Whether you want to create a banner for your business or make a banner to give as a gift to a child with some of her favorite things on it, creating your own banner and having it printed online is a fairly easy and fun project to undertake. You need a graphics program to create a unique original design or to assemble elements--as in a montage--as well as an online site that prints banners.
Instructions
1. Create a banner using a graphics program of your choice. Photoshop and GIMP are both useful programs for creating a banner design. If you can't afford a program like Photoshop, GIMP is free to download and does many of the same things as Photoshop. Use a sketchbook to draw out your design ideas and use your final drawing as a guide when you create the banner in your graphics program.
2. Create a new document for your banner's design by clicking "File" and choosing "New." Add the dimensions, background and resolution setting for your image. Plug in the dimensions of the size of the banner your image will be printed on. If you intend to add print to a color banner, selecting transparent might be the right choice for your particular design, but generally, white is a decent background type. As a rule, choose a resolution of 300 pixels to achieve a quality print. Some online sites that you might print your banner through, such as CafePress or Zazzle, have preset requirements, so determine if those preset requirements will work for your document.
3. Use layers to add external elements such as photos, artwork or clip art. To pull elements you have saved on your computer, go to "File," then choose "Open," "Copy" and "Paste." Create additional layers by going to the Layers panel and selecting "New Layer." This is helpful, since it makes editing individual elements such as text and graphics easier for you.
4. Use the tools available in your graphics program to create your own artwork or to alter artwork, clip art or other graphics you want to include in your design. Most graphics programs have many of the same tools, though sometimes with slightly different names. Make use of filters and image adjustments such as "Hue/Saturation" and "Drop Shadow." Add any text selections by first choosing a font style, then clicking on the "Text" tool to create your text. Use the "Move" tool to position text and graphics. Save your final banner design as a high resolution JPEG.
5. Locate a site online that can print your banner. You might print your banner through an online print shop. Another option is to upload your design to a site like CafePress that allows you to create an account and upload your design to a banner. You can also upload your design online to a site like the Staples website, which will print it on a banner for you.
