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For the safest result, build logos and lettering as vector artwork, start raster painting at the largest practical final-size canvas, choose resolution from viewing distance, keep important details away from the imprint edge, and export exactly what the printer requests. Preserve your editable iPad source until the job has been approved.
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1. Get the printer’s specification before opening a new canvas
Balloon artwork is printed on a curved, flexible surface rather than a flat sheet. The printable patch changes with balloon material, inflated diameter, shape and production method, so a canvas that works for one order can be wrong for another. Request the printer’s current template or written artwork specification and obtain answers to every item below.
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- Is the balloon latex or foil, and what is its inflated diameter or finished size?
- What are the printable width and height, and is the area circular, square, rectangular or supplied as a dieline?
- Will the design be one-color, spot-color or full CMYK process?
- What minimum line width, minimum type size and registration tolerance does the printer use?
- Does the file need bleed, a safety margin, or a transparent background?
- Which production format is accepted: vector PDF, AI, EPS, layered PSD, TIFF, PNG or another format?
- Should the file be supplied at 100% size or at an agreed reduced scale?
Ask whether the vendor performs an artwork check before production. Both Balloon Printing UK and Printballoon describe advance artwork review, which can catch an incorrect imprint size or missing separation before the file reaches the press.
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Published size examples are not universal presets
| Source and balloon example | Approximate imprint or print area | How to use the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Balloon Printing UK, latex | About 16 cm circular | Planning example only; confirm the order-specific template. |
| Balloon Printing UK, foil helium | About 22 cm circular | Planning example only; shape and requirements can change it. |
| Printballoon, 30 cm latex or heart balloon | Approximately 15 × 15 cm | Example of a bounded print area, not the balloon’s full diameter. |
| Printballoon, 60 cm giant balloon | Approximately 40 × 40 cm | Example supplied by the printer. |
| Printballoon, 100 cm giant balloon | Approximately 50 × 50 cm | Example supplied by the printer. |
Notice that the 30 cm balloon example has a 15 cm print area. Do not make the canvas equal to the inflated diameter unless the printer explicitly tells you to do so.
2. Create the canvas at the agreed finished size
Use the physical dimensions from the specification, not an iPad screen ratio. If the printer says the finished imprint is 15 × 15 cm, enter 15 cm by 15 cm (or the exact template dimensions) and set the agreed resolution. If the production file would be unwieldy, discuss a reduced scale before designing. The Display Link’s large-format guidance says the document should represent the actual finished size, with scale agreed when the artwork is too large to handle at 100%.
Setting up a new document in Procreate
- From the Procreate Gallery, tap the + button and choose New canvas.
- Enter the printer’s finished width and height. Select millimetres or centimetres so the values match the written specification.
- Enter the agreed DPI. Set the color profile only after confirming whether the printer wants CMYK, RGB or a specific profile.
- Review the resulting maximum layer count. A very large raster canvas can reduce the number of available layers; reduce layer complexity or use vector construction when necessary.
- Create guides for the imprint boundary and a safe area inside it. Keep the guides on a non-printing reference layer or remove them before export.
Keep an editable .procreate file. If the printer requests a scaled file, label the scale in the filename and in the delivery note, for example “artwork_50-percent_scale,” and state the intended finished dimensions.
3. Choose vector or raster construction deliberately
Vector is safest for logos, type and simple shapes
Vector paths describe curves and edges mathematically, so a logo or lettering remains sharp when the printer scales it. Balloon Printing UK and Printballoon recommend AI, EPS, PDF and other vector formats for this reason. Build a vector master whenever the design consists mainly of a mark, flat color, geometric shape or text. If your iPad workflow begins in a raster app, you can trace or rebuild the final mark in a vector-capable application before delivery.
Raster painting needs sufficient pixels at final size
Procreate paintings, photographs and textured illustrations are raster images. Enlarging a small bitmap later cannot restore detail that was never captured. Start at the largest practical finished-size canvas, or at the printer’s agreed scale with enough effective resolution to meet the final-size target. Keep the original layered file; do not repeatedly export and re-import compressed JPEGs.
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| Design type | Preferred construction | Main risk to control |
|---|---|---|
| Logo, lettering, flat icon | Vector paths | Unoutlined fonts or hairline strokes may change during production. |
| Painted illustration or photo | High-resolution raster | Pixelation after enlargement or insufficient effective DPI. |
| Mixed logo and illustration | Vector elements plus raster artwork in a layered master | Raster layer may have a lower resolution than the vector elements. |
4. Set DPI from the final size and viewing distance
Large-format work is normally viewed farther away than a sheet held in the hand, so a blanket 300 dpi requirement is inappropriate. The Display Link calls 100 dpi at final size a minimum for its large-format work. CMYKhub publishes the following distance-based planning values, and BannerLab gives a practical range of about 150 dpi within two metres, 100 dpi for viewing at a few metres, and lower values for distant viewing.
