Enter a panel size, or pick a standard booth panel, and get the document size to set up, the size with bleed and the pixels a photo needs at that size. Confirm the final numbers with your printer's template.
Calculator
Visible size
120 x 96 in (304.8 x 243.8 cm)
With bleed, full size
122 x 98 in (309.9 x 248.9 cm)
Set up your document at 25%
30.5 x 24.5 in (77.5 x 62.2 cm)
Photos need at least
12,200 x 9,800 px (119.6 megapixels)
Document resolution at 25%
400 ppi
Rules of thumb only. Your printer's template and specification decide the final sizes, bleed and resolution.
How to use the numbers
Set up your document at the scaled size, including bleed, then place photos that reach the pixel size shown. A photo with fewer pixels will look soft when printed this large.
Large graphics are often built at 25 or 10 percent of full size so the files stay manageable. Resolution is always judged at the full printed size: a file built at 25 percent needs four times the resolution in the document, which the calculator shows as the document resolution.
Why 100 pixels per inch is often enough
Booth graphics are seen from a few feet away or more, so they do not need the resolution of a brochure. Many printers ask for something in the region of 100 to 150 pixels per inch at full size for photos. Logos and text should be vector, so they stay sharp at any size.
Questions
Artwork size questions
What size should I make my trade show backdrop artwork?
Use the visible size from your display supplier's template plus the bleed it asks for. A standard 10 ft backdrop is often around 10 x 8 ft visible, but pop-up frames wrap the ends, so the template matters more than the nominal size.
What resolution do booth graphics need?
Judge it at full printed size. Many printers ask for roughly 100 to 150 pixels per inch at full size for photos. Confirm the number for your material with the printer.
Why build booth artwork at a smaller scale?
Full-size files for a 20 ft wall are very large, and some design software limits document size; Adobe Illustrator's standard artboard stops at 227 inches. Building at 25 or 10 percent keeps files manageable, as long as the printer knows the scale.
How much bleed should I add?
Use the bleed in your supplier's template. It varies from a fraction of an inch to a few inches on some fabric frames, so the calculator lets you set it.
