Print-ready art
Print-Ready is a term used to describe a file that has all the specifications necessary to produce high-resolution printed output, without requiring any additional alteration or intervention.
In summary:
For help with your Canva file, please email a request to edit to [email protected] as well as a separate email telling us what you need help with.
In summary:
- CMYK color profile
- .125" bleed, included in file
- Crop marks
- Flattened file
- Outlined text
- Art sized to finish size
For help with your Canva file, please email a request to edit to [email protected] as well as a separate email telling us what you need help with.
CMYK v RGB
Please use CMYK color mode in your document as opposed to RGB. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (another name for black), the colors are used in most commercial printing. For exact color match requirements, choose a Pantone® color, which creates a universal reference for us to match to.
PDF File Format
We prefer PDF files, as these can be saved with a CMYK color profile. A high quality JPEG or PNG files can work if the other art requirements are met. For digital image files like JPEG and PNG, make sure your artwork is at least 300dpi (or better) at the size you want the art printed, and that it is saved at maximum quality. While we can work with most art files, but they may require some adjustment by us to print well. Send us your file and we’ll check it out.
300 dpi Resolution
Artwork should have a resolution of no less than 300dpi for images, 150dpi for text, at the finish size of the print. Very large items such as banners can often work at a resolution as low as 150dpi, despite the pixilation caused by the lower resolution as they are viewed from a distance.
Images copied from the web, or created for your website are typically 72dpi. They may look good on your monitor, but they are not suitable for print. Those copied from hey also may present copyright issues.
To make sure that your art files print with clear crisp images, we require that the artwork you supply has a resolution of no less than 300dpi. Artwork submitted with resolutions lower than 300dpi can produce blurry, bitmapped, or pixelated print.
Note: Images copied from the web are typically 72dpi. They may look good on your monitor, but they are not suitable for print. They also may present copyright issues.
Images copied from the web, or created for your website are typically 72dpi. They may look good on your monitor, but they are not suitable for print. Those copied from hey also may present copyright issues.
To make sure that your art files print with clear crisp images, we require that the artwork you supply has a resolution of no less than 300dpi. Artwork submitted with resolutions lower than 300dpi can produce blurry, bitmapped, or pixelated print.
Note: Images copied from the web are typically 72dpi. They may look good on your monitor, but they are not suitable for print. They also may present copyright issues.
Fonts
If you are confident your your file is correct, please convert the text in your file into either curves or outlines. In Canva, you would choose the "flatten" option in your print PDF download. This will make the text un-editable by us, as you are converting the font into a graphic.
If you want us to be able to edit your file, please skip this step and send the font .ttf files for all the fonts when you send your art so we can open and edit it. If this is a Canva file, you can share the file to [email protected] and we can download it for you if needed.
If you want us to be able to edit your file, please skip this step and send the font .ttf files for all the fonts when you send your art so we can open and edit it. If this is a Canva file, you can share the file to [email protected] and we can download it for you if needed.
Text and Graphic Images
All text and logos must be a safe distance from the edge of the final trim sheet. You should have at least .25” (1/4”) of space between the text and the edge of the final trim sheet.
Bleed
Bleed refers to printing an image that goes beyond the edge of the sheet after trimming. For example, to get the background of your flyer to be black all the way to the edge of your sheet, the color must bleed past all of your edges. If the background isn’t designed bigger than the finished cut size, you could see white areas on the edges of the finished piece due to variations in printing and trimming. It is recommended that an area of approximately .125” (1/8”) be created as a bleed area to be cut away on all sides.
Artwork Size
If you are unable to create a bleed in your document, you can increase the overall size by .25” (1/4”) to the finished size of the artwork to allow for .125” (1/8”) bleed on each edge. Just remember that you need to allow a full .25" from the edge to the text and that .125" of your art will be trimmed off in the finishing process.
Copyright
Please adhere to all Copyright laws that govern the copying and reproduction of copyrighted materials. You must investigate and confirm that any material which you reproduce will not infringe upon or violate any copyright or other proprietary rights. Proper permissions and/or releases should be obtained from the holder of any copyrighted materials prior to reproduction.
Crop Marks
Crop marks are small lines indicating where the product will be cut. In order for project to be finished properly, crop marks are used to determine where to cut the product. If there is bleed, it should extend beyond the crop marks by 1/8”.
When your artwork is not print-ready
The graphic file you send us should be complete. If our graphics department has to make changes to the file (e.g. resize, adjust color, add bleed, etc.), there will be added charges. If that happens, we will always notify you first. Many times there are small issues that can be corrected with little or no cost to you.