| Approximate viewing distance | CMYKhub planning value | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6 m | 300 dpi | Close inspection; use only when the printer and file size justify it. |
| 1 m | 180 dpi | Close event or display viewing. |
| 1.5 m | 120 dpi | Typical near-to-medium viewing. |
| 2 m | 90 dpi | Large-format viewing at a short distance. |
| 3 m | 60 dpi | Most details are judged from several steps away. |
| 5 m | 35 dpi | Distant display viewing. |
| 10 m | 18 dpi | Only broad shapes and high-contrast text remain important. |
| 15 m | 12 dpi | Very distant viewing. |
| 50 m | 4 dpi | Extreme distance; confirm suitability with the printer. |
These are planning ranges, not permission to ignore a vendor’s minimum. If the printer specifies 100 dpi at finished size, use at least that value even when the display is viewed from farther away.
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Convert physical size to pixels when necessary
Use pixels = inches × DPI, with inches = centimetres ÷ 2.54. For example, a 15 cm square at 150 dpi is about 886 pixels per side, while a 50 cm square at 100 dpi is about 1,969 pixels per side. Pixel dimensions describe the raster file; they do not replace the printer’s required physical dimensions and scale.
5. Design for curvature, imprint limits and screen printing
Center the artwork within the supplied print boundary and leave a margin from its edge. A balloon’s surface stretches and curves during inflation, so an element placed near the perimeter is more vulnerable to distortion or loss than one placed centrally.
Use robust strokes and avoid hairlines
Printballoon recommends a minimum line width of 0.5 mm for screen printing. Treat that as a production floor, not a target for every decorative stroke: increase critical outlines when the design will be viewed from a distance or printed in a light color. Remove hairlines, isolated dots and tiny counters that could fill in or disappear.
Allow for registration tolerance
Balloon Printing UK says multicolor registration is usually within 1 mm. Do not build tightly interlocking color boundaries that depend on perfect alignment. Where the process allows it, use deliberate trapping or a small overlap between adjacent colors, following the printer’s prepress instructions.
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Keep critical content inside a safe area
Keep logos, faces, small type and other essential information well inside the print boundary. The exact margin belongs to the vendor’s template. A generic sheet-printing margin is not automatically correct because balloon printing may use a bounded imprint rather than trimming a flat sheet.
6. Choose the color workflow before you paint
Ask whether the job uses one ink, spot colors or full CMYK. Balloon Printing UK states that it supports up to eight spot colors on latex, six on foil and full CMYK, with separate layers recommended for multicolor work. Those limits are specific to that supplier’s process; another printer may differ.
RGB versus CMYK
Many large-format suppliers request CMYK or convert incoming artwork to CMYK. Bright RGB greens, blues and oranges can become duller when converted because CMYK ink has a smaller gamut in those regions. If the printer supplies a CMYK profile, use it; otherwise ask which conversion they perform and whether they want RGB artwork for their own prepress workflow.
Spot colors and separations
Spot-color production can provide predictable branded inks but requires clean separations. Keep each spot color on its own clearly named layer, do not hide duplicate artwork beneath another separation, and confirm whether white ink is available or necessary on a colored balloon.
Balloon color changes perceived ink color
Ink printed on a white foil balloon will not look identical to the same ink printed on a red latex balloon. Balloon Printing UK notes that the balloon color can affect perceived ink color. For a critical brand color, request a physical swatch or color proof and approve it on the intended balloon material rather than judging only an iPad display.
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7. Treat bleed and safe area as vendor-specific
Do not add a generic bleed value simply because the file is for print. Ask whether the balloon template expects artwork to stop at a defined imprint boundary, extend beyond it, or include no bleed at all.
| Guide | Published bleed guidance | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| The Display Link | 12 mm at 100% scale; 6 mm at 50%; 3 mm at 25% | Large-format document guidance; confirm applicability to the balloon template. |
| CMYKhub | 5 mm single-sided; 10 mm double-sided | Wide-format guidance, not a universal balloon rule. |
| BannerLab | 10 mm bleed and text/logos at least 25 mm inside trim | Its own large-format artwork specification. |
When a printer supplies a dieline, use that file as the authority. Extend background artwork only as far as instructed, keep important elements inside the safe line, and remove or hide dieline guides in the production export if requested.
8. Prepare type, layers and transparency
Convert fonts to outlines or paths when the printer requests it. Outlining prevents a missing font from substituting a different typeface, but it removes easy text editing, so retain a live-text or layered master separately. Check every outlined character at high magnification for damaged counters, overlapping shapes or accidental clipping.
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Keep a clean layer structure: background, artwork, outlines and each spot color on separate named layers where applicable. Avoid relying on blend modes that the printer’s RIP may interpret differently. Confirm whether transparency is accepted; if not, place the artwork on the specified balloon-color background and check how overprinting will work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. Export the production file
The official Procreate listing confirms export to layered PSD, TIFF, transparent PNG, JPEG and multi-page PDF. Those options are not interchangeable for every print process.
