Interested in printing a vinyl banner in the Workshop? Read below for more information.
Getting Started
You must be a Plain City Public Library cardholder to use The Workshop. Learn more about registering for a library card here. Each group or individual using The Workshop is permitted to print up 16 ft of banner material per month.
Design
As The Workshop is a DIY space, you will need to design your own banner for printing. This can be done using any design platform. Some examples include Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, and Inkscape. Of these, Gimp, Inkscape, and Canva (web-based basic account) are free to use.
We recommend Canva for beginners due to its ease of use and web-based interface. They offer account set-up and several banner templates for free. You’ll find 3 sizes of banner templates within Canva that can be used with our printer. These are Small: 48×24 in, Medium: 72×36 in, and Large: 96×48 in. We suggest you stick with these if possible.
Download your design as either a (raster image) PNG file at 300 ppi resolution or as a (vector image) SVG or EPS file. If using a PNG file, you’ll also want to download it at as large a file as possible to ensure a good quality print. Low-resolution files can result in blurriness/pixelation and a poor quality print. Keep in mind that when you add elements or your own images in design platforms like Canva, you’ll want those to be at a sufficiently high resolution as well to achieve good quality prints.
Appointments and File Upload
Visit plaincitylib.org/workshop to request an appointment and share your banner file with Workshop staff. The Workshop does accept walk-ins, but making an appointment will ensure that your Workshop experience runs smoother. Appointments allow staff to take a look at your design ahead of time and point out any changes that should be made to ensure a better print. Appointments also allow staff to be ready for you when you arrive, with the correct material loaded into the equipment.
Printing
Your banner will be printed using the Workshop’s Mimaki CJV150-130 Wide Format Eco Solvent Printer. Workshop staff will convert your image to EPS if needed, load your file into the printer’s software, and get your final approval before printing.
Depending on the size and complexity of your banner, printing can take more than 2 hours. You must be present in the Workshop while your banner is printing. If you have more than one banner, we suggest a second appointment.
Finishing
When your banner is finished printing, you will need to trim around the edges of the banner and install grommets for hanging if desired. The Workshop has all of the equipment needed for you to finish your banner.
Payment
The Workshop charges only for materials used. In the case of a banner that would include the banner material, a small ink charge, and grommets. As of 3/12/26 the costs for these items are:
Banner material – $0.78/linear ft.
Mimaki Ink – $0.60/cc
Grommets – $0.20/set