How to Prepare Your Artwork File for Print (Without Stressing Your Designer)

Sending your artwork file for printing should be simple. But all too often, files come in with errors that delay production or cause unexpected print results. Whether you’re printing business cards, flyers, or large format banners, a few key checks can save time, money, and stress.

Here’s a quick guide to get your artwork print-ready — even if you’re not a designer.

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Common File Mistakes That Delay Printing

1. No Bleed Added
   If your design has colours or images that go to the edge, you need to add bleed (typically 3mm on all sides). Without it, your print may have white edges. Bleed is important because trimming machines have slight alignment tolerances — bleed ensures your background or design extends fully to the edge.
2. Low-Resolution Images
   Images should be at least 300dpi. Anything lower may look pixelated or blurry in print. For logos, icons, and illustrations, vector format (like .AI, .EPS, or .PDF) is preferred as it ensures sharp quality at any size.
3. Fonts Not Outlined or Embedded
   If your printer doesn’t have the font you used, your layout could break. Always outline or embed your fonts.
4. Wrong Colour Mode
   Print uses CMYK, not RGB. Files in RGB might print with colour shifts. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is the colour model used in professional printing, while RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is meant for digital screens. What you see on screen in RGB may not match the final printed colours — so converting to CMYK helps ensure colour accuracy.
5. Incorrect Size or Aspect Ratio
   Sending a file meant for A4 when you ordered A5? Or wrong dimensions for a banner? Always double check.
6. No Safe Zone Considered
   Keep important text and logos at least 5mm away from the cutting edge to avoid them being trimmed off. Like bleed, the safe zone compensates for cutting tolerances during trimming.

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Artwork Checklist Before Sending

Artwork Checklist Before Sending

✅ Add bleed: 3mm all around
✅ Keep important text in safe zone (at least 3mm from edge)
✅ Outline or embed all fonts
✅ Use high-resolution images (300dpi) or vector graphics
✅ Convert to CMYK colour mode
✅ Save as PDF with crop marks (recommended)

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What File Format Is Best?

Always send a print-ready PDF. It preserves layout, resolution, and fonts. Avoid sending:

• Word or PowerPoint files
• JPEGs or PNGs alone
• Screenshots of your design

If you only have a JPEG or basic layout, send it early so we can check and advise.

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Let Your Printer Help

Don’t have a designer? MVP can help touch up your file, adjust bleed, or convert it to print format. Just let us know early.

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Conclusion

A well-prepared file = faster printing, fewer mistakes, and better results. Before you send, use this checklist — and when in doubt, just ask us!

📢 Unsure if your artwork is ready?
Send it to us on WhatsApp and we’ll check for free.

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