Billboard and Hoarding Renders: Resolution and Formats
The resolution a hoarding needs is a printer decision, not a studio default. Ask your printer one question before you order the render: “what pixel dimensions do you need at final size?” Then send us that number.
The arithmetic
Pixels needed = print size in inches multiplied by the pixels per inch (ppi) the printer asks for. Large-format prints are viewed from a distance, so printers usually accept a far lower ppi than a brochure does. The requirement varies with the process and the viewing distance, so use your printer’s figure.
A worked example: a 6 m by 3 m site hoarding is about 236 by 118 inches. If the printer asks for 50 ppi, you need roughly 11,800 by 5,900 pixels. At 100 ppi the same panel needs about 23,600 by 11,800 pixels. The ppi values are illustrative; the printer’s figure sets the real size.
What drives the cost and time
Larger output takes longer to render and finish. Tell us the print size and the printer’s pixel spec early, so it is scoped before the quote, not after the draft, and we quote it.
Formats we deliver
JPEG and TIFF are the standard deliverables. PNG, PSD and EXR files are available on request. A layered PSD is useful when the printer or your designer needs to adjust sky, planting or people; ask for it in the brief so it is scoped.
Colour and proofing
Print uses CMYK; renders are produced in RGB. Ask the printer whether they want RGB or a converted file, and ask for a proof of the hoarding’s key area before the full run. A building edge or logo that looks sharp on screen can soften at the stretch.
Approve small, finish large
A first draft usually arrives in 3 to 5 business days and finals in about 11 business days. Approving the composition at screen size and then rendering the large final is normal, and it keeps revision rounds cheap. Renders start from $199 per image; see pricing and exterior rendering.
Have a print size? Send it with the printer’s spec through the contact form.
