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anogenic
Participant
Nov 6, 2012 2:23 PM UTC
Answered

6 meter banner?

Hi,

I need to create a 6 meter x 1 meter banner in Indeign, 5.486 meters is the maximum size in Indesign, what can I do? Half size it and double resolution?

Thanks

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Peter Spier
Peter SpierCorrect answer
Community Expert
Sep 11, 2016 11:10 AM UTC

You can't create a PDF from InDesign that is 7 meters long, even if you break the layout into two 3.5 meter pages and export a spread. The maximum dimension that ID will export is 216", or a bit less than 5.5m, and your PDF will be cropped.

Did the printer tell you they must have the PDF at full size? 50% scale is pretty standard...

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16 replies

ryan_marchese
Participating Frequently
Nov 6, 2012 8:03 PM UTC

Working at 50% scale will probably be the easiest for you (math-wise) and also be the kindest for your printer. I do pre-press, and there is nothing more annoying than recieving files at odd percentages (such as 30%). Most printers (machines) can be set to do the math for you, but companies will still have a person checking the files beforehand, and having to do odd math is kind of a pain.

As a rule of thumb, I usually stick to 100%, 50%, 25% and 10% (as needed by program limitations). Creates easy math for you and for anyone touching your files for production.

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natalyay71643217
natalyay71643217
Participant
Jul 30, 2015 9:47 AM UTC

So if I choose 10%, what resolution should I choose then if the printers request looked like this: Scale 1:1 300 dpi?

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    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2015 9:56 AM UTC

    3000 ppi effective resolution in the .indd file (and DON'T downsample the PDF!!!!)

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    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Nov 6, 2012 2:30 PM UTC

    Exactly.

    Bob

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    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Nov 6, 2012 3:18 PM UTC

    236 inches

    39 inches

    I'd work at 23.6 inches and 3.9 inches.

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    MW Design
    MW Design
    Inspiring
    Nov 6, 2012 3:52 PM UTC

    And I would likely do it at 30% of scale. Which would be roughly a 70.85" width.

    But I would also want to know the nominal viewing distance so I could properly adjust any bitmaps used (if any). So for instance, if the nominal viewing distance was as close as 3', then I would desire the images to be between 640 dpi and 740 dpi. Etc, etc.

    Even in software that can handle large banners at 50% scale, I usually choose to drop down further.

    At 10% of scale, and if larger dimensioned images are used, the pixel dimension could be larger than I would be comfortable with in order to achieve an effective DPI I would want.

    Take care, Mike

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