How to Prepare Your Artwork for Professional Printing

Getting your artwork print-ready is one of the most important steps in the printing process. Poor preparation leads to disappointment – colours that don't match your screen, blurry images, or text that's too small to read. Here's how to do it right.

Resolution and File Format

Screen resolution (72dpi) is completely different from print resolution. For professional printing, you need a minimum of 300dpi. This applies to all images in your design. If you've created graphics in Photoshop or Illustrator, ensure your document is set to 300dpi from the start. Use CMYK colour mode, not RGB – this is crucial because printers use CMYK inks, and converting at the last moment often produces unexpected colour shifts.

File Formats That Work

PDF is the gold standard for print. It preserves your formatting, fonts, and colours reliably. If you're using design software like InDesign or Illustrator, export as PDF with high-quality settings. Avoid sending Word documents or low-resolution JPEGs – these often cause problems. If your designer has given you source files, ask them to provide a print-ready PDF instead.

Bleeds and Margins

If your design extends to the edge of the paper, you need to include a bleed – extra space beyond the trim line. Standard bleed is 3mm. Without this, you'll get a thin white line where the cutter slightly misses. Equally important are margins for safety – keep important text and logos at least 5mm from the edge. Your print provider should explain their specific requirements.

Colour Accuracy

What you see on screen won't match print exactly. Monitors display in RGB light, whilst printers use physical CMYK inks. Convert to CMYK early and check colour profiles. If colour accuracy is critical – perhaps you're matching a brand colour – ask your printer about colour proofs. These cost a bit extra but guarantee your colours are correct before the full print run.

Text and Fonts

Never use fonts below 8pt – they'll be illegible. Embed all fonts in your PDF or convert text to outlines so your printer sees exactly what you intended. Thin fonts can disappear on coloured backgrounds, so use sufficient contrast. Black text on dark colours is unreadable; ensure there's at least a 50% difference in darkness.

Proofing Your Work

Before sending for printing, zoom in and check every detail. Look for typos, misaligned elements, and colour issues. Print a sample on your home printer to see how it roughly appears. Ask someone else to proofread – fresh eyes catch mistakes you've missed.

Getting Professional Help

If you're uncertain about any aspect, ask your print provider. Reputable printers like Brook Print review files before production and flag potential issues. It's better to ask questions now than discover problems after printing.