10 Top Tips for Print Ready Artwork
Getting your artwork ready for print is easy. A few simple checks before sending your files to print can help everything run smoothly and ensure your finished print looks great!
Whether you’re preparing a leaflet, brochure or bespoke packaging, here are Stag Print’s top tips:
1. Including bleed
Bleed refers to the small amount of extra artwork that extends beyond the cut lines.
No guillotine is 100% accurate, and a slight movement during cutting can lead to white edges. Adding bleed to your artwork ensures this doesn’t happen and that the ink always ‘bleeds’ off the page.
The bleed required on most projects is 2-3mm. Just remember this area will be cut off – so don’t place any important text or images in it!
2. Use safe margins
Just as you need to allow some extra space outside the cut line for bleed, you should also leave space inside it.
Keep important text, logos and images away from the edges to prevent anything important from being too close to the trim.
3. Check your sizing
Double-check your dimensions before sending your artwork. Something as simple as creating a leaflet at the wrong size can lead to unnecessary adjustments before your project can go into production.
For packaging, your design needs to match your cut lines so everything lines up when your box is printed, cut and folded!
4. Proofread your artwork
It sounds obvious, but give it one last read. Then read it again.
Check spelling, contact details, telephone numbers, website addresses, prices, dates and any other important information. A typo is much easier to fix on screen than on 1,000 printed leaflets!
5. Keep your design clear and readable
When it comes to print, less can be more. If the design becomes too crowded, important information can easily get lost.
Give your text and images some breathing room, and make sure your fonts are large enough to read comfortably at the finished size.
6. Use high-resolution images
You wouldn’t want a blurry image to let down your finished print.
For the best results, images should generally be 300dpi at their finished size. And remember, stretching a small, low-resolution image won’t make it sharper!
7. Design in CMYK rather than RGB
Your screen and our printing presses don’t speak quite the same colour language.
Screens use RGB, while commercial printing uses CMYK. Setting your artwork up in CMYK from the start gives you a better idea of how your colours will look when printed and avoids any surprises.
8. Layer your special effects
Adding some extra special effects? Make sure we know where it goes.
Foiling, embossing, debossing and spot UV usually need to be clearly identified or supplied on separate layers. This makes it clear exactly where each finish needs to be applied.
9. Use PDF formats
When you’re ready to send your artwork, PDF is usually the best format.
It keeps your fonts, images and layout together, helping your artwork arrive with us exactly as intended. Not sure which PDF settings to use? Just ask us.
10. Avoid last-minute changes
Once your artwork has been checked and approved, it should be ready for production.
Making changes at the last minute can lead to different versions of the artwork being passed around, or accidental changes being made to something that was already correct.
Before sending your final artwork, make sure you’re happy with everything – then make sure everyone is working from the same version!
Ready to print?
Getting your artwork ready for print doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple checks can help make sure everything is ready to go.
Not sure if your artwork is print-ready? At Stag Print, we’re always happy to help. Get in touch with our team before your project goes into production.