Banners for Backlighting (Banners)

Promotional banners can be produced using PVC (500 or 650 g/m²), PVC-free fabrics, non-woven TNT, 100% polyester fabric, PET, or mesh materials. The choice of material depends on its intended use — indoor, outdoor, backlit, or wind-resistant applications.

PVC banners are robust, cost-effective, and ideal for long-term outdoor use, while also performing well indoors. PVC-free banners, on the other hand, are made from recyclable materials such as polyester or PET, making them more sustainable and chlorine-free. They offer excellent print quality and lower environmental impact, although they are less durable, especially when exposed to harsher weather conditions.

Yes. Many models are water-, UV-, and wind-resistant, such as PVC, blockout, or mesh banners. Choosing a material like wind-resistant mesh fabric or perforated PVC ensures great performance even under harsh weather conditions.

Yes, all banners can be cut with straight edges or into custom shapes, adapting to different types of structures. They are available in standard sizes or made to measure, with widths up to 1000 cm and heights up to 500 cm — meaning they can reach up to 10 metres in length and 5 metres in height. This flexibility allows the creation of banners in virtually any shape and size.

Banners can be finished with eyelets (aluminum or plastic), reinforced hems, cords, tensioners, or pole pockets. These options facilitate installation and improve durability in various usage conditions.

A blockout banner is opaque and completely blocks light. It is ideal for double-sided printing, as it prevents the rear image from showing through to the front. It is widely used for hanging signs, suspended displays, or signage in brightly lit environments.

For structures with internal lighting, the best choices are the 150 g/m² backlit fabric or the 450 g/m² Extreme Backlight banner. Both allow uniform light diffusion and ensure vibrant colors and high contrast even in dark environments.

For security barriers, you can choose fabric banners, nautical mesh, or waterproof polyester — all available in customizable sizes and formats. These materials are durable, lightweight, and ideal for visual communication at events, festivals, or restricted access areas.

Backlit banners are ideal for structures with internal lighting, such as light boxes, displays, or illuminated frames for indoor or outdoor use. The material evenly diffuses light, enhances printed colors, and guarantees excellent visibility — even at night or in low-light areas.

A blockout banner is the right choice when full opacity is required. This material completely blocks light, preventing unwanted transparency. It is ideal for double-sided banners, suspended displays, or high-light environments, ensuring clarity and strong visual impact on both sides.

To ensure a professional result when printing your graphic project, it's essential to follow a series of best practices. The file must be created from scratch using the correct format and dimensions, respecting the technical areas defined for bleed, trim and safety. Below is a full guide to correctly prepare your print-ready file.

1. Start with the correct final size

From the start, define the exact size of the final product. Avoid designing in a different size and adjusting it later. This ensures all elements remain proportional and well positioned, avoiding errors at export or printing stage.

2. Use bleed and safety margins

• Bleed: extend all visual elements at least 2 mm beyond the trim line.
• Trim line: indicates where the product will be physically cut.
• Safety area: keep text and important elements at least 3 mm from the trim line.
• Fold lines: avoid placing text too close to folds. Keep a safe distance from folds for legibility and to avoid distortion.

3. Balance visual hierarchy

Distribute page elements well: maintain good proportion between text, images, and white space. Make sure the content is clear, well-organised and visually harmonious. Overcrowded designs can confuse or impair reading.

4. Choose legible and proportional fonts

• Avoid overly thin or decorative fonts for text blocks.
• Use appropriate font sizes — ideally test with a full-size print to confirm legibility.
• Ensure good contrast between text and background for easier reading.

5. Use images with adequate resolution

• Images should be at least 300 dpi at final print size.
• Avoid using web images, as they usually have low resolution and compromise visual quality. If used, always check the resolution.
• Ensure all images are in CMYK mode. RGB images may shift in colour when printed. Remember, printing is always done in CMYK colour mode.

6. Proofread all text before exporting

• Check for spelling or grammatical errors.
• Verify that all titles, headings and text blocks are correctly aligned and styled.
• When exporting, embed fonts in the PDF or convert them to outlines.

