What Are Roller Banners?
Roller banners (also known as pull-up banners or roll-up banners) are portable display systems commonly used at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores and corporate events. They consist of a printed graphic panel that retracts into a cassette base and is supported by a lightweight pole.
Designed for fast setup and easy transport, roller banners can be assembled in seconds and packed away just as quickly. Their tall vertical format (typically 800mm–1200mm wide and up to 2100mm high) makes them ideal for delivering bold branding and clear messaging in busy environments.
While roller banners are simple to use, designing them correctly requires attention to size, layout, resolution and bleed. This guide explains how to design a roller banner properly, including artwork setup, templates and best-practice design tips.
If you’re ready to order, view our full range of roller banners here.
Roller Banner Dimensions
- 800mm wide x 2000mm high – The standard roller banner size, ideal for exhibitions and retail spaces.
- 1000mm wide x 2000mm high – A wider option offering greater visual impact in busy venues.
- 1200mm wide x 2000mm high – Extra-wide display format for maximum presence.
- Sidewinder Premium – up to 2100mm high – Enhanced height and stability for frequent long-term use.
- Outdoor roller banners – 800mm wide x 1470mm or 2000mm high
What Size Roller Banner Should I Choose?
For smaller exhibition stands or reception areas, 800mm roller banners are typically sufficient. If you need greater visibility from distance or have a larger stand space, 1000mm or 1200mm wide roller banners provide stronger impact and more design flexibility.
Roller Banner Templates
Using the correct roller banner template is essential when preparing your artwork. Each banner size has specific dimensions, bleed allowances and safe areas that must be followed to ensure accurate printing and correct fitting into the cassette.
Banner World provides PDF artwork templates for every roller banner size we supply. These templates can be opened or imported into most professional design software, including:
- Adobe Illustrator (recommended for vector artwork)
- Adobe Photoshop
- Canva
- Affinity Designer
When designing your roller banner artwork:
- Keep text and logos inside the safe area.
- Extend background colours into the bleed area.
- Leave the lower 100–150mm clear, as this section wraps inside the base.
- Ensure proportions match the exact banner dimensions.
You can access the correct template directly from your chosen product page when placing your order.
Artwork Resolution For Roller Banners
Roller banners are designed to be viewed from a distance rather than close-up. Because of this, artwork only needs to be supplied at 150dpi at full size to print sharply and clearly.
Recommended Artwork Settings
- Resolution: 150dpi at full size
- Colour mode: CMYK
- Fonts converted to outlines (if using Illustrator)
- Images supplied at final print dimensions
Setting artwork at 300dpi is unnecessary for large-format printing and will only increase file size without improving visible quality.
Vector-based software such as Adobe Illustrator is ideal for roller banner design, as text and graphic elements remain perfectly sharp at any scale.
Design & Print Best Practices
Colour Setup (CMYK vs RGB)
Roller banners are printed using CMYK large-format printers. Always set your artwork colour mode to CMYK rather than RGB to avoid unexpected colour shifts when printed.
Artwork supplied in RGB will be converted automatically, which can result in colour differences compared to your screen preview.
For strong, solid black areas we recommend using the following colour mix:
C=10, M=10, Y=10, K=100
Pantone colour matching is available on request (additional charges apply).
Margins, Safe Areas & Bleed
Roller banners require specific bleed and safe margin allowances to ensure the finished print fits correctly into the cassette base.
- Allow 100–150mm extra at the bottom – this section wraps around the roller mechanism and should not contain key text or logos.
- Allow 10–50mm at the top for the header rail.
- Keep important information within the safe area to prevent trimming.
- Extend background colours fully into the bleed area.
Always refer to the exact template for your chosen roller banner size to confirm the correct measurements.
Roller Banner Design Tips
Designing an effective roller banner requires clarity, hierarchy and strong visual impact. Because banners are viewed from a distance, your design must communicate quickly and clearly.
1. Place Your Logo and Headline at the Top
People naturally read roller banners from top to bottom. Your logo, main headline or strongest message should appear at the top of the banner where it will be seen first. Avoid placing critical information near the bottom, as part of the lower section wraps into the base.
2. Keep Text Minimal and Clear
Roller banners are not brochures. Avoid large paragraphs of text. Focus on short headlines, concise bullet points and a clear call-to-action. Viewers should understand your message within seconds.
3. Use High-Contrast Colours
Choose colours that align with your brand but also create contrast between background and text. High-contrast designs improve readability in busy exhibition environments and retail spaces.
4. Choose Readable Fonts
Select clean, easy-to-read fonts. Sans-serif fonts often work best for exhibition graphics. Avoid script or decorative fonts for body text, as they can be difficult to read from distance.
5. Create Strong Visual Hierarchy
Guide the viewer’s eye down the banner using size, spacing and colour. Headline first, supporting message second, contact details or call-to-action last.
6. Add a Clear Call-to-Action
Whether it’s a website URL, phone number or QR code, your roller banner should tell people what to do next. Place QR codes at chest height where they can be scanned easily.
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