Designing Effective Printed Flags: Colour, Fonts, and Logo Placement Tips

Printed flags are one of the most effective outdoor advertising tools — especially for events, clubs, and local businesses looking to stand out. Whether you’re designing printed teardrop flags or printed feather flags, your flag’s visual design plays a critical role in how well it communicates your brand message. In this blog, we’ll cover the essential design elements — colour, font, and logo placement — and share expert tips for maximising visibility and impact.

Bold Colours That Pop in Outdoor Environments

The example shown above features a bold, high-contrast colour palette: red, yellow, and black on a white background — ideal for outdoor visibility against rocks, grass, or a busy event backdrop.

When designing for print, always choose Pantone Solid Coated colours over RGB. While RGB is used for digital screens, Pantone ensures colour consistency and vibrancy on fabric. This is especially important when ordering custom printed feather flags, where slight colour mismatches can affect your brand image.

To keep things simple and accurate, many customers find it helpful to use online tools like Canva. We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you use Canva to design your teardrop flag or feather flag — even if you don’t have graphic design experience.

Fonts: Readability Over Style

Text on flags should be bold, simple, and legible from a distance. When customers design printed teardrop flags, we often recommend thick, sans-serif fonts in uppercase.

Avoid cursive or overly stylised fonts — they tend to blur or become unreadable when the flag moves in the wind. Limit your message to a few key words, and use colour contrast (like black text on white) to enhance visibility. Large, spaced-out letters also perform better on vertical or curved surfaces.

Logo Placement and Sizing

Your logo should be instantly recognisable and positioned high or centrally on the flag to maintain visibility even when the flag is moving.

On printed feather flags, logos are often placed vertically, following the shape of the flag. Keep in mind:

• Leave white space around the logo so it’s not crowded.
• Make it large — bigger is better when you’re designing for distance.

Want to visualise your layout first? Try our free Canva templates in the Canva design guide blog.

Design for Movement: Keep It Simple

Remember, your flag is likely to be moving in the wind. Don’t overload it with text or fine detail. Stick to:

• 1–2 strong words or phrases
• A bold logo
• Strong colour contrast

That’s why our printed teardrop flags and feather flag kits focus on simplicity — giving your audience just enough time to absorb the message at a glance.

Mockups and Proofing Before You Print

Before finalising your order, always request:

• A digital mockup on the correct flag shape
• Confirmation of Pantone colours
• Guidance on single vs double-sided print options

If you're designing your own flag, our team is happy to check your file and provide feedback to ensure it meets our print requirements.

Need High-Impact Printed Flags?

We specialise in professionally made printed teardrop flags and printed feather flags with fast turnaround times and unbeatable prices in New Zealand. Use our Canva guide to start designing your flag today, or get in touch for a custom design and quote.