A giant presentation cheque isn't really about how big you can print it — it's about whether the amount, the recipient, your logo, the event name and the date all read clearly in the photos taken on the day. Also called an oversized cheque, a giant cheque or a presentation cheque board, it's a staple of award ceremonies, donation handovers, launch events and press conferences — so the design has to start from the camera's point of view.
What events are giant cheques for?
Its job isn't to pay anyone — it's to blow up the message of an award, a donation, a prize, a partnership or an opening so that everyone in the room, and everyone who later sees the photo, understands what happened at a glance.
Award ceremonies: show the prize money, the winner, the organiser and the event name.
Donation handovers: clearly display the donation amount, the beneficiary, the donor and the date.
Openings and launches: pair it with a ribbon-cutting, a partnership announcement, a brand activation or a press-conference photo.
School, corporate or community events: prize money, grant presentations, thank-you ceremonies or publicity group shots.
If the event needs photos, social posts, a press release or a record for a partner, a giant cheque beats an ordinary A4 document, a certificate or a spoken announcement — because the photo itself already carries the point.
1200 x 600 mm vs 1800 x 800 mm: how to choose
Printing Banana lists two sizes: 1200 x 600 mm and 1800 x 800 mm, both on 5mm foamboard. When you choose, don't just ask which one is bigger — look at the crowd size, the shooting distance and what the photo is for.
1200 x 600 mm: suited to smaller events, one- or two-person hand-held shots, indoor meeting rooms, and school or in-house presentations.
1800 x 800 mm: suited to larger stages, group shots, press conferences, brand activations or scenes shot from a distance.
If several people will hold it at once, or the photographer will stand well back, you generally want bigger type and a cleaner layout. But more people doesn't automatically mean the largest size — it depends on whether the photo needs to capture full bodies, the backdrop, the host, the presenting guests and the cheque content.
If you go with 1800 x 800 mm, think beyond the visual impact: transport, lifts, car boots, moving around on site, and how many hands will hold it. A bigger board doesn't mean you can cram in more information — if anything, a giant cheque suffers most when the content is cluttered and no single point stands out.
What should go on the cheque?
An event cheque should work like the headline of the event photo: little information, accurate, easy to read. Sort the content by priority first, so the design doesn't turn into a giant poster.
First focus: the amount. It's usually the first thing seen in the photo, so the type needs to be large and high-contrast.
Second focus: the payee, winner or beneficiary's name.
Third focus: the presenter's logo, the organiser's logo or the brand name.
The basics: the event name and date.
Add if relevant: partner logos, an event slogan, a cheque number, the location or a short congratulatory line.
Don't overload it with: long explanations, multiple blocks of fine print, busy backgrounds or too much sponsor detail.
If there's a lot to say, ask first: "In the photo, what do I most want people to remember — the amount, the brand, the winner or the event name?" A single giant cheque is best serving one main message, with everything else in a supporting role.
The photo safe zone: placing logos, the amount and the hand-hold positions
When you design a giant cheque, keep important information off the left and right edges and the bottom, because guests holding the cheque can easily cover them. The amount, the recipient, the event name and the main logo should sit in the central sightline so they stay clear in photos, on a livestream or after cropping.
Central sightline: the amount, the payee or winner, the event name.
Logo zone: the main logo can go top-left, top-right or top-centre, but keep it clear of the edges and the hand-hold area.
Hand-hold zone: leave room on the left and right; no amount, names, dates or important logos here.
Crop-safe zone: social-media photos may crop the edges, so keep important information away from all four sides.
The 5 most common giant-cheque design mistakes
Most giant cheques don't fail at the printer — they fail because the design wasn't thought through from the on-site photo angle. These five spots are the ones most likely to make the event photo unclear.
Amount too small: the amount is usually the most important thing in the photo, and it shouldn't be upstaged by a logo, the background or fine print.
Logo too close to the edge: the left and right sides get covered when the cheque is held, so keep important information away from where hands go.
Too much information: a giant cheque isn't a poster — one photo is best making one point.
Not enough contrast: livestreams, stage lighting and phone cameras all make low-contrast text harder to read.
Unchecked details: one wrong amount, name or date and the event photo is very hard to salvage.
No artwork yet? Send us the event details first
If you already have brand colours, an event key visual or sponsor logos, send them along; if you don't have a design direction yet, just tell us the nature of the event — an award cheque, a donation cheque, an opening, a competition prize or a press conference — and we can start from the design direction.
Just a logo and some text: we can set it up as a clean, formal layout, with the emphasis on clarity and a safe, solid look.
An event KV or brand visual: we can use it as a background or supporting element, as long as it doesn't hurt the readability of the amount and the payee.
Multiple logos: decide the hierarchy of organiser, sponsor and partner first, so they aren't all the same size and losing focus.
The point of the design service isn't to make the cheque busy — it's to make the event photo look formal, keep the details correct, and let the main message read even from a distance.
Please prepare this information before printing
To enquire about printing or design, it helps to have the following ready. The more complete the information, the easier it is to judge whether the layout and size are right.
Event purpose: award, donation, opening, press conference, competition prize or other.
Preferred size: 1200 x 600 mm or 1800 x 800 mm; if you're not sure, tell us the crowd size and shooting distance first.
Cheque wording: payee, amount, date, event name, presenter's name.
Logo files: company logo, organiser logo, partner logos — clear files are best.
Design direction: formal, lively, school event, corporate event, charity donation or brand launch.
Whether you need the design service: if you don't have artwork, just say you'd like help with the design.
Event date and setting: indoors, on a stage, in a meeting room, at a mall, in a school hall or against an outdoor backdrop.
Once your details are together, take a look at giant cheque printing, then hand your event details, logos and design requirements to our team to follow up.
FAQ
Should I choose 1200 x 600 mm or 1800 x 800 mm?
For a small indoor event with two or three people holding it in a group shot, 1200 x 600 mm is usually easier to handle; for a stage, a large group shot or a press conference, 1800 x 800 mm suits distance shooting better. The most accurate call still comes down to the on-site distance, the number of people and what the photo is for.
What material is the giant cheque made from?
The product spec states that giant cheques use 5mm foamboard. This kind of material suits event display props — the point is giving the cheque enough rigidity so it's easy to hold and photograph on site.
I don't have artwork — can I just send the details and have you design it?
Yes. Send the event name, amount, payee, date, company logo, event purpose and the style you want, and Printing Banana can help lay out the giant cheque for you.
Can I put lots of logos on the cheque?
You can, but keep a clear hierarchy. The organiser, sponsors and partners don't all have to be the same size — otherwise the photo gets messy. Decide on the most important brand and event message first.
What's the most important thing to check before sending artwork?
The most important are the amount, payee, date, logos and event name. If any of these is wrong, the event photo is directly affected. After that, check that the type is large enough, the colours are clear, and important content stays clear of the hand-hold positions.
Not sure how to start?
You don't need artwork to begin — send us the details and we can help lay it out so your giant cheque reads clearly, looks formal and stays accurate in the event photos. Next, take a look at giant cheque printing, or WhatsApp us at +852 3001 5678 (English is fine) to ask about giant cheque design and printing. We deliver across Hong Kong and Macau.