Artwork guide
How to get your logo balloon-ready.
Screen printing on latex is forgiving of some things and unforgiving of others. Two minutes here saves a round of proofs later.
1. Send the best file you have
In order of preference:
- Vector: PDF, AI, EPS or SVG. These scale to any size with crisp edges and are what we work from directly.
- High-resolution bitmap: a PNG or JPG at least 1,500 pixels wide, ideally with a transparent or plain background.
- Anything else: send what you have. We can often redraw a simple logo, and we will tell you up front if it needs more work.
Please avoid screenshots, logos pasted into Word or PowerPoint, and small images copied from a website or Facebook page. They look fine on screen and fuzzy on a balloon.
2. Think in one colour
Each balloon is printed with a single ink colour. A full-colour logo is converted to a one-colour version: usually the outline and main shapes in one solid ink, with gradients and photographs removed. If your logo relies on colour to make sense, send us the version your designer made for single-colour use (most brand guidelines include one), or let us prepare it and show you on the proof.
Want two colours in the set? Order the pack with an ink change (£9) and we print part of the run in each colour, as we did for Kings Bridge.
3. Choose contrast over cleverness
| Balloon | Ink that reads best |
|---|---|
| White, Ivory, Silver, Rose Gold, pastels | Black, Midnight Blue, Red, dark brand colours |
| Black, Midnight Blue, Navy, Burgundy, Dark Blue | White, Gold, Silver |
| Red, Royal Blue, Emerald, strong colours | White or Black, depending on the brand |
Mid-tone ink on a mid-tone balloon (say, grey ink on pale blue) disappears at a distance. If in doubt, we will recommend.
4. Keep it bold
- Line weight: very thin lines can break up as the balloon stretches. We thicken hairlines where needed.
- Text: short messages print beautifully. Long sentences, slogans in small type and legal disclaimers do not. As a guide, keep text to a few words and let the logo do the work.
- Print area: the print sits on the widest part of the balloon, which on an 11" balloon is a roughly circular area about 10 to 12 cm across. Wide, flat logos print smaller than square ones.
- Backgrounds: leave them off. The balloon colour is your background.
5. Tell us the spec with the file
When you email adela@theballoonprinters.uk, include:
- The range (Fashion, Pearl, Budget or Top print)
- Balloon colours and the split if you want a mix
- Ink colour
- Quantity
- The date you need them, and whether you will collect or need delivery
We reply with a proof showing your artwork on the balloon shape in your chosen colours. Check the spelling, the ink colour and the balloon colour, say yes, and we print.