Print Resolution for Billboards

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Archive 2009 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Steverock01
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p.1 #1 · Print Resolution for Billboards

I had a quick google search and didn't find anything definitive, but maybe someone here can tell me off the top of their head with the resolution roadside billboards might be printed at? I'm guessing it's pretty low around the 50 to 100 dpi area but any help from people in the know would be appreciated. I have a prospective client who wants some images for a billboard and wants to know the maximum size my cameras will print to.

TIA

Oct 28, 2009 at 12:32 AM

colinm
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p.1 #2 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Extremely low. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 ppi is not at all uncommon.

The dots are huge, the viewer's far away, you don't need a lot of pixels.

Oct 28, 2009 at 12:39 AM

Steverock01
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p.1 #3 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Yes, I just stumbled upon a table based on viewing distance. 10 was about right. Thanks Colin.

Oct 28, 2009 at 12:42 AM

Peter Figen
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p.1 #4 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Talk to your billboard printer. The ones I've done ranged from 18 - 30 dpi at final print size, depending on the vendor. Do your computations based on 20-30 and you'll be fine. There are also several standard board sizes and if your client is not buying the largest signs, that may make your life a little easier as well.

Oct 28, 2009 at 01:49 AM

Steverock01
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p.1 #5 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Thanks Peter.

Oct 28, 2009 at 03:51 AM

RDKirk
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p.1 #6 · Print Resolution for Billboards

If you're wanting this information in order to determine the resolution of images your'e providing for a billboard...forget it. You don't need it for digital any more than you needed it for film. Give them the same product a film photographer would give them.

You want to give them an image that when printed to paper at a normal hand-holdable size is sharp viewed from reading distance: An 8x10 (or 9x12) at 300 ppi. If it looks sharp in your hand, it will look sharp on the billboard. You don't need to know what the billboard printer is doing.

Oct 28, 2009 at 07:15 PM

cgardner
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p.1 #7 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Here's a good tutorial explaining the perceptual cause and effect of resolution and viewing distance:
http://www.signindustry.com/outdoor/articles/2001-03-19-viewingDistance.php3.

Oct 28, 2009 at 08:56 PM

Steverock01
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p.1 #8 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Thanks guys. No I was asking because the client asked me how big my files would print for a billboard.

Oct 30, 2009 at 06:50 AM

RDKirk
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p.1 #9 · Print Resolution for Billboards

Steverock01 wrote:
Thanks guys. No I was asking because the client asked me how big my files would print for a billboard.

As I said, an image that is sharp and detailed at 8x10 or 9x12 at 300 ppi will be sharp and detailed on a billboard.

That's what photographers did before digital--the rest of the process hasn't changed.

Oct 30, 2009 at 10:14 AM

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