A simple checklist for print-ready files: bleed, safe margins, 300 dpi images, CMYK colours, fonts and the right PDF. Avoid reprints for cards, flyers and menus.
Design tips · Print
Files ready for print.
The checks that turn a nice design into a file a printer can use: bleed, margins, resolution, colours, fonts and the right PDF.
A print-ready file has 3 mm bleed, text inside a safe margin, images at 300 dpi, colours in CMYK, fonts embedded or outlined, and is saved as a high-quality PDF.
1. Set the right size, plus bleed
Start the document at the finished size (for example A5 is 148 × 210 mm) and add 3 mm bleed on every side. Any background colour or photo should run all the way into the bleed.
2. Keep a safe margin
Keep text and logos at least 4–5 mm inside the cut line. For folded items like tri-fold menus, also keep text away from the folds.
3. Use 300 dpi images
Images should be 300 dpi at the size they are printed. A photo that looks sharp on a phone can look blurry on paper. Screenshots and images saved from social media are almost always too small.
| Print size | Pixels needed at 300 dpi |
|---|---|
| Business card (85 × 55 mm) | about 1004 × 650 px |
| A6 (105 × 148 mm) | about 1240 × 1748 px |
| A5 (148 × 210 mm) | about 1748 × 2480 px |
| A4 (210 × 297 mm) | about 2480 × 3508 px |
4. Work in CMYK
Screens show colour with light (RGB); printers use ink (CMYK). Very bright screen colours, like neon greens and electric blues, can look duller in print. Converting to CMYK before you approve the design means no surprises.
5. Fonts and logos
- Embed fonts in the PDF or convert them to outlines.
- Use your logo as a vector file (PDF, SVG, AI or EPS) where possible, not a small PNG.
6. Export a high-quality PDF
Export a print PDF with crop marks and bleed included. If your printer asks for a standard like PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4, use it.
7. Proofread one last time
Check phone numbers, emails, prices and spelling. Ask someone else to read it too. It is the cheapest step and saves the most money.
Want us to check it?
Every design we deliver comes print-ready, and we can also check files made by someone else before they go to print.
FAQ
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Short answers to common questions. Have another one? Message us on WhatsApp.
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Keep reading
More design tips.
Practical guides for local businesses.
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