Giant Check Care: Handling, Cleaning and Displaying After the Event
A giant check stays photo-ready when you keep it flat, handle it by the edges, shield it from rain and direct sun, and decide before you order where it will live after the event. Get Custom Checks matches the board and finish to how your checks will be held, shown and kept, so the presentation looks as sharp on the office wall as it did on stage.
- Hold giant checks by the outer edges, never the printed face
- Keep checks flat and dry until the moment of presentation
- Tell Get Custom Checks how the check will be displayed so the board and finish fit
- Free mockup within 24 hours, standard turnaround about 2 weeks
- Minimum order of 12 checks
How do you keep a giant check in good condition before the presentation?
A giant check stays in good condition before the presentation when it lies flat, stays dry and stays in its packaging until the day of the event. Most damage to giant checks happens in the days between delivery and the handoff, not on stage. A corner gets bumped in a hallway, a check leans against a wall and starts to bow, or a coffee cup lands on the face during setup.
When your order from Get Custom Checks arrives, open the box only far enough to confirm the names, amounts and logos match the approved mockup. Then reseal it and store the box flat in a cool, dry room. Avoid car trunks, sunny windows and spots next to heaters or air vents.
- Inspect once, then reseal: check every name and amount the day the box arrives, not the morning of the event.
- Lay flat: a check stored on its edge for days can lean and bow.
- Label the box: mark it clearly so no one stacks equipment on top or mistakes it for empty packaging.
What is the right way to hold a giant check during the photo?
The right way to hold a giant check is with both hands on the outer edges, one person at each end, with the printed face turned square to the camera. Fingers on the face leave smudges and cover the recipient name, the amount or a sponsor logo, which is exactly what the photo is meant to show.
Brief everyone who will touch the check before they walk on stage. Presenters tend to grab the nearest corner, and recipients often reach for the middle. A quick reminder backstage saves a reshoot. Ask presenters to keep rings and watches away from the printed surface, and to set the check down face up on a clean table between photos rather than leaning it against a chair.
- One presenter holds the left edge, one recipient holds the right edge.
- Hands stay outside the printed border and away from the logo.
- Tilt the check slightly toward the camera to reduce glare from stage lights.
- Pass the check back to a single handler after the photo, not into the crowd.
How do you clean smudges and marks off a giant check?
Clean light smudges on a giant check with a dry, soft microfiber cloth, wiping gently in one direction across the printed face. Skip household sprays, paper towels and wet wipes unless Get Custom Checks has confirmed your board and finish can take them, because moisture and rough paper can dull the print or lift the edge of a laminate.
Fingerprints are the most common mark, followed by dust from storage and stray marker on write-in checks. Test any cleaning method on a back corner first. If a mark will not come off with a dry cloth, it is usually better to leave it than to scrub, since a faint mark rarely shows in a photo while a scuffed patch catches the light.
Write-in checks need extra care. Let ink dry fully before anyone touches the payee or amount line, and keep a spare marker of the same type on hand. Get Custom Checks can confirm a compatible marker and writing surface when you order write-in checks, which also makes later cleanup easier.
Can a giant check be used outdoors or in wet weather?
A giant check can be presented outdoors, but plan for wind, sun and moisture, since all three affect a large flat board more than a small sign. Tell Get Custom Checks when an event is outdoors, such as a golf outing, a ribbon cutting or a sweepstakes reveal at a storefront, so the quote reflects a board and finish suited to the setting.
Wind is the biggest outdoor risk. A large check acts like a sail, so keep two people holding it at all times and never leave it standing alone on an easel without a weight or clamp. Bright sun creates glare and can make printed colors look washed out in photos, so position presenters with the sun behind the photographer when possible.
- Rain or drizzle: keep the check in its box or under cover until the final moment, then return it right away.
- Hot cars: do not leave checks in a parked vehicle, where heat can warp the board.
- Grass and gravel: never lay a check face down on the ground; use a clean table or a folded blanket.
Where should a giant check be displayed after the event?
A giant check works best after the event when it is displayed somewhere visitors will see it and the story behind it: a lobby wall, a reception area, a hallway near the donor wall or a classroom. Many recipients want to keep their check, and many presenting organizations want a second one for their own office, so decide early who keeps which check.
Giant checks often have a longer second life than the event itself. A nonprofit may hang a sponsor check in its lobby for a full year, and a school may keep scholarship checks in the counseling office as a reminder for the next class. Tell Get Custom Checks during the quote if a check is meant for long-term display, because that can change which board and finish make sense.
| Display spot | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Lobby or reception wall | Secure hanging hardware and a spot away from direct sun |
| Easel at a booth or event table | Stable easel, weight or clamp, and a clear sight line |
| Office or classroom | Room to lean or hang the check without bumping corners |
| Sponsor’s own office | A second copy ordered with the original run |
Does the board and finish you choose affect how long a giant check lasts?
Yes, the board and finish you choose shape how a giant check handles, photographs and holds up over time, which is why Get Custom Checks asks how each check will be used before quoting. A check carried on stage once and then gifted has different needs from one that travels to several sponsor events or hangs in a sunny lobby.
Rather than guessing at a material, describe the life of the check. Will it be held by hand, set on an easel or mounted on a wall? Will it go outdoors? Will it be shipped or driven to the venue? Will a recipient write on it with a marker? Those answers let Get Custom Checks confirm a suitable board and finish in your quote and reflect it in the free mockup returned within 24 hours.
Finish also matters for photos. Stage lights and camera flashes can bounce off some surfaces, so mention if your event will be filmed or heavily photographed. Browse the giant check design gallery to see layouts that read clearly from the back of a room.
How do you protect giant checks when several presentations happen in one night?
