Choose a Simple Background Image
You need to pick a simple image that you can use for the background of the banner. Your biggest issues here are size and quality. You need to get an image that has the same ratio of height to width as your banner. That way when you scale you will not get blown out. The next thing is quality. Get the highest quality image. That way, when you make it large you won’t lose quality, even if you make it transparent. That way your text will stand out. After all, the message is important. Choose one like clocks or fireworks.
Pick the Font Wisely
Choose your font. At a long distance ornate fonts become a mess. You want readability so choose something that is clear at a distance. Also look at the angle. If it will be hung straight vertically then go black. Do not use bubble fonts. At the wrong angles they will be distorted.