Large format printing question, what file type? (VNSR)

Question for you peeps out there who deal a bunch with high res imagery.

I need to get some large format printing done (basically ala Kinkos for a big sign), and am wondering what file type is best for higher levels of detail. Basically I need to get a screenshot of a website and then print it up big (for a conference, maybe 6x8 or so? any recommendations). I was planning on using snagit to grab the image, unless someone has a better recommendation, and then I need to save it in the best format to yield the best printed result in aforementioned large format.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

There is no good way to do this.
Websites are decidedly and purposly low res.
If you dont want the browser window in the screenshot, I would have kinkos print the HTML file directly, Your immages will all look aweful but at least your text will have a chance at looking decent.

Can you use a projector instead of a paper copy? It will be very difficult to make the screenshot look good on paper.

The fonts will look like some jagged lousey low res. pieces of you know what. I would not recommend this unless the print software (or rip engine) has capabilities of increasing the resolution. As a test take a small section of the screen of the web site with a screen capture utility (maybe a 1 by 1.25" area with graphics and text both), then size this to print on a standard 8 1/2 x 11 in a graphics application like a paint package. (Some have enlarge to paper size as a print option, or some printers have this capability too in the drivers).

Sheit, thanks. I will see what I can do. Basically I need the whole site to print up pretty well in large format for a "yay" booth at a conference. Dont need the explorer bar or anything like that... Sucks.

So as a follow up, if an Expedia or someone like that wanted a big blowup for a vinyl sign, is that a separate graphics file made from scratch?

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Originally Posted by Evmo

Question for you peeps out there who deal a bunch with high res imagery.

I need to get some large format printing done (basically ala Kinkos for a big sign), and am wondering what file type is best for higher levels of detail. Basically I need to get a screenshot of a website and then print it up big (for a conference, maybe 6x8 or so? any recommendations). I was planning on using snagit to grab the image, unless someone has a better recommendation, and then I need to save it in the best format to yield the best printed result in aforementioned large format.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

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I would highly recommend vector format [.eps (Encapsulated PostScript) or .ai (Adobe Illustrator)] files since vector files scale up and down without any loss in quality.

Raster (aka bitmap) format [.bmp (Windows Bitmap), .pcx (Paintbrush), .tiff (Tag Interleave Format), .jpeg (Joint Photographics Expert Group), .gif (Graphics Interchange Format) , .png (Portable Network Graphic), .psd (Adobe PhotoShop)] files do not scale up very well at all especially for the size that you are talking about. You most likely will end up with an extremely unprofessional sign with jagged images/text.

Post a link to the website that you are talking about so that we can see what you are dealing with and provide more specific recommendations. Do you own the website or do you have some existing relationship with the site (partner, etc.)?

For more info Google the words "sign vector vs raster". Here are two links from Googling that explain what I am talking about in more detail with examples.

Raster Images versus Vector Images http://www.signindustry.com/computer..._v_raster.php3

Converting Raster Images to Vector Images Can Be A Challenge, But It Doesn't Have To Be. http://www.signindustry.com/computer...ctorImage.php3


I am not a graphic artist but have gone through a similar process where I had to get some large banners similar to what you have mentioned made at Kinkos.

The preferred option would be to request vector .eps or .ai images from the website owner.

The backup option which depending upon on the complexity of the images/text most likely will require hours/$$$ is to convert the raster images to vector images. Adobe Illustrator CS2 has a Live Trace feature that can be used for this process.

Also, talk to the graphics person at the specific Kinkos location that you are printing the banners at to find out exactly which software versions (most likely Adobe Illustrator 10, Adobe Illustrator CS or Adobe Illustrator CS2) are actually loaded on that Kinko's specific computers. I had to have the final Adobe Illustrator CS2 file converted back to Adobe Illustrator 10 for Kinkos to print from it.

