How to Prepare Artwork for Print (Without the Headaches)

Most print problems come from a handful of common file issues: missing bleed, low-resolution images, the wrong colour mode and missing fonts. All of them are quick to avoid once you know what to look for.

Bleed is extra artwork that extends past the edge of the finished size, usually about 3 mm on each side. It lets the printer trim the card or flyer cleanly without a thin white edge. Keep important text and logos at least a few millimetres inside the trim line so they are not cut off.

For print, images should generally be around 300 DPI at the size they will be printed. A photo that looks sharp on a screen can look soft or pixelated on paper. Avoid enlarging small images, and avoid screenshots or images saved from social media.

Screens use RGB, while most printing uses CMYK inks. Bright, glowing screen colours, such as vivid greens and blues, can look duller in print. Setting your document to CMYK from the start gives you a more realistic preview of the final colours.

Convert text to outlines, or embed your fonts, so the printer sees exactly the typefaces you chose. Supply a press-ready PDF where you can, as it keeps fonts, images and layout together in one file.

If you would rather not worry about any of this, our in-house design service can create or tidy your artwork and prepare it for print. You will see a proof to approve before anything is printed.