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| Format | Use when | Checks before sending |
|---|---|---|
| Vector PDF, AI or EPS | Logo, lettering or flat artwork that must scale cleanly | Outline fonts if requested, preserve spot-color names and confirm PDF standard or compatibility. |
| Layered PSD or TIFF | The printer wants editable raster layers or separations | Keep the agreed dimensions, profile and layer order; avoid accidental hidden guides. |
| Transparent PNG | The printer explicitly accepts a flattened raster with transparency | Verify effective DPI, alpha edges and whether transparency will be converted correctly. |
| JPEG | Only when the vendor specifically requests it | Use maximum quality and avoid repeated saves; JPEG is not suitable for editable separations. |
| PDF exported from Procreate | The supplier requests a print PDF and accepts Procreate’s PDF output | Use the printer’s press-quality settings, embed fonts when live text remains, and inspect the exported PDF. |
Send the editable .procreate or layered source only when requested, but always keep it yourself. Name the delivery file with the balloon type, finished size, scale, color mode and revision date so the printer can identify the intended version.
10. Preflight the file before upload
- Dimensions: confirm the document’s physical width and height against the printer’s template, including any agreed reduction scale.
- Resolution: inspect effective DPI at the finished size, not merely the current zoom level.
- Color: verify the requested RGB or CMYK profile, spot-color separations and any white-ink layer.
- Bleed and safe area: confirm that the vendor’s boundary and margin rules are followed; remove unrequested generic bleed.
- Line width: measure the thinnest printed stroke and ensure it meets the printer’s minimum, with 0.5 mm as Printballoon’s published screen-printing minimum.
- Typography: outline fonts when required and inspect outlined text at 100% view.
- Transparency: check alpha edges, flattening behavior and the expected balloon-color background.
- Centering: use the template or guides to verify that the design is centered and not rotated or offset.
- Export integrity: reopen the exported PDF, PSD, TIFF or PNG and compare it with the master; check that layers, colors and dimensions survived export.
- Vendor review: submit the file to the printer’s artwork checker or request a preflight before production.
11. Troubleshoot common failure modes
The printer says the artwork is too small
Check the physical dimensions and scale declaration first. A file can have many pixels yet be tagged at an incorrect finished size. Re-export at the agreed scale, or supply a vector version so the printer can place it without enlarging a bitmap.
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Find the original raster dimensions and calculate its effective DPI at the finished imprint. If it is below the vendor’s requirement, rebuild the logo as vector or return to the largest original artwork. Upscaling in Procreate does not create genuine detail.
Thin lines disappear
Increase strokes to at least the printer’s stated minimum, simplify tiny details and test light-on-dark elements separately. Hairlines that look visible on an iPad can fail in screen printing.
Colors look dull or unexpectedly different
Determine whether RGB-to-CMYK conversion occurred and whether the balloon substrate is changing the appearance. Use the printer’s profile, request a proof or swatch for important colors, and judge the result on the intended latex or foil material.
Text or spacing shifts at the printer
Outline fonts or provide the exact font files only when the printer permits them. Reopen the exported file to verify that characters, kerning and line breaks match the master.
The printer rejects the bleed
Remove assumptions from sheet printing and ask for the balloon-specific template. A bounded imprint may require a safe-area layout rather than artwork extended by a standard number of millimetres.
Quick Recap
12. Choosing the right production path
| Decision | Choose this when | What changes in the setup |
|---|---|---|
| Vector versus raster | Vector for logos and type; raster for painting and photos | Vectors scale freely; raster files require sufficient final-size pixels. |
| Spot color versus full CMYK | Spot color for controlled flat inks; CMYK for continuous-color imagery | Spot jobs need clean separations and registration planning; CMYK needs conversion and proofing. |
| Latex versus foil | Determined by the balloon product | Printable area, substrate appearance and available ink process can differ. |
| 100% versus reduced scale | 100% when manageable; reduced scale only by agreement | Bleed, line widths and effective resolution must be interpreted at finished size. |
| Near versus distant viewing | Use the expected audience distance | Closer viewing supports higher DPI and finer detail; distant viewing favors bold shapes and larger type. |
13. A practical handoff checklist
- Printer template or written specification saved with the project.
- Balloon material, inflated size and printable area confirmed.
- Finished dimensions and any reduced scale documented.
- Vector master used for logos and lettering where possible.
- Raster layers created at adequate effective DPI for viewing distance.
- Minimum line width checked; no unintentional hairlines.
- Color process, profile and spot separations confirmed.
- Balloon color and proofing requirements discussed.
- Bleed, safe area and dieline rules followed exactly.
- Fonts outlined when requested; editable source retained.
- Production export reopened and inspected.
- Final file submitted for the printer’s artwork check.
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