7. Define a consistent visual style

Choose a colour palette, typography and graphic style consistent with your brand or product purpose. A consistent design communicates professionalism and clarity.

8. Use the supplied design template

When using templates from the platform or the free Ask-to-Print Online Editor, place elements according to the guide lines. These lines indicate bleed, trim, fold and safety zones. You can also start your project from scratch in the editor and ensure proper element positioning.

9. Be careful with free online editors

Some online PDF editors don't correctly embed fonts, which can lead to font replacements or display issues. When possible, export the PDF with full font embedding and validate using a professional PDF viewer.

10. Use proper tools to create your design

To properly prepare your file, use the Ask-to-Print Online Editor or professional graphic software that supports technical margin setup and professional formats.

Common professional solutions include Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and CorelDRAW. These programs offer full control over vectors, fonts, bleeds and layers — ideal for advanced graphic production.

For free options, consider Canva (Pro version recommended for export), Inkscape (vector-based) and GIMP (image editing). While less robust, these tools can deliver quality files when used within printing specs.

11. Export correctly to PDF for print

Once your design is finished, export the file as PDF, following these essential requirements to ensure quality and print compatibility:

• Embed all fonts in the final PDF (prevents errors and substitutions).
• Ensure images are CMYK and 300 dpi at final print size.
• Use the PDF/X-1a export profile — ensures compatibility with prepress systems and printing machines.
• Include external bleed and visible trim marks when margin validation is required.

For step-by-step guides on how to export correctly in each program, see our PDF print export FAQ.

The bleed margin (also called bleeding margin or by the English term bleed) is an additional area around the final design that must be included in the artwork file to ensure a clean and accurate cut. During the finishing process, slight variations of 1 to 2 mm in trimming are common. Bleed prevents these from resulting in unwanted white edges.

How to identify the bleed margin?

If you downloaded the template or used the online editor: you’ll find lines in different colours.

• The black line indicates the bleed margin.
• The red line indicates the cut line.
• The green line indicates the safety margin.

How to use the bleed margin correctly?

Always extend backgrounds, colours or background images up to the bleed margin — even if they don’t contain relevant elements. This ensures that, after cutting, no white stripes appear along the edges.

Practical example:

A design with a coloured background ending exactly at the cut line may show white borders if the trim shifts slightly. By extending the background to the bleed, this risk is eliminated.

Bleed margin dimensions by product type

If you use our templates or our Online Editor, the bleed margins are already set automatically. Just follow the guide lines to ensure the correct placement of elements.

What is the Safety Margin?

Besides the bleed, it’s also important to respect the safety margin — an inner zone where all essential design elements should be placed to avoid being cut or ending up too close to the edge, compromising layout and readability.

Why is the safety margin necessary?

During trimming, small variations may occur. If text or logos are too close to the cut line, they risk being trimmed or becoming illegible. The safety margin ensures these elements remain intact and clearly visible.

How to correctly apply the safety margin?

• Keep text, logos and key graphic elements at least 3 mm from the cut line (or more, depending on the product).
• Avoid placing content near fold lines or technical cutting marks.
• Check that elements respect the area defined in the template (continuous red line).

Visual summary:

• Bleed (grey): extra area outside the cut → for backgrounds and images.
• Cut line (red): where the product will be physically trimmed.
• Safety margin (green): protected area → for text and key elements.

Respecting these technical areas ensures a professional finish, free from errors or unexpected results.

At Ask-to-Print, we accept various file formats to ensure the best customization and production experience. However, not all formats offer the same features in the design checking and adjustment process.

See below for file type details:

Files with Preview and Editable Options (recommended and preferred)

• .pdf (Adobe Acrobat)
• .png (PNG Image)
• .jpeg / .jpg (JPEG Image)
• .tiff (TIFF Image)
• .svg (Vector Graphic)

Files with Preview, No Editing Options

• .ai (Adobe Illustrator)
• .eps (PostScript)
• .gif (GIF Image)

Accepted Files, No Preview or Editing Options

• .psd (Adobe Photoshop)
• .cdr (CorelDRAW)

Files Not Accepted by the Platform

• .ppt (Microsoft PowerPoint)
• .doc (Microsoft Word)
• .bmp (Bitmap Image)

Still have questions?
If you're unsure about the correct format or are having trouble uploading your file, our Customer Support team is here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us — we’ll be happy to assist and ensure your order runs smoothly.
To contact us click here!

