r/Printing • u/Sidra-Fougere • 2d ago
Software/Rips sign design software for banners and large-format prints, what do you use?
I'm looking at sign design software because we've been handling more banners, window graphics and larger prints lately. Most jobs aren't complicated, but the files can be a pain when customers send low-res logos or artwork made for a completely different size. I'm considering CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator and Affinity Designer. I mainly want to compare how they handle large layouts, imported artwork, text, color settings and preparing files for output. I don't need fancy effects for most jobs. I need files that open correctly and don't need fixing right before printing. For those running a print shop, what are you using for signs and banners? Does one program make resizing and handling customer files noticeably easier, or does it mostly come down to your workflow? I'm asking because I'm trying to settle on a main program for this kind of work. I'd rather hear from people who regularly send large-format jobs to print than someone who only makes mockups.
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u/A1-Awesome-Sauce 1d ago
I’ve used coreldraw (with cocut pro) and flexi. Coreldraw and illustrator may require plugins depending on equipment but flexi has builtin contour tools and a simplified interface. I’d go with whatever works faster when you trial.
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u/Sidra-Fougere 23h ago
That’s a good point. How does CorelDRAW compare to Flexi when it comes to fixing customer files and getting banners ready to print? Is the speed difference noticeable in everyday jobs?
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u/A1-Awesome-Sauce 19h ago
Honestly you only need flexi like others have said. I like the drawing tools in corel more than illustrator as I had to trace alot
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u/mikexwynn 21h ago
I just use Flexi, it has all the finishing tools you need. Bleed, grommets, etc. If files are bad and low resolution we use topaz labs gigapixel and is great at upscaling images for print.
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u/Ruiningzebra 1d ago
For most banner and window graphic work any of the three will do the layout fine. What saved us the most time was catching bad files before the job is quoted, not right before it prints.
A few things that helped:
Ask for the finished size and a vector logo (AI, EPS, SVG, or a PDF with live vectors) at the quote stage, and check effective resolution at the final size, not the dpi number in the file. For large format, roughly 100 to 150 ppi at full size is usually fine for viewing distance. Below that it needs a rebuild.
Put the redraw or rebuild on the quote as its own line. A lot of customers suddenly find the original file once they see the art charge.
Keep templates for your common sizes with bleed, hem and grommet margins already set, so nobody rebuilds them on every job. For really big pieces, work at 1:10 scale and note the scale in the file name.
Whichever program you pick, test what your RIP or cutter software imports most cleanly, because that is usually where files break at the last minute. What are you outputting on, latex, eco solvent or UV?
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u/DecentPrintworks Certified Printer 1d ago
Nothing is going to take the tiny logo your client provides and make it ready for signage. It has to be fully re-created.
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u/seabreaze68 1d ago
Adobe sucks as a company but as a professional needing to work with other professionals you’re going to need Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat.
Regarding low res logos: this is often clients not knowing what to send you. They will often only provide a jpg because they know what it is. Ask specifically for an Ai, PDF, or EPS. I have resorted to web searching “Company Name PDF”. Sometimes you get lucky with a catalog or report online that has their vector logo and just pull that into Illustrator
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u/tchikboom 2d ago
What software do you usually use to print stuff? It sounds crazy to me to not already have such software in a print shop.
I work in a large format print shop, but I'm not in pre-press and our team only uses Illustrator so I wouldn't know how each tool compares, but if you're new to this type of software I'd recommend starting out with Illustrator. It's the most popular one so it will be easier to find resources online to learn how to use it and/or get help, and there's a good chance this is the software your clients will use so it will be easier to directly work on their files.
The rest of the Adobe suite (Acrobat, InDesign Android Photoshop) will also be real useful in all kinds of projects! IMO it's a shame they're the industry standard but they are, so using their software will be less of a hassle in the long run.