Always check your product’s artwork instructions. Bleed and safe margins can vary by product.

Where can you use a roll-up?

A roll-up is a portable display for trade fairs, events, shops, reception areas, seminars and presentation spaces. The printed graphic retracts into the base for transport, making the display compact and quick to set up.

Its main advantage is a large vertical advertising surface without the need for a separate wall or exhibition structure. A roll-up can work on its own, beside a table or as part of a larger exhibition stand.

Which roll-up size should you choose?

The right width depends mainly on the available space and how much visual impact you need. The most common size is 85 × 200 cm, while wider models give your message more presence in larger spaces.

A roll-up is usually viewed from several metres away

A roll-up is not read like a brochure. At a trade fair or event, people may have only a few seconds to notice the display and understand what your company is offering.

A useful test is to view your design at a reduced size on screen. If your company name and main message do not stand out immediately, they are probably too small on the finished roll-up as well.

Build the message from top to bottom

The upper and middle sections of a roll-up receive the most attention. Place your logo, company name or most important message high enough on the banner and make it large enough to be noticed.

• Top: logo, company name or main message.
• Middle: your key image, service or customer benefit.
• Bottom: website, contact details or supporting information.

Do not place your most important message right at the bottom. The lower part of a roll-up is more likely to be hidden by tables, people or other exhibition structures.

One clear message is better than ten small ones

One of the most common mistakes is trying to fit every service, a long company introduction, contact details and several images onto the same roll-up.

The purpose of a roll-up is to attract attention and quickly explain who you are and what you offer. More detailed information can be provided on your website, in a brochure or during a conversation.

Make the logo and headline large enough

A small logo can look perfectly adequate on a computer screen but almost disappear on a two-metre-high roll-up. If brand recognition matters, give your logo enough space.

The same applies to the headline. A short, large headline will usually work much better than a long sentence in small type.

Use one strong image

One good image or a clear graphic element is often more effective than several small pictures. The image should support your main message rather than compete with it.

Avoid enlarging small web images to roll-up size. Large-format graphics do not require the same resolution as small printed products because they are normally viewed from further away, but the original image still needs to be of sufficient quality.

Use contrast and leave enough white space

Text should stand out clearly from the background. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background usually works well. Avoid placing important text over a busy photograph unless there is enough contrast for easy reading.

You do not need to fill every part of the banner. White space helps separate the logo, headline, image and supporting information, making the overall design easier to understand.

Contact details – keep only what matters

A roll-up rarely needs every possible contact detail. A website address or QR code may be all you need.

For example, if your team is present at an exhibition stand, showing a phone number, email address, street address and every social media account at the same time rarely adds much value.

Preparing roll-up artwork for print

Create the artwork according to the dimensions of the product you are ordering and preferably supply it as a print-ready PDF. Before submitting the file, check the image quality, positioning of important content and final artwork dimensions.

• Create the artwork according to the ordered roll-up size.
• Use the bleed specified in your product’s artwork instructions.
• Keep logos and important text safely away from the edges.
• Use images with sufficient resolution.
• Both RGB and CMYK artwork can be accepted for printing.
• Supply the final artwork as a PDF file.

For more information, see our print-ready PDF guide, bleed guide and image resolution guide.

Good roll-up vs. bad roll-up

The example below shows how strongly content and visual hierarchy affect the final result. A good roll-up makes the company and its main message immediately visible. A poor design makes the viewer work to understand what is important.

Before sending your roll-up to print

• Can you see the company name or logo immediately?
• Can the main message be understood within a few seconds?
• Is the text readable from several metres away?
• Does the roll-up have one clear main message?
• Is the most important content in the upper and middle sections?
• Are the images suitable for large-format printing?
• Is the artwork the correct size and saved as a PDF?