When preparing a file for printing, it's essential to understand the difference between the two main colour models used in graphic design: CMYK and RGB. Although both allow for attractive visuals, they serve different purposes and produce different results — especially in print processes.

What are CMYK and RGB colours, and which should I use for printing?

CMYK – The colour model for printing

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. It is the colour model used in all professional printing processes. Colours are created by overlaying percentages of these four inks in layers on the printed surface.

• Used in offset and digital printing.
• Based on subtractive colour from reflected light — unlike screen-emitted light.
• Reproduces a more limited colour gamut, but one suited to the physical printing process.

RGB – Colour model for screens

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. It’s a light-emitting colour model used for displaying colours on digital screens such as monitors, tablets, or smartphones. This model can produce much more vibrant and saturated colours than CMYK.

• Ideal for digital images, videos, and websites.
• Offers a wider colour gamut — meaning it covers more possible colours.
• Colours may appear more intense on screen than what can be printed.

What is colour gamut?

The gamut is the range of colours that a given colour model or device can reproduce. The RGB model has a wider gamut than CMYK, meaning it can display colours that simply cannot be printed with standard inks.

When a file created in RGB is automatically converted to CMYK, colours outside the CMYK gamut are adjusted to approximate values. This can result in noticeable visual differences between what is seen on screen and what gets printed — especially with certain RGB-exclusive or highly vibrant tones.

Which should I use when preparing files for print?

You should always work in CMYK colour mode when creating files intended for print. This ensures that what you see during design stays closer to what can realistically be printed.

If you're using design programs such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop, set the colour space to CMYK from the start. On Canva, choose CMYK export (available on the Pro version). This practice prevents colour fidelity loss.

On the Ask-to-Print Online Editor, there’s no need to worry: all files are automatically generated in CMYK with optimised colour management.

Useful tip for professionals and beginners

Even when working in CMYK, differences between screen and print may persist. We recommend using a physical CMYK colour guide to visualise true tonal values before finalising your design. This is especially helpful for branding or colour-critical materials.

When creating a design using very specific fonts or fonts that may not be available in our system, those fonts may be automatically replaced with standard fonts, which can significantly alter the appearance of your printed material.

How does this happen?

If the font used in your design is not embedded in the file or is not a common font recognized by our system, the print software will attempt to replace it with a similar one. However, this substitution may cause your design to lose its original appearance, affecting spacing, formatting and layout.

How to avoid this issue?

To ensure your design prints exactly as intended, follow these steps:

1. Embed fonts in the final file: Make sure all fonts used in your project are properly embedded in the design file. This can be done when exporting the file from your design software (such as Illustrator, InDesign, Corel Draw, or others).
2. Convert text to outlines: If you can’t embed the fonts, an alternative is to convert the text to outlines (or paths). This transforms the text into vector shapes, eliminating the need for external fonts. Note: This option is not recommended for products like Books, Magazines or Catalogues, as outlined text cannot be edited later.
3. Check fonts and images in your file: Graphic design software such as Illustrator offers tools to ensure everything is correct before sending your file to print. One way to do this is to generate a final report that lists all fonts used and includes details about images, such as whether they are in CMYK or RGB mode (remember that for printing, images must be in CMYK).
   • To generate the report in Illustrator:
     • Go to the “File” menu > “Package”.
     • In the Package options panel, check the boxes to include fonts and images.
     • Illustrator will create a folder with all your project files, including embedded fonts, images (with CMYK or RGB info), and other essential details.
4. Use the Illustrator Package feature: This is ideal to ensure that all resources required for your project are properly delivered. The Package generates a folder containing all design elements (fonts, images, colours, and more), making it easier to review everything.

Summary

To avoid font issues and ensure your design prints exactly as intended, embed fonts or convert them to outlines.

Embedding fonts in a PDF is essential to ensure the file is viewed and printed correctly on devices that may not have the same fonts installed. This practice is especially important in web-to-print environments, where files are prepared by end users and sent directly to print production.

