Artwork Guidelines

Start With The Right File

Good print starts with correct artwork setup. A well-designed job can still print badly if the file is supplied in the wrong format, at the wrong size, or without the right bleed and image quality.

In most cases, a press-ready PDF is the safest format to supply. It keeps the layout stable, preserves vector elements, and reduces the chance of missing fonts or broken formatting.

Basic Artwork Checklist

• set the artwork up at the correct finished size
• add bleed where required
• keep important text and logos inside a safe area
• use high-resolution images
• export as a print-quality PDF where possible
• check colours carefully if you designed in RGB

Most Common Problems

The most common artwork issues we see are:

• no bleed
• text too close to trim
• low-resolution images
• incorrect page size
• files exported for screen instead of print
• colour surprises caused by RGB artwork

Helpful Guides

If you need more detail, the following guides already on the site will help:

• Bleed / Safe Area + Common Mistakes
• How Best to Save Print Artwork
• Exporting a Print PDF from Canva
• Exporting a Print PDF from Adobe InDesign
• Exporting a Print PDF from Adobe Photoshop
• RGB vs CMYK + Why Colours Often Look Duller in Print
• How to Make Sure Fonts Print Correctly

Not Sure Your File Is Ready?

If you are unsure whether your artwork is suitable, ask before ordering. It is much easier to check a file early than fix a production problem once a job is in production.