Your guide to Print Ready Artwork

What does Print Ready Artwork mean?

Print Ready Artwork is the term used to describe a printable file that meets all guidelines and specifications required to produce a perfectly printed material. The file can be used by a commercial printer to create the desired print materials. These types of files have to be the correct file type, resolution, colour, and dimensions for the final product.

To get the best print possible we ask that, before supplying your own artwork, you follow these simple guidelines to ensure that your artwork is 100% print ready before you submit it:

Simple guidelines to follow for print ready artwork

1. Artwork

All artwork to be supplied in the number of colours quoted with no colour conversions applied. All artwork to be sent to us should be converted to CMYK and not RGB colour format.

2. Exporting files

Firstly, only export files with vector-based software using the following file formats (.AI, .EPS, .SVG). Don’t use image manipulation software like Photoshop. These programs create bitmap images and the end result will be pixelated. Do not embeded bitmaped images within vector files.

3. Don’t forget bleed.

All full-colour images should be supplied with 3mm bleed, and trim and bleed marks should be shown. Bleed is ink that prints beyond the trim edge of the image to ensure it extends to the edge of the substrate after trimming.

4 High Resolution

All imagery within the artwork to be high resolution, with a minimum of 240dpi however we prefer 300dpi. DPI stands for dots per inch. If you were to print a 300DPI image, it would have a clarity of 90,000 pixels per square inch. This is three times the resolution of a 100DPI image. The higher the pixel density, the sharper and clearer the image will look.

5. Individual files for each job.

Artwork with multiple jobs or artwork types in a single pdf will confuse matters.

6. 100% Black

Ensure black text is set at 100% black and not a colour mix of CMYK. (Registration black is not used…ever!)

7. Discard white overprint

If white text is not set to overprint, the white which is unprintable will not show on the final printed file.

8. Embed all fonts

Ensure all fonts are packaged and embedded or converted to vector paths.

Print Ready Artwork every time

By following these stringent rules will regularly ensure that your artwork is truly 100% print ready. However, sometimes there maybe external issues. We’re often able to fix these issues easily, but, sometimes others do take time.. That’s why we always recommend you have artwork designed by graphic design professionals.

Doug Design takes pride in design and print quality. This attention to detail ensures that we don’t find out about any mistakes after print. By ensuring consistency, our printing process ensures you get the perfect print each and every time.!