What does embedding fonts mean?

When you embed fonts in a PDF file, the font data is included directly within the document. This preserves the text’s appearance, even if the PDF is opened on different computers, using different systems or without the original fonts installed.

How to embed fonts – General Steps

Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop

• Go to File > Export and choose the Adobe PDF format.
• Access the Advanced tab.
• Enable the option Embed All Fonts or Subset fonts below 100%.
• Select a profile like PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4, suitable for professional printing.

CorelDRAW

• Go to File > Export > PDF.
• In the Advanced tab, select Embed All Fonts.

Other programs (Affinity Designer, Canva, Inkscape, GIMP, etc.)

• Most export to PDF with fonts embedded by default.
• Always check export options for terms like "embed fonts" or "PDF/X compliance".

Best Practices for Web-to-Print

• Converting text to outlines is a safe option if the file doesn’t need further editing.
• Only use licensed fonts to avoid embedding restrictions.
• Avoid online fonts from cloud editors that don’t allow embedding.

What is rich black and when should it be used?

In graphic design for print, there are two main ways to apply black: plain black (100% K) and rich black. While both may look the same on screen, the printed result can differ significantly depending on the method used.

Plain black (100% K)

Plain black uses only black ink (K = 100%) in the CMYK model. It is ideal for text and fine elements, ensuring clarity, readability and no registration issues. However, when used in large solid areas (e.g., backgrounds), it may appear dull or greyish, as it relies on a single layer of ink.

Rich black – Greater intensity and depth

Rich black is created by combining black ink with controlled amounts of cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY). This blend enhances visual density and results in a deeper, more even black. It is especially effective for dark backgrounds, large blocks or visually impactful elements.

A safe and commonly used rich black formula is:

• C: 60%
• M: 40%
• Y: 40%
• K: 100%

These percentages may vary slightly depending on the paper type and print profile, but total ink coverage must always be respected.

Best practices when using rich black

• Use plain black (100% K) for text, fine lines and small elements — avoids registration issues.
• Use rich black for large areas, dark backgrounds or impactful visuals.
• Avoid using 100% for all colours (C+M+Y+K), as it may cause ink overload and drying issues — use our recommended formula instead.

To ensure your file is ready for printing with special and highlight graphic finishes, it is essential to correctly prepare all embellishment elements.

This procedure applies to any product involving one or more of the following finishes:

• Spot UV varnish
• 3D varnish
• Embossing (raised and recessed)
• Stamped embossing
• Gold or silver foil
• Metallic effects

These effects can be combined with special cutting (CutContour). Therefore, each finish must be placed on a separate layer, with a properly assigned technical colour (Spot Colour) and the Overprint attribute always activated.

1. Use only vector elements

All special finish elements must be vector-based (not rasterized) to ensure accuracy and quality. Avoid using images or pixelated effects.

2. Create a separate layer for each finish type

Each finish must be placed on a distinct layer, with a specific technical name and dedicated Spot Colour application (see below).

3. Draw clean and closed paths

Avoid overlapping shapes, sharp angles or open paths. Use tools like Pathfinder (Illustrator) to unite, intersect or combine elements — ensuring simple and precise outlines.

4. Layer names and colours for finishes

According to the type of finish, you should create a specific layer with the correct technical name and apply a Spot Colour with the values defined below. All elements must have the Overprint attribute activated.

• Layer: Finishing
  For: Spot UV varnish, 3D varnish, gold or silver foil, metallic effects
  Spot Colour: C 0% M 50% Y 100% K 0% (orange tone)
  Important: Elements must be vector-based and placed exclusively in this layer. Do not duplicate elements in other layers.


• Layer: Emboss
  For: Raised embossing, recessed embossing
  Spot Colour: C 50% M 100% Y 0% K 0% (purple tone)
  Important: The embossing must be drawn with closed vector shapes and properly aligned with the base artwork.

Attention: In cases where finishes are combined. If stamped embossing is required, you must create two separate layers with the respective configurations described above:

• Layer: Finishing + Layer: Emboss
  For: Stamped embossing (combination of foil and embossing)
  Configuration: Both layers must be correctly configured, with separated and aligned vector elements, without incorrect overlaps or duplications.

