Artwork Guidelines  

Print-Ready File Quick Checklist

Use this print-ready file checklist to quickly verify that your artwork meets professional printing requirements. Review each item carefully to ensure proper file setup, accurate layout, and correct colour settings before final submission.

A quick review to make sure your files are ready for print

• All fonts are included;
• Type is legible and crisp;
• Page layout is correct;
• Margins are properly set;
• Artwork matches the specified dimensions;
• All linked files, images, and fonts are organised in separate folders;
• Colours are set to CMYK mode for printing.

Bleed & Safety Margins

To ensure clean, professional printing, a 1/8" bleed must be added to all images and designs that extend to the edge of the page. This prevents unwanted white borders after trimming. Additionally, keep all text and important elements at least 1/4" away from the trim line to avoid accidental cropping during the printing process.

Colour Specifications

Print previews are not a reliable tool for measuring colour accuracy. Colours displayed on screen may vary due to monitor calibration, screen resolution, and lighting conditions. Additionally, many Pantone colours can shift noticeably when converted to four-colour process (CMYK).

For one, two, or three-colour print jobs using Pantone spot colours, ensure all colours are correctly specified as spot colours and that they separate properly. You can verify this by printing colour separations on a laser printer. 

To achieve accurate, consistent colour on press, digital files must use the correct colour models and percentages. For best results and optimal print quality, please ensure all colours are set to CMYK mode before final submission.

Image Resolutions Requirements

For high-quality print results, all images and graphics must meet the following resolution standards:

• All images and photographs must be set to 300 DPI at final print size to ensure sharp, clear output.
• Rasterised text and logos should be at least 1200 DPI to maintain crisp edges and fine detail.
• Screen values should range between 133 LPI and 150 LPI, depending on the printing process and paper type.

Meeting these image resolution guidelines helps prevent pixelation, blurriness, and loss of detail in the final printed product.

Guidelines by Application

Ensure your files meet the specific requirements for each application to achieve the best print results. If you have any questions, our graphics department is here to help.

File Setup Requirements for High-Quality Printing:

• Resolution: All files should be 300 dpi at 100% of actual size for high-quality offset printing.
• File Format: Save files as PDF with all fonts embedded. Set the screen value to 133 lpi for optimal print clarity.

Digital Proofs

We provide PDF electronic soft proofs to give you a clear view of your layout and design elements. Please note that soft proofs cannot guarantee colour accuracy. If exact colour matching is critical, we recommend requesting a hard copy proof. For the best print quality, all transparencies and line art should be scanned at 100% of the final size. If the file size is too large, scanning at 1/4 or 1/2 of the final size is acceptable.

Print-ready files for consistent, high-quality results.

By following these artwork guidelines, you can create fully print-ready files that ensure accurate colours, crisp images, and precise layouts. Properly prepared files move smoothly through production, helping you achieve consistent, high-quality printed results every time.