Setting up your artwork
A person checks every file before it's printed, so you don't need to be a designer. This page explains what we look for, so your print comes out the way you pictured it.
Which files to send
A PDF is best. We also take JPG and PNG images, photos straight from your phone (including iPhone photos) and Word documents (.docx). If you design in Canva, download it as “PDF Print”.
We can't use Publisher or Apple Pages files, older Word files (.doc), or web formats such as SVG and GIF. Save or export them as a PDF and upload that instead. Large files are fine; very big ones, over about 150MB, are proofed by a person rather than automatically, which can take a little longer.
Bleed and the safe area
Bleed is an extra 3mm of background beyond the edge of your design, so there's no white line if the cut lands slightly out. The safe area is 3mm inside the edge: keep text and logos within it so nothing gets trimmed.
A few products, such as flags and hemmed banners, need more. Every product page has a “Download a template for this size” link in its artwork section, and the template shows exactly where everything goes. If your file has no bleed, we'll spot it in our check and get in touch.
CMYK or RGB?
CMYK if you can, because that's how it will be printed. RGB files and spot (Pantone) colours are converted to CMYK, and very bright colours, especially blues, greens and oranges, can come out a little duller on paper than on screen.
Image resolution
Pictures need enough detail for the size they're printed at. Our checks warn you if one looks too low.
| What you're printing | Resolution at printed size |
|---|---|
| Business cards, flyers, leaflets, booklets | 300dpi |
| Posters and roller banners | About 150dpi |
| Large PVC banners | 75 to 150dpi |
Text that reads well
Keep text at 8pt or larger. Thin fonts, and light text on a dark background, read better a point or two bigger.
Checking your proof
After you upload, you'll see a proof of how it will be printed and cut. Check spelling, phone numbers, email and web addresses, dates and prices. Make sure it's the right way up, pages are in the right order and nothing important sits close to the edge.
We print exactly what you approve, so take your time. Our check looks for things that would print badly, not for typing mistakes. If you're not happy with the proof, don't approve it: fix your file and upload it again, or call us on 01752 845258 and we'll talk it through.
No design yet?
Choose our design service on the product page and tell us what you need. We'll quote the design fee before we start, send you a proof, and make changes until you're happy. We also fix small technical problems in your own files, such as missing bleed, for free. More answers are in our artwork questions.