Lesson Plan
Course Title: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration
Session Title: Large Format Printing
Lesson Duration: Approximately Two 90-minute class periods
[Lesson length is subjective and will vary from instructor to instructor]
Performance Objective:
Upon completion of this assignment, the students will complete a large format project with
professional presentation qualities.
Specific Objectives:
1. Discuss options for large format printing.
2. Discuss resolution issues involved with large format printing.
3. Discuss presentation methods for large format printing.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
§130.89 (c)
(1) The student applies academic knowledge and skills in art and design projects. The student
is expected to:
(A) apply English language arts knowledge and skills by demonstrating use of content,
technical concepts, and vocabulary; using correct grammar, punctuation, and
terminology to write and edit documents; and composing and editing copy for a
variety of written documents such as brochures, programs, posters, flyers, and
magazine covers; and
(B) apply mathematics knowledge and skills by identifying whole numbers, decimals,
and fractions applied to measurement and scale; demonstrating knowledge of
arithmetic operations; using conversion methods such as fractions to decimals and
inches to points; and applying measurement to solve a problem.
(2)
The student applies professional communications strategies. The student is expected to:
(C) interpret and communicate information, data, and observations.
(8)
The student applies ethical decision making and complies with laws regarding use of
technology in art and design. The student is expected to:
(A) exhibit ethical conduct;
(B) apply copyright laws;
(C) model respect for intellectual property; and
(D) demonstrate proper etiquette and knowledge of acceptable use policies.
(11) The student develops an advanced understanding of graphic design and illustration. The
student is expected to:
(A) interpret, evaluate, and justify design decisions;
(B) participate in oral or written critiques of designs by:
(i) applying a critical method of evaluation.
(D) employ a creative design process to create original two- or three-dimensional
projects by:
(viii) using printing concepts.
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Instructor/Trainer
References:
1. Research online large format posters
2. Research online for print houses
Instructional Aids:
1. Large Format Printing slide presentation
2. Image Resolution Guidelines
3. Assessment Questions
Materials Needed:
1. A student-created piece with high enough resolution to print in a large format.
2. Foam core board
3. Examples of large format print pieces that have been mounted and examples that have
been matted.
Note: You may be able to work with school administration to identify work that needs to be
printed and mounted on a large scale, or you may be able to combine efforts and get the district
or campus to cover the expense associated with this lesson.
Equipment Needed:
1. Computer with a projection system and appropriate software to display the slide
presentation.
2. Digital cameras for student use.
3. If available, a large format color printer to print projects; if not, access to a service bureau
that will print projects for the students.
4. Computer stations with industry-standard graphic design software installed.
Learner
Ability to pay for printing – or the teacher may choose to subsidize the printing costs from
budget or fundraising depending upon school district requirements.
Introduction
MI
Introduction (LSI Quadrant I):
SAY: There are many ways that we can present our work as advertising
professionals.
ASK: Is there anyone who has ever seen their work enlarged to a poster-sized
printed piece?
SAY: Today we will learn about resolution issues related to enlarging our work. We
will also create and mount large format pieces to present.
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
2
Outline
MI
Outline (LSI Quadrant II):
I. Discuss options for large format printing.
A. Service bureau
1. Many online service bureaus taking orders
a. short-run color printing
b. great solution for the short-term
2. Disadvantages
a. Costly -charge a minimum of about $10 for an
11” x 17” poster and it increases exponentially
from there
b. No way to “hurry up” a service bureau. They
have limited turnaround times
3. Large format color plotter
a. Best option if the funds are available.
b. Allows the artist to understand the importance of
resolution issues
c. Allows you to see flaws in your work that may
not be as apparent in smaller portfolio prints.
II. Discuss resolution issues involved with large format
printing.
A. Maximum capability of most large format printers these
days is 2400 x 1200 optimized dpi from a 1200 x 1200
dpi input.
B. Other guidelines
Image Resolution
Less than 640 x 480
640 x 480
Print Size Considerations
Only wallet-sized prints
Absolute minimum resolution for
4x6 (results will vary)
1024 x 768
Minimum recommended
resolution for 4x6
1152 x 864
Minimum recommended
resolution for 5x7
1600 x 1200 Minimum recommended
resolution for 8x10 or larger
Instructor Notes:
Use the slide
presentation
(slides 1-5) to
introduce and
discuss options.
Use the slide
presentation (slide
6) in conjunction
with the Image
Resolution
Guidelines
handout to discuss
this topic.
