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Designing Badges for Pre-Printing
Designing Badges for Pre-Printing

Tips and guidelines for designing and submitting a custom badge image

Daniel Murphey avatar
Written by Daniel Murphey
Updated over a week ago

The badge printers that Webex Events Onsite supports can only print in black or gray text and elements. So what do you do if you want to add your logo to the badge or dazzle attendees with a full-color background? You create a custom badge design and have badge stock pre-printed! When attendees check in with Webex Events Onsite, attendee information prints on your awesome custom design. ✨

An image of a pre-printed badge with an anime character in running on a yellow background with floral designs.

This article explains how to work with Webex Events to order custom badge stock, and it offers helpful tips for designing the badge image file for pre-printing. Let's go!

💡 Keep in mind, this article assumes some experience with design software.

Working with Webex Events

If you've decided that a custom badge is right for you, reach out to your Webex Events Customer Success Manager at least 8 weeks before your event. We'll send you a custom badge questionnaire to fill out. At the end of the form, you'll download a badge design template based on your answers. From that point, start designing your badge, keeping the following best practices in mind. ⬇️

Designing for pre-printed badge stock

Know your badge type

To design your badge correctly, you have to know which size you'll use. Refer to our Onsite Badge Types article for information about each size and type. We generally recommend double-sided tear-resistant badges unless you have badge holders or plan to purchase them.

Plan carefully for attendee information

Before you start designing the badge, make sure you know exactly what information you want to include and where you want it on the badge. Since printers only print in black or gray, the parts of the badge that will have attendee information should have a lighter background. As an example, the badge from our friends at Sakura-Con (pictured above) has a large light patch for the attendee information.

Use CMYK colors

If you create your badge file in RGB, your proof will be deceptively vibrant. Because of printing limitations, the final printed product won’t appear the same as the proof unless you design in CMYK.

Be aware of the template safe zones

When you fill out the custom badge request form, you receive a .ai template you'll use to design your badge. Templates include a blue “safe zone” around the edge of the template. If a design element goes outside that line, elements may be cut off in printing.

Embed objects and images in the .ai file

We require that badge images use the .ai format. So your badge prints at the best possible resolution, make sure to embed images and objects in the file. This also ensures that component images aren't lost. Images should be at least 300dpi for the best results.

Use bold lines to prevent image bleed

If there are small lines of a light color surrounded by a dark color, it's very likely the dark color will bleed into that light color, obscuring the design.

Examine the proof carefully

After you submit your design to your Webex Events contact, we'll send you a proof of the design before we submit it for printing. Examine the proof carefully to ensure the design is just right. 🏆

Now you have our best advice for creating a stellar badge design! 🚀 Read our Onsite Badge Printing Overview and Timeline for even more helpful tips, links to more resources, and best practices.

Questions? Chat with us or email support@socio.events

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