Gordon Outdoor · Artwork
Billboard Design Guide
How to design for our 14' x 48' digital and printed billboards.
A great billboard says one thing, fast, to someone driving 60+ mph. This guide covers how to design for our standard 14' high x 48' wide bulletin, in both digital (LED) and printed (vinyl) formats.
The two formats share the same design rules but need different files: a digital board needs a small RGB image at exact pixel dimensions; a printed board needs a scaled, high-resolution CMYK file with bleed. Running on both? Build two separate files.
Design Principles
Drivers see your board for about 5–7 seconds, from 300–500 feet away. Design for that moment.
- 01
Keep it to 7 words or fewer.
- 02
One message, one image. A single strong visual beats a collage.
- 03
Make the logo big and obvious.
- 04
One simple call to action: a short web address, “Exit 52,” “Next Right,” or a searchable name. Avoid phone numbers, long URLs, QR codes, and social handles.
- 05
Use huge type. Headlines should fill about a third of the board’s height (3–4 ft tall letters).
- 06
Pick bold, simple fonts. Heavy sans-serifs read best; avoid thin, script, condensed, or decorative fonts.
- 07
Use high contrast. Yellow/black, white/dark blue, and black/white are most readable. Avoid red on green or blue on purple.
- 08
Leave empty space. Clutter kills readability.
- 09
Keep important content away from the edges.
- 10
Do the squint test: shrink your design to business-card size. If you can’t read it in 3 seconds, simplify.
01 · LED
Digital Billboards
Build your artwork at 1400 px wide x 400 px high, RGB, saved as a JPG. Digital ads run as a still image in a rotation, usually 6–8 seconds per turn.
| Dimensions | 1400 px wide x 400 px high (confirm with your location’s spec sheet) |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 72 ppi |
| Color mode | RGB, sRGB profile |
| File format | JPG at maximum quality (PNG on request) |
| File size | Under 1 MB |
| Animation | None. Still images only |
| Bleed | None needed |
- Build at the exact pixel size. Stretched or squished artwork will be rejected.
- Never submit CMYK; it displays muddy on LED. Convert Pantone colors to RGB.
- Avoid pure white backgrounds; use ~95% white to prevent nighttime glare.
- Avoid fine detail; thin lines and small text disappear on LED.
- Use bright, saturated color.
- Consider multiple versions (day/night, countdowns, seasonal). Ask us about scheduling.
- Approved digital artwork can typically go live in 1–2 business days.
02 · Vinyl
Printed Billboards
Build your artwork to scale at 1/2" = 1 ft: a 24" x 7" live area plus 0.3" bleed on every side, in CMYK at 300 ppi. Your design stays up for the full contract, usually 4+ weeks.
| Scale | 1/2 inch = 1 foot |
|---|---|
| Live area (visible) | 24" wide x 7" high |
| Bleed | 0.3" on every side |
| Total document size | 24.6" x 7.6" (7380 x 2280 px) |
| Resolution | 300 ppi at scale |
| Color mode | CMYK |
| Safe zone | Keep text and logos at least 0.5" inside the live area |
| Preferred file | Print-ready PDF, fonts outlined, images embedded |
| Also accepted | Packaged Illustrator/InDesign file, or layered PSD |
- Build in CMYK from the start; neon greens, electric blues, and hot oranges print duller.
- Run backgrounds all the way through the bleed.
- Respect the safe zone; vinyl wraps the frame and edges get hidden.
- Use vector art (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) for logos and text.
- Outline all fonts.
- Think about nighttime: very dark designs lose detail on lit boards; on unlit boards, light backgrounds with dark text read best after dusk.
- Proofread three times. A typo means paying to reprint.
- Allow 1–2 weeks from proof approval to install. Printing and installation are quoted separately.
Digital vs. Print
| Specification | Digital | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | 1400 x 400 px | 24.6" x 7.6" at 300 ppi |
| Color mode | RGB | CMYK |
| File type | JPG | Print-ready PDF |
| Bleed | None | 0.3" each side |
| Display time | 6–8 sec per rotation | 24/7 |
| Time to go live | 1–2 business days | 1–2 weeks |
| Production cost | None | Printing + installation |
| Changing the ad | Easy, no cost | Requires reprinting |
Running both? Build two files; don't convert one into the other.
Before You Submit
0/8Need help with your design?
Send finished files to your account representative, or let our in-house team design your billboard for you.
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