Artwork guidelines
Files set up correctly go to print faster. If you get stuck, send us what you have and our designers will help.
Quick checklist
- Save your file as a print-ready PDF
- Include or embed all fonts
- Set colours to CMYK
- Use images at 300dpi at their final size
- Add bleed, and keep text inside the safe area
- Check the artwork matches the size you've ordered
Bleed and safe area
Anything that runs to the edge of the page needs 3mm of bleed on every side, so no white edge shows after trimming. Keep text and logos at least 6mm from the trim line, so nothing gets cut off.
Colour
Set your artwork to CMYK. Screens show colour differently to print, so what you see on your monitor can shift once it's on paper, and many Pantone colours change when converted to four-colour process. If you're printing in Pantone spot colours, set them up as spot colours in your file.
Image resolution
- Images and photos: 300dpi at final size
- Rasterised text or logos: 1200dpi
Proofs
We send a PDF proof so you can check the layout and content before we print. A PDF proof can't guarantee colour accuracy, so if colour is critical, ask us for a hard copy proof.
Paper sizes
- Business cards: 90 × 55mm
- A6: 105 × 148mm
- A5: 148 × 210mm
- A4: 210 × 297mm
- A3: 297 × 420mm
- A2: 420 × 594mm
- A1: 594 × 841mm
- A0: 841 × 1189mm
Envelope sizes
- DL: 110 × 220mm
- DLX: 120 × 235mm
- C6: 114 × 162mm
- C5: 162 × 229mm
- C4: 229 × 324mm
Sending large files
Attach files up to 10MB to our quote form. For anything larger, paste in a link from Dropbox, Google Drive or WeTransfer.
Need help with artwork?
Our in-house designers can set it up for you.