Additional note: If your product includes a customised special die cut, you must also set up an additional layer with the corresponding path:

• Layer: CutContour
  For: Custom special cutting
  Spot Colour: C 0% M 100% Y 100% K 0% (red)
  Important: The cutting path must be vector-based, closed and placed on a separate layer. Avoid sharp angles and overlapping paths.

5. Activate overprint

All finish paths must have Overprint activated. This ensures the finish will be printed over the artwork without interference or failures.

6. Organise the layers correctly

• Artwork – layer with the main design (text, images, etc.)
• Finishing – for varnish, foil and metallics
• Emboss – for embossing
• CutContour – for cutting
• Do not duplicate elements between layers

7. Important technical care for special finishes

• Minimum text size: 10 pt
• Minimum line thickness: 1 pt
• Minimum distance between finish lines: 1 pt
• Safety margin: at least 3 mm between finish and cutting or creasing lines

8. Layer alignment

If the finish (varnish, foil or embossing) must align exactly with artwork elements, ensure that elements in the Artwork, Finishing,Emboss and CutContour layers are perfectly aligned.

9. Recommended tools

To correctly prepare your file, use vector illustration software such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW or InkScape, or other tools compatible with layers and spot colours.

Need help?

If you have any questions or need support, our team is always available to help you. To check our contacts click here.

At Ask-to-Print, you can request a custom cut for various types of products. This cut refers to a shape that differs from the traditional rectangular or square format — such as special contours, curves, interior cutouts or decorative forms.

In the graphic industry, the term custom cut is often referred to as a “die cut” or “cutting line”, and applies both to the traditional blade-based process and to digital cutting (laser or cutting table), which is commonly used for large formats.

How to create a file with a custom cut

If your order includes a custom cut, please prepare your file as follows:

• Create a layer named CutContour.
• Draw the cutting path in the desired shape. The path must be made of continuous and closed vectors.
• Apply a Spot Color named CutContour to the path, using 100% magenta.
• If there are overlapping vectors, make sure they are combined properly.

Important technical rules

• The cutting path must be vector-based — raster images (JPEG, PNG, TIFF) are not valid.
• Ensure the line is closed and has no overlaps.
• Follow the product template guidelines for minimum radii and minimum width of cut areas.
• Avoid overly complex shapes such as tight curves or sharp angles.
• All printable elements must be on a separate layer named Artwork.
• The magenta cutting line will not be printed — it is only a technical reference for the cut.

Bleed and cutting line

To ensure a flawless result and avoid unwanted white edges, the cutting path should slightly overlap the image. Therefore, we recommend applying a minimum bleed of 3 mm for small formats and 5 mm for large formats around the cut area. This ensures the background or image extends beyond the cut line, providing a continuous and clean finish.

Recommended software

To properly prepare the custom cut, use vector illustration software such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, InkScape, or other tools compatible with layers and spot colors.

Need help?

If you have any questions or need assistance, our team is always available to help. To check our contact details, click here.

Yes, you can view a proof before printing.
If you use our online editor, you’ll get instant access to a real-time preview of your design, accurately simulating the final result.

If you choose to upload your design or final artwork, you will also be able to preview the job before production — as long as the file is in one of the following formats compatible with digital proofing:

• PDF: Standard format for design previews.
• JPEG and JPG: Image format
• PNG
• GIF: Supported in the proofing process, allowing visual validation before printing.
• Tiff
• AI
• SVG

We accept many other formats, but only these allow automatic job preview generation.

The certifications FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) and PEFC® (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) ensure that the paper used comes from responsibly and sustainably managed forests.

• The FSC® certification ensures that forest materials come from sources that comply with strict environmental, social and economic standards. Its goal is to protect biodiversity, workers' rights and local communities, and to promote forest regeneration.

• The PEFC® certification confirms that the paper originates from forests managed sustainably, according to internationally recognised standards. This system values good forestry practices and is especially relevant in regions where small-scale or private forest management plays an important role.

Both labels demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and help consumers make more conscious and responsible choices.