Note: For large-format prints (11×14, 16×20, and 20×30), it
is generally safest to use an image that is 3 megapixels or
larger.
III. Discuss presentation methods for large format printing.
A. Matting
B. Mounting
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Use the slide 7 to
discuss this issue.
Show examples of
matted and
mounted work to
compare methods.
Application
MI
Guided Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
The teacher will go over the assignment and discuss definitions using the Image
Resolution Guidelines sheet and the slide presentation with the class. Ask students
to research links to some online print houses.
Note: If desired, the teacher may find websites for online print houses and project
them from the teacher’s computer for the students to review as a group. This
enables students to see that there are lots of options available for large format
printing online.
The students will create an image that will be high enough in resolution to be
reproduced in a large format and to demonstrate and understanding of effective
resolution.
MI
Independent Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
Students work independently to complete the assignment:
1. Students may already have a completed piece that they would like to enlarge or
they may wish to do a new piece at the recommended resolution.
2. Students need to mount their work on foam core boards for a professionallooking, large format presentation (this can be done in class if there are available
materials or this can be done at a service center.)
Summary
MI
Review (LSI Quadrants I and IV):
 Review the talking points presented in the slide presentation.
Options when making large format presentations
[Service bureau or color plotter.]
Why print large format pieces?
[Some professional projects require this format.]
What are drawbacks of using a service bureau?
[Service bureaus are costly and you are at their mercy with regard to print
timing.]
What are drawbacks of large color plotters?
[Cost.]
What are resolution issues that arise with large format printing?
[The maximum capability of most large format printers these days is 2400 x 1200
optimized dpi from a 1200 x 1200 dpi input.]
What about the presentation itself? Matting or mounting?
[If the output is computer-generated, it is standard to mount the piece on foam
Core board. These can then be laminated with a matte laminate to preserve color
luminance.]
 Have individual students assess their classmates’ work once the projects are
printed and mounted.
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
4
Evaluation
MI
Informal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III):
The teacher monitors individual/group progress as students work on activities and
provides individual help/redirection as needed. Remind students about ethical
conduct issues as they work to research information online and create/modify their
designs.
MI
Formal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III, IV):
Evaluate the results of the assignment with a discussion on resolution issues. Use
the Assessment Questions document as a guideline for the discussion.
Note: You may want to use the completed Assessment Questions document for a
grade. Two additional grades can be assigned for this lesson: one for completion of
the large format print and one for participation in the discussion.
Extension
MI
Extension/Enrichment (LSI Quadrant IV):
Students who have succeeded in learning the techniques may wish to try doing the
following to practice further:
 Bring in articles from online searches that delve further into large format printing
issues such as billboard-sized printing. What are the resolution requirements for
super graphics?
 Visit a college graphic design show. How do they present their work? Is it
mounted professionally? This is a good lesson in which to do a field trip – to an
agency or to a university to look at the presentation standards.
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Image Resolution Guidelines
Q: What does image resolution mean?
A: Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image. Resolution is sometimes referred to
by the width and height of the image as well as the total number of pixels in the image. For
example, an image that is 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high (1600×1200) contains
1,920,000 pixels (or almost 2 Megapixels).
Q: How is resolution related to file size?
A: In general, the rule is that the higher the resolution of the picture, the greater the file size.
JPEG (.jpg) compression can reduce the size of the file, but it also affects the quality of the
image. Many digital cameras and photo editing programs allow you to control the amount of
JPEG compression. Increasing the amount of compression reduces the file size but also
reduces image quality.
Q: What are image resolution guidelines with regard to print size?
A: Image Resolution
Less than
640 x 480
640 x 480
1024 x 768
1152 x 864
1600 x 1200
Print Size Considerations
Only wallet-sized prints recommended
Absolute minimum resolution for 4x6 (results will vary)
Minimum recommended resolution for 4x6
Minimum recommended resolution for 5x7
Minimum recommended resolution for 8x10 or larger
Note: For large-format prints (11×14, 16×20, and 20×30), it is generally safest to use an
image that is 3 megapixels or larger.
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Student Name:
Assessment Questions
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions regarding your large format print project. Be
prepared to discuss your answers in class.
1. What was the quality of the large print format?
If less than acceptable, was the resolution a factor?
Were problems found in the large print format that could not be seen in the original size?
2. What would it have cost to get the project printed at a print service?
Research fees for at least three print services:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
3. Were you satisfied with the overall quality of the large print format?
Why or why not?
AAVTC: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration - Large Format Printing
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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