Good luck and let us know how this project turns out.

hey there. i'm a graphic designer, i've done a bunch of trade show booths and i have this advice for you.

first thing i will point out is that trade show graphics are not meant to be viewed up close. from a distance they look great, but when you zoom in they chunk up. thats just how it is. 50 dot per inch files is standard for trade booths — don't expect photo quality when you get up close.

second, i wouldn't go to kinkos unless you have to. even when you really know what you are doing kinko's F's up your stuff. try finding a local sign shop (signs on time, fast signs etc...) or hit the phone book and try to find a trade show booth company. those guys know how to make big graphics look good and they are somewhat used to people needing help preping files or will do it for you for a fee. you are already paying for the printing you should pay a little more to have it look good.

long story short, let a professional handle it unless you are really on a budget and even then consult with a sign shop or trade show booth production company. they are there to help and know what they are doing.

best of luck - flow

Thanks all, will definitely take your advice. Skis4fun, the site isnt public yet so I cant sent it your way, but I work for the biz, so it should be relatively easy. Our developers should be able to get a vector file of the site, right?

mind you this is all comming from a designer standpoint and i don't know jack about your site, just takeing general guesses.

your delelopers might have vector files for the site but i wouldn't count on it. typically the visuals of most websites are built in photoshop because photoshop deals with pixels. illustrator deals with vector or math based shapes etc... some designers (myself included) design sites in illustrator because of precision and quicker sizing and aligning of elements. then when the navigation and look is more or less approved i switch over to photohop for the final site design.

likely you are only going to be able to get a screen capture of the site. still tho, there are tricks to bump the size up and still have it look okay. call that sign shop. they'll help ya out.

- flowtron

Awesome, thanks Flow, I will hit them up. Sorry for the double secret non-disclosure, I promise I will show it soon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skis4Fun

I would highly recommend vector format [.eps (Encapsulated PostScript) or .ai (Adobe Illustrator)] files since vector files scale up and down without any loss in quality.

Raster (aka bitmap) format [.bmp (Windows Bitmap), .pcx (Paintbrush), .tiff (Tag Interleave Format), .jpeg (Joint Photographics Expert Group), .gif (Graphics Interchange Format) , .png (Portable Network Graphic), .psd (Adobe PhotoShop)] files do not scale up very well at all especially for the size that you are talking about. You most likely will end up with an extremely unprofessional sign with jagged images/text.

Post a link to the website that you are talking about so that we can see what you are dealing with and provide more specific recommendations. Do you own the website or do you have some existing relationship with the site (partner, etc.)?

For more info Google the words "sign vector vs raster". Here are two links from Googling that explain what I am talking about in more detail with examples.

Raster Images versus Vector Images http://www.signindustry.com/computer..._v_raster.php3

Converting Raster Images to Vector Images Can Be A Challenge, But It Doesn't Have To Be. http://www.signindustry.com/computer...ctorImage.php3


I am not a graphic artist but have gone through a similar process where I had to get some large banners similar to what you have mentioned made at Kinkos.

The preferred option would be to request vector .eps or .ai images from the website owner.

The backup option which depending upon on the complexity of the images/text most likely will require hours/$$$ is to convert the raster images to vector images. Adobe Illustrator CS2 has a Live Trace feature that can be used for this process.

Also, talk to the graphics person at the specific Kinkos location that you are printing the banners at to find out exactly which software versions (most likely Adobe Illustrator 10, Adobe Illustrator CS or Adobe Illustrator CS2) are actually loaded on that Kinko's specific computers. I had to have the final Adobe Illustrator CS2 file converted back to Adobe Illustrator 10 for Kinkos to print from it.

Good luck and let us know how this project turns out.

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Yes vectorgraphics would be the way, but 99.9% of web pages use raster graphics and fonts. All .gif, .jpg and popular file types used on web pages out there are raster graphics. If you control the page and designed it with higher end tools like Adobe's suite of design software then the vector avenue may work. There are a few raster to vector conversion packages out there (some sign companies have these - think about companies that do the photos and higher end graphics on the side of busses or other vehicles) for possible solutions.

The easiest way the explain the difference is raster graphics are nothing more than dots that distort when enlarged, vector graphics are math formulas for the lines, dots, curves etc. and can easily be resized without getting as jagged and distorted.