Protect giant checks at a multi-presentation event by assigning one handler, staging the checks face up in presentation order on a clean table backstage, and returning each check to that table after its photo. Award nights, scholarship banquets and sponsor recognition dinners can involve many checks, and confusion backstage is where corners get bent and names get swapped.
Put a small sticky note on the back of each check with the segment number and recipient name, never on the front. Keep drinks off the staging table. If checks must lean upright, use a padded surface and lean them in a single stack face to face, so no printed surface rubs against a hard edge.
- One handler hands each check to the presenter and takes it back after the photo.
- Recipients who keep their checks receive them in the original packaging or a protective sleeve.
- Spare write-in checks stay boxed until a late change needs one.
Ordering several checks at once also keeps the look consistent. Get Custom Checks prints matching designs across a run of award checks or scholarship checks, with a minimum of 12.
What should you tell Get Custom Checks so your checks are built for how you will use them?
Tell Get Custom Checks four things when you request a quote: how the check will be held or displayed, whether it will be used indoors or outdoors, how it will reach the venue, and who keeps it afterward. Those details let the team recommend a board and finish that fit, rather than defaulting to one option for every event.
- Use: handheld for a stage photo, set on an easel, hung on a wall, or all three.
- Setting: indoor ballroom, gym, office, outdoor course or storefront.
- Travel: shipped direct to the venue, driven by staff or carried between several events.
- Afterlife: gifted to the recipient, kept by the sponsor or displayed for a season.
Send those answers with your logo, recipient names and event date through the custom quote form. Get Custom Checks returns a free mockup within 24 hours, offers unlimited free revisions and asks for no payment until you approve the design. Standard turnaround is about 2 weeks, with faster turnaround available through express shipping. See how it works for the full ordering process.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove fingerprints from a giant check before the photo?
Fingerprints on a giant check usually come off with a dry, soft microfiber cloth wiped gently in one direction across the printed face. Avoid household sprays, wet wipes and paper towels unless Get Custom Checks has confirmed your board and finish can handle them. Test on a back corner first, and keep a clean cloth backstage so presenters can wipe the check right before the camera comes out.
Can a giant check be hung on an office or lobby wall?
A giant check can hang on an office or lobby wall, and many recipients display theirs for months after the event. Use hanging hardware rated for the size of the board, keep the check out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, and leave room so passing carts do not bump the corners. Mention wall display in your quote so Get Custom Checks can suggest a fitting board and finish.
What causes a giant check to warp or bow?
A giant check usually warps or bows from heat, humidity or being left on its edge for days. Hot cars, sunny windows, damp basements and spots near air vents are the common culprits. Store the check flat in its original box in a cool, dry room until the event. If a check must stand upright, lean it against a flat surface with even support rather than a single point.
Who should keep the giant check after the presentation?
Ownership of a giant check after the presentation is something to decide before you order. Recipients often want to keep their check as a memento, while sponsors and nonprofits may want one for their own lobby or office. If both sides want to display it, order a second copy with the original run from Get Custom Checks so the designs match exactly and no one has to give theirs up.
Is it safe to set a giant check on an easel at an outdoor event?
An easel can hold a giant check outdoors, but wind makes a large board act like a sail. Weight the easel legs, clamp the check in place and keep someone nearby at all times. Position the display so the sun sits behind photographers to cut glare. Tell Get Custom Checks the event is outdoors so your quote reflects a board and finish suited to open air.
How do I stop write-in ink from smearing on a giant check?
Smearing on a write-in giant check is avoided by using a marker matched to the writing surface and letting the ink dry fully before anyone touches the payee or amount line. Ask Get Custom Checks to confirm a compatible marker when you order write-in checks. Practice the handwriting on a spare first, and keep the writer's hand off the wet lines while finishing the amount.
Should I ask for a lower-glare finish if my giant check will be filmed?
Glare matters for any giant check that will be filmed or photographed under stage lights, so mention video coverage when you request a quote. Get Custom Checks can then recommend a finish suited to bright lighting and flash. On the day, tilting the check slightly toward the camera and keeping presenters out of direct spotlight beams also helps the recipient name and amount stay readable in every shot.
What is the best way to stage many giant checks backstage?
Staging a large set of giant checks works best on a clean table, face up, in presentation order, with one handler responsible for all of them. Put a sticky note on the back of each check with the segment number and recipient name. Keep drinks away from the table, and return each check to the same spot after its photo so nothing gets swapped or bent.
Can a giant check that got slightly damaged still be used on stage?
A giant check with a small dent or scuffed corner can often still be used, since minor edge damage rarely shows when presenters hold the outer edges. Damage across the recipient name, amount or logo is harder to hide. If a check is badly marked, contact Get Custom Checks about a replacement as early as possible, and keep a spare write-in check as backup for important events.
Can a giant check be gifted to the recipient in protective packaging?
A giant check can be handed to the recipient after the photo in its original shipping box or a protective sleeve, which keeps the printed face clean on the trip home. Ask staff to keep the packaging from your Get Custom Checks delivery rather than recycling it during setup. Recipients who plan to hang their check will appreciate getting it home without scratches or bent corners.
Do sponsor checks displayed for a full year need a different board?
Sponsor checks meant for a full year of display may benefit from a different board and finish than checks used for a single photo. Long-term display brings exposure to light, dust and occasional bumps. Tell Get Custom Checks how long the check will hang and where, and the team will confirm a suitable option in your quote and show the layout in your free mockup within 24 hours.
Get a free mockup for your checks
Send your logo or idea and the quantity you have in mind. Get Custom Checks returns a free mockup within 24 hours, you approve the design before anything is produced, and standard turnaround is about two weeks with faster options available. Get a custom quote.
Win Free Stuff
Enter below for a chance to win plus receive 10% off your first order.
🎉 You are in!
We will text you your 10% off code. Good luck!