Creating a wallpaper border is a definite possibility, though it does require a bit of design savvy.  Since we cannot cut the rolls down from 24", you will need a precise razor and a steady hand to trim the panels to your desired width.

These basic instructions offer a clever way to use our printing methods to your advantage as you design, upload and print wallpaper borders.

 

How Spoonflower Prints Wallpaper 

Designing a Wallpaper Border

Details to Consider While Designing

 

How Spoonflower Prints Wallpaper

Spoonflower prints all rolls of wallpaper with an approximate ~1/2" (1 cm) design overlap to help with installation. Review Wallpaper Terms and FAQ to learn more, but this overlap is printed in addition to the 24" width in order to:

• ensure the design is seamless as it repeats from one panel to the next
• simplify matching the pattern during a Do-It-Yourself installation.

The additional 1/2" prints along the right edge, with the same part of the design found along the first 3/4" along the left left edge of the same roll. This offers essential wiggle room while installing since our wallpaper cutter, though precise, may shift within registration. Because we are not able to change this basic print technology, to print a wallpaper border you must to design with these limitations in mind.

Review Sizing Wallpaper Designs for a more thorough explanation, and refer to the image below:

 

Designing a Wallpaper Border

For ease of explanation, let's assume you want to install a 12" tall border that runs 12 feet long. You will want to create the design file for a 6-foot roll (since two 6' borders total 12') with these specifications:

1. You will want your final file to have a resolution of 150 DPI
2. Create an original design that measures 12" tall (1800 pixels) and 72" wide (border length, 10800 pixels) 
3. Turn the design on its side, to run vertically, so that the 12" is now the width and the 72" is the height
4. Copy and rotate this design 180 degrees to create a second border
5. Place these two designs top to top, or bottom to bottom
6. Create a small, slightly different colored "cut line" to run along the shared edge of these designs these two designs
7. The final design for upload should measure 24" wide (3600 pixels) x 72" tall (10800 pixels)

See the image below as an example. The cut lines have been exaggerated. Again, this example if for a 6' tall design that measured 24" x 72" at 150 DPI (3600 pixels x 10800 pixels) for upload.

 

Details to Consider While Designing and Printing

• We have chosen for the design's bottom edge to meet in the center, but you can orient your design the other direction, if you so choose
• Keep the ~1/2" (1cm+) repeat in mind and design solid colors along the "top/bottom edges" (left side and right sides of the roll) since these edges will be printed with the "seamless repeat"
• Designing a cut line along the left and right edges isn't necessary, but including one in the original design will ensure the widths of the two borders can easily be trimmed to the same height
• Be mindful of how the design will install from the end of one border to the next. You will want the edges to have an obvious way to align and match seamlessly
• You will need to cut the roll three times. Use a very sharp razor when trimming each roll, replacing the blade often
• Either DIY paper will work, but the matrix of Prepasted Removable Smooth may better withstand the required trimming of the paper

For easy reference:

• A 3' roll will create 6' of border
• A 6' roll will create 12' of border
• A 9' roll will create 18' of border
• A 12' roll will create 24' of border
• A 27' roll (of Non-Pasted Traditional Pebble Wallpaper) will create a 54' border

Metric measurements, or course, will create borders at twice the length, as well.

 

• See Also: How To Order Wallpaper