Settings.
🎯 Pro Tip: Avoid design tools like Canva or Figma for print layouts—they don’t give you full control over color profiles or resolution. For best results, stick to Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
Choose Vector Graphics Over Raster Images
Vector graphics are your best friend in large format printing. Why? Because they scale infinitely without losing quality.
Vector = crisp. Raster = risky.
Vector files: .AI, .SVG, .PDF — perfect for logos, illustrations, and text.
Raster files: .JPG, .PNG, .TIFF — okay for photos, but risky if not high-res.
If you stretch a low-resolution raster image across a 10-foot backdrop, it will look pixelated and blurry. Even if your file is set to 300 DPI, the actual pixel count matters more than the DPI number alone.
🎯 Design in Illustrator and save as PDF to keep your vector elements intact through the print process.
Preview Your Design at 200% in Adobe Acrobat
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat and zoom in to 200%. What you see is what you’ll get.
Other programs may render graphics inconsistently, but Acrobat is the most accurate tool for reviewing print-ready artwork. It’ll reveal any pixelation issues before you hit "send."
🎯 This quick check can save you thousands of dollars on reprints—and a major headache.
Understand Pixelation Warnings (and What They Actually Mean)
At Ace Displays, we use a 3-tier warning system to flag image resolution issues:
- âś… Above 150 PPI: Good to go.
- ⚠️ 100–150 PPI: Might be acceptable depending on image type.
- ❌ Below 100 PPI: Likely to appear pixelated.
- đź”´ Below 50 PPI: High risk of poor quality.
Keep in mind: most of our templates are built at half scale, so your design will be printed at 200% size. That means images need enough resolution to look crisp when scaled up.
🎯 Not sure if your images meet the mark? Just view your artwork in Acrobat at 200%. If it looks fuzzy there, it’ll look fuzzy on your booth.
You don’t need to be a design expert to get great print results. By using the right color settings, sticking with vector graphics when possible, and checking your files for pixelation, you can feel confident that your booth will look clean and polished. A little preparation goes a long way toward making sure your brand stands out for all the right reasons.
Feel free to reach out to our team if you have any questions!
About Ace Displays
In 2006, Ace Displays was founded in Southern California with the desire to provide quality products at competitive prices with the fastest delivery times in the industry. We believe purchasing an event display and its accessories should be an easy and exciting experience. Leveraging our short lead times to differentiate ourselves, we exist to connect people by providing event solutions that create conversations and lasting impressions.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide the best event & trade show displays at budget-friendly prices with unparalleled service to ensure we exceed our clients expectations and to foster an environment our employees are proud to work in.
The Ace Method
We are excited to work with you - from meeting your budget to meeting your deadlines - we will help you create a display that looks great and asserts your presence. To aid in what can be a rather laborious process, Ace has developed a 6-step method to get you a display quickly and easily so you can focus your time on other areas of your business and upcoming events.