Can't export a billboard

[katmw1980]

I created a billboard and I made it with dimensions of 576" x 168" (48' x 14').  However, now I can't export it. 

If I try to export as a pdf  or eps then it saves it as a C++ file.  And if I try to save it as PNG or JPG then I get a warning about exceeding pixels and the document will be scaled to fit.  I worry that scaling it and then printing it for a 48'x14' billboard is going to lose resolution of the photos and I don't think my client will want a blurry, giant Chubby Checker on his billboard.

Any advice?

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, katmw1980 said:

If I try to export as a pdf  or eps then it saves it as a C++ file. 

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums.

I've never seen or heard of anything like that. Can you provide more info? Screenshots, some text from the file, etc?

 

 

 

 

 

[thomaso]

Hi @katmw1980,
Welcome to the Affinity Forums!

If set to 300 DPI, the JPG export dialog displays a warning for exceeding the max size of the JPG file format.

Accordingly also a PDF export fails and results in an empty page of the allowed maximum page size by specifications for the PDF file format (5 meter).

But note, prints of this size usually don't need a resolution of 300 DPI because it gets viewed from a lot larger distance than e.g. a magazin or monitor. Your format exported as JPG with 110 dpi would cause a width of 63,360 px and work for export. To remove your doubts I recommend to create a small page at 72 dpi and view a print of it from a distance above ~ 2 meters. I am sure you won't see the low resolution. Assuming that your billboard will get viewed from a distance of at least about its width a resolution of 100 dpi would even be luxury. If such prints get placed at a higher position (e.g. a building wall) then even a lot lower resolution can be sufficient, e.g. 20 – 70 DPI, because the viewer can't come really close to the print.

However, for prints of that size it is not only quite common to use a lower resolution but also not to layout in the final dimension but in scale, for instance 1 : 10 with an accordingly scaled DPI value. Just don't forget to get it printed at 1000 % (instead of 100%) to result in the wanted dimensions. Means for DPI: e.g. a layout + export at 750 DPI will result, if printed at 1000 %, in a resolution of 10% = 75 DPI.

[katmw1980]

Walt, the C++ issue seems to have been resolved.

Thomas, nearly everything you just said is foreign to me.  I am new to this and I don't know what DPI is.  I can say that the billboards I am making are freeway billboards and will be viewed from a distance.  I am not sure who the client is getting to print it and what format they printer prefers. I think I will try exporting the files in a few formats and putting it on a USB for them and let the printer/client decide.

[thomaso]

10 minutes ago, katmw1980 said:

I think I will try exporting the files in a few formats and putting it on a USB for them and let the printer/client decide.

I recommend not doing this for three reasons: 1.) it will require useless time & disk space and 2.) may cause confusion for the client / printer and 3.) you might appear incompetent.

Instead you could ask the client what A.) resolution and B.) file format is required. If the client doesn't know AND doesn't want to ask the printer: Export with 100 DPI and as PDF. For a billboard near a freeway it will be absolutely sufficient, from that viewing distance also 50 DPI or even less can be enough – as you simply can proof with a small b&w print on a letter sheet. Also you can layout in scale, e.g. 1:10 without harm but must ensure the printer gets informed about the scale, for instance on a separate first page in the print file or a separate PDF or text file with your notes for production.

It is very helpful to understand DPI, often it is necessary. There are many resources teaching about DPI (+ resolution + pixel density). Some feel it important to distinguish DPI and PPI (dots per inch / pixel per inch) which is in almost every situation of practical use not relevant. You can start with this article at "Affinity Spotlight" and continue with a research as soon you get stuck at a certain thought or term:

https://affinityspotlight.com/article/understanding-dpi/

[katmw1980]

I am trying it as a jpeg at 25% and it's been saying this forever.

 

I tried resizing the whole document to below 200", so I can save it as a pdf, but it messed up a the layout and sizing of the letters (instead of a thin black outline most the words were black with a thin white center).  Shrinking the scale and just fixing it might be my best option. I still have a few days to get it to him as one of the bands is being slow to approve the design (there are 3 billboards).

[Dan C]

Hi @katmw1980,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble!

I'd like to request a copy of your Affinity document to look into this further for you.

Can you please upload a copy of this to the below link for me, then reply here to let me know once this has been done?

https://www.dropbox.com/request/YOwsQ3CXqThRvg7DuxAo

Many thanks in advance

[katmw1980]

I reduced the file to 144"x42" (25% of the billboard size) and I was able to save it as a pdf.  If they can print from a pdf and blow it up to correct size, then it should be good.