Print-ready files, without the headache.
The plain-English guide to artwork that prints perfectly the first time — written by the studio that checks files every single day.
You designed something you love. Now you just need it to come off the press looking exactly like it does on screen. That gap — between what you see and what prints — is what print-ready means. A print-ready file needs no edits, no guesswork and no surprises: the size, colour, sharpness and fonts are already locked in the way the press needs them.
The 5 non-negotiables
Add 3mm of extra artwork past the trim on every edge (5mm for banners and signage), and keep text and logos at least 3–5mm inside the trim line. Print is cut in bulk — bleed is what stops white slivers appearing at the edge.
Presses print in CMYK. Screens display in RGB. Files left in RGB almost always print flatter and slightly shifted. Convert to CMYK before exporting, or send it as-is — we'll convert it and prove it first.
Resolution is judged at the printed size, not the screen size. A phone photo looks sharp at 72 DPI on screen but turns to mush on a business card. Aim for 300 DPI; below 150 DPI is a visible quality drop.
If your file calls up a font the printer doesn't have, the layout re-flows and looks wrong. Flatten text to outlines (vector files) or embed fonts (PDF) so what you approved is exactly what prints.
PDF is the golden ticket — it locks in everything above in one file. Vector source files (AI, EPS, SVG) are perfect too. Word and Canva exports are the usual suspects for trouble: no bleed, RGB, font swaps.
Our team preflights every file before printing — free, no obligation. We'll tell you honestly what's print-ready and what needs fixing, and design help is included with every order. Send us your file →
File formats, ranked
| Format | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| PDF (press quality) | Everything. The single safest format. | Export at press/PDF quality, not "smallest file size". |
| AI / EPS / SVG | Logos, signage, stickers, anything scalable. | Outline your fonts before sending. |
| PNG / TIFF / JPG | Photos and full-colour images. | Must be 300 DPI at final size; PNG is screen-optimised, TIFF is safer. |
| Word / Canva exports | Starting points only. | No bleed, RGB colour, fonts swap — we rebuild or fix these for you. |
The 5 mistakes we see every week
- Screenshots used as artwork — a screenshot of your logo is 72–96 DPI. It will never print crisply; we can redraw it.
- No bleed — business cards cut in stacks need that 3mm cushion; without it, edge-to-edge designs show white slivers.
- RGB files — the classic "it looked brighter on my screen". Convert first, or let us.
- Text on the trim line — anything touching the cut edge risks losing letters. Respect the safety margin.
- Upscaled images — making a 150 DPI image "bigger" doesn't add detail. Zoom to 300%+; if it's soft on screen, it's soft in print.
Print-ready FAQs
A print-ready file can go straight to press with no edits: correct size including bleed, CMYK colour, 300 DPI resolution at the final printed size, embedded or outlined fonts, and a format like PDF that keeps all of that locked in.
3mm on every edge for most products, and 5mm for large-format work like banners and signage. Keep text and logos at least 3-5mm inside the trim line so nothing important gets cut off.
CMYK. Files saved in RGB (the default for screens and phones) usually print duller and slightly shifted in colour. If you are unsure, send the file anyway - we convert and show you a proof before anything prints.
300 DPI at the final printed size. Anything under 150 DPI will look soft or pixelated. A photo that looks sharp on a phone screen is often only 72 DPI, which is why screens are not a reliable judge.
PDF is the safest single format - it locks in fonts, images and colour. We also work with AI, EPS, SVG, PNG and TIFF. Word and Canva exports cause the most trouble (no bleed, RGB colour, font swaps), but we can fix them.
We can, but it will not look crisp - screenshots are usually low resolution. If the original file is lost, our design team can redraw your logo so it prints sharp. Design help is included with every order.
More guides from the studio floor — costs, sizes, materials and care.
Free tool: how big your lettering needs to be, from viewing distance.
Still not sure? That's literally our job.
Send the file you have — we'll preflight it free, fix what needs fixing, and show you a proof before anything prints. Design help is included with every order, from business cards to business logo printing and beyond.