Everything your file needs before it hits the press. Follow this guide and your job sails through preflight - no delays, no surprises, no reprints.
For your artwork to be print ready, it needs to tick every one of these boxes:
Not sure your file is ready? Send it through anyway. Every job we run is preflight checked and you approve a proof before anything is printed. If something needs fixing, we'll tell you before it costs you money.
We accept artwork as a print ready PDF. A correctly exported PDF locks in your fonts, images and colours so what you approve is what gets printed. Here is what each format is best for:
| Format | Best for | How to supply |
|---|---|---|
| PDF (preferred) | Finished print files | Flattened, single page, 3mm bleed, crop marks, fonts embedded or outlined, CMYK. |
| AI / EPS | Logos, vector artwork, signage | Text converted to outlines, images embedded or supplied alongside. |
| SVG | Vector logos for promo products | Outlined text, clean paths. |
| TIFF | High quality photos and raster art | CMYK, 300dpi at final size, flattened. |
| JPEG / PNG | Photos where the quality is high enough | Only at the correct resolution for final size. Not ideal for logos or fine text. |
Recommended programs for setting up print artwork:
Office programs like Word and PowerPoint, and AI image generators, cannot natively produce print ready artwork. If that's all you have, send it through and we'll quote you to rebuild it properly.
Knowing the difference tells you which file to supply, and it matters most for logos.
Vector art is built from points and paths, so it scales to any size with no loss of quality. It is the right choice for logos, type, line art and anything printed large or onto merchandise. Vector formats are AI, EPS, PDF and SVG. Ask your designer for the vector master of your logo.
Raster art is built from pixels, so it loses quality when enlarged past its resolution. It is best for photographs and detailed images. Raster formats are JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PSD, and they must be supplied at the correct resolution for the final size.
If we do not have the exact font in your file, your text can reflow or swap to a default. There are two safe ways to prevent that.
Convert text to outlines (curves). In a vector program, select your text and convert it to outlines, also called curves or paths. The letters become shapes and the font is no longer needed. Do this last, after all proofreading, and keep a separate editable copy first.
Embed the fonts. When you export a print PDF, choose settings that embed all fonts. Most press ready PDF presets do this automatically, so the type prints correctly even if we do not own the font.
Bleed is printing that extends beyond the trim edge. Commercial guillotines cut through thick stacks of stock, and a tiny amount of movement is normal. Bleed makes sure that movement never leaves a white sliver on your edge.
Most design programs let you set bleed on the document at setup and include it, with crop marks, when you export your PDF.
Please flatten your PDF before sending it through. Layered files with live transparency, effects or embedded objects can behave unpredictably when the press software pulls them apart. A flattened file prints exactly the way it looks.
Screens display colour with light (RGB). Presses print colour with ink (CMYK). All files must be supplied in CMYK - if you supply RGB, the conversion can shift your colours away from what you saw on screen. Check your proof carefully with that in mind.
If exact colour matters, give us PMS colour codes, a CMYK breakdown, or a previously printed sample we can match to.
Print needs a minimum of 300dpi at the final size. Text heavy artwork is sharpest at 600dpi. Images saved from the web are usually 72dpi - they'll look fine on your screen and fuzzy on paper. If we flag your artwork as low resolution on the proof, take it seriously.
Banners, pull up signs, A-frames, flags and posters follow the same rules, with a few extras.
Set up at scale. Large artwork is often built at a smaller scale to keep the file manageable, for example at 10% of final size. If you do this, keep the scale consistent, tell us the scale, and make sure the image resolution still works out at full size. When in doubt, build at 100%.
Resolution at final size. Signage is viewed from a distance, so it does not need 300dpi. Around 100 to 150dpi at final size is usually plenty. A three metre banner does not need the same detail per inch as a business card.
Larger safe margins. Hems, pole pockets, eyelets and the curve of pull up and teardrop hardware can hide part of the edge. Keep important content well inside the trim, and where we supply a product template, design inside its guides.
Pens, mugs, drink bottles, bags and apparel are branded onto objects, so they have their own needs.
Supply vector logo art. Screen printing, pad printing, laser engraving and embroidery all work from clean vector line art with text outlined. A low resolution JPEG or PNG from a website is usually not suitable.
Print method affects colour and detail. Each method has limits. Screen printing suits a set number of solid spot colours. Engraving and embroidery reproduce shape rather than photographic detail and gradients. We will confirm what suits your chosen product.
Spot colours and Pantone. Many promotional methods print in spot colours rather than CMYK. If your brand has specific Pantone (PMS) codes, give them to us. Exact colour can still vary with the material, for example ink on a coloured mug or natural fabric.
You must own or be licensed to use every image, logo and font in your artwork. We accept no responsibility for the copyright status of files supplied for printing - see our Terms of Trade.
Every job is preflight checked before production. We'll flag missing bleed, low resolution, RGB colour and other issues, and you'll receive a proof to approve before anything is printed. Production starts once your proof is approved and payment is received - so the proof stage is your moment to check everything: spelling, numbers, dates, layout and colour.
Bleed is artwork that extends past the trim edge so cutting never leaves a white sliver. We require 3mm bleed on every edge for print, and more for some wide format and signage products where finishing hides the edge.
A flattened, print ready PDF is preferred for most jobs. Logos and signage are best supplied as vector files (PDF, AI, EPS or SVG) with fonts converted to outlines. Photos should be 300dpi TIFF or high quality JPEG at final size.
Screens display colour with light (RGB) while presses print with ink (CMYK). Supplying CMYK keeps the colour you approve close to the colour you receive. RGB files are converted and can shift, especially bright blues, greens and oranges.
Print needs a minimum of 300dpi at final size, and 600dpi for text heavy artwork. Large format and signage are viewed from a distance and can be supplied at 100 to 150dpi at final size.
Yes. Screen printing, pad printing, laser engraving and embroidery all work from clean vector line art with text outlined. A low resolution JPEG or PNG from a website is usually not suitable for branded merchandise.
Send it through anyway. Every job is preflight checked and you approve a digital proof before anything prints. If bleed, resolution or colour needs fixing, we will tell you before it costs you money.
Get an instant price, upload your file with your order, and we'll take it from there. Need design help? We do that too.