Artwork requirements:

• Bleed 3mm All Round
• Resolution 300 dpi
• Colour CYMK
• Format PDF
• Fonts. Outlined or embedded 

PDF Files

We request that all artwork is supplied as a high resolution (300dpi) PDF. It is imperative that you create your PDF in the correct way. For commercial printing, please use the following settings:

• Resolution – High
• Compression – Downsampled to 300dpi setting “auto compression” to high
• Font Embedding – Choose “embed all fonts” or ensure all fonts are outlined.
• Set colour to CMYK and not RGB (all RGB artworks will be converted to CMYK and this may alter your colours).

Trimming & Cutting

We require crop marks on all supplied artwork.

Artwork Bleed

It is essential that there is a minimum 3mm bleed around your artwork. We require 3mm bleed for cutting purposes and to allow your image/artwork to bleed off the edge of the paper/card. For example: A5 size is 148mm x 210mm. A5 with bleed of 3mm is 154mm x 216mm. Please note that there is a 2mm tolerance for cutting on all jobs. 

Imposition

Please ensure that you do not supply your files imposed or as “printer’s pairs”. Please only send one version, one up, actual size. 

Microsoft Documents

We cannot accept the following formats for printing:

• Word
• Excel
• Powerpoint
• Publisher

See below for a link to a site that will convert any of the above files to a useable PDF. It’s easy, quick and free.

https://www.zamzar.com/ 

Wire Bound Booklets

Allow a 10mm margin on the side of the artwork that will be bound. If you do not, some of the artwork may be cut off or obscured by the wire binding. 

Proof Reading

• Proofing your artwork is essential and is 100% the responsibility of you, the customer. Whether you supply us with your own artwork files, or we generate them for you, it is incumbent on you to thoroughly read, spell check and cross-reference all important details, word’s and numbers.
• Remember a proof of your print file is given to you to ensure that all is accurate and correct before we go to print. You, the customer, are responsible for ensuring there are no errors or omissions. Only you know your business and product best, so you are best placed to check everything. Remember, once it’s printed it’s too late, so check, check, check.
• Once you tell us that you are happy to proceed to print, you are then responsible for any errors or omissions found thereafter. More information on proofing can be found in our terms and conditions.

Files in original size

• Create your files in their final trim size.
• If possible, your files will be automatically scaled to fit the order format (without bleed). Please note that scaling a smaller format to a larger one can lead to a decrease in resolution quality. For example, scaling an A6 flyer up to an A4 flyer can affect the quality of your final product. The lack of bleed on the outer edges can likewise lead to white edges around your product.

Safety margin

• Keep all contents at least 5 mm away from the edge of the finished size.
• Contents in spiral bound calendars or brochures should be kept at least 20 mm away from the binding edge.
• For folders, please leave a safety margin of at least 5 mm from the fold.
• Make sure colours, background pictures and layouts extend into the bleed area so as to avoid leaving white lines as a result of cutting tolerances.

Page numbers for brochures

• For templates with multiple pages, create the individual pages in sequential order, starting with page 1 (front page) through to the last page (back page).
• Check that all superfluous pages have been deleted.

Images and graphic resolutions

• Pictures, images and graphics: 300 dpi
• Greyscales and colour images: 300 dpi
• Line artwork (e.g. texts in a small font size and drawings): 1.200 dpi
• Ad posters, advertising technology with text: 150 dpi

File formats

• Always save your files in print-ready, un-editable formats, preferably PDF (PDF/X-4 or PDF 1.6), JPG, TIFF, EPS.
• Avoid using multiple layers (Optional Content) in your PDF files. Retain native transparencies to avoid colour space conversion.

Embedded fonts or paths

• Convert fonts to paths or embed them to avoid typeface discrepancies. Use fonts that don’t have any licence restrictions and make sure the font coding in the PDF file is correct.
• Make sure there is sufficient contrast between background and font colours.

Image Resolution

• Set your resolution to a minimum of 300 dpi for best results.
• Try where possible to source the original image file. Avoid using shared social media files. When a file is shared through social media, the resolution is compressed down to 72 dpi. This looks fine on your phone but does not print very well as an A0 poster for example.
• As a rule of thumb, the bigger the resolution, the higher the data, the better the print.
• Where possible, set your artwork size to the actual output size with a resolution of 300 dpi. For example, if you want an A4 poster, set the physical file dimensions to 210mm x 297mm with a resolution of 300 dpi.
• Scaling up files that are smaller than the output size can result in poorer print quality; for example, scaling an A5 file to an A3 file will be poorer in quality and clarity.
• Social media files and images from apps such as What’sApp and Facebook are usually highly compressed and are typically not suitable for printing high quality results, so where possible, use the original photo that was taken on the phone or camera
  

Colour

• When supplying artwork to us, please ensure that the colour mode of your file is set to CMYK and not RGB colour. (RGB is primarily used for images and files used on screens and web).
• If you wish your artwork to be printed in greyscale, set your colour mode to greyscale for better results.
• For black text it is best practice to use 100% black rather than black that is comprised of CMYK.
• Pantone colours or Spot Colours such as Silver and Gold Metallic’s are not achieved through digital CMYK printing. If you decide to use artwork that includes a gold metallic spot colour for example using CMYK digital printing the gold colour will not have a lustre or shimmer effect, it will appear as a deep yellow or ochre colour and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Preferably convert these spot colours to CMYK in your artwork prior to exporting the PDF for printing. 

File-Format

• Please supply all artwork preferably as print ready PDFs which have been exported using a high-resolution setting.
• Other suitable formats that can be used for printing are JPEG, EPS or TIFF, once the resolution is of high quality such as 300dpi. A low dpi such as 72 will result in poorer quality.