Good files print well, and most file problems are easy to fix before printing starts. Use this guide as a checklist for banners, posters, flyers, cards and drawings alike, and send us whatever you have if you are unsure. We will check it and tell you what, if anything, needs to change.
Start with a print-ready PDF
A PDF is the most reliable format because it keeps fonts, images and layout together. Export at the final size of the product, not a smaller or larger version. Our blog guide on print-ready files, bleed, CMYK and resolution goes into more depth.
Bleed and safe margin
Bleed is artwork that extends beyond the trim line, so that no white edge shows after cutting. A typical bleed is 0.125 inch on every side. Keep important text and logos inside a safe margin, often about 0.125 to 0.25 inch inside the trim, so nothing is cut off.
CMYK and RGB
Screens use RGB light. Printers use CMYK ink. Files made in RGB can look duller or shift in colour once printed. Setting your document to CMYK from the start gives you a better preview of the result.
Resolution
For most print products, images should be 300 dpi at the final printed size. Large-format pieces, like banners and posters viewed from a distance, can use lower resolution. Enlarging a small web image rarely works, because it looks soft or blocky.
Fonts and logos
Embed your fonts in the PDF or convert text to outlines. Use vector logos (such as an AI, EPS or PDF logo) wherever possible, since vectors stay sharp at any size. A logo saved from a website is usually too small to print well. If you only have that version, send it to us and we will tell you whether it will hold up at the size you want.
Large-format and CAD files
For plans and drawings, send a PDF at true sheet size, such as ARCH D or ANSI D, and print at 100 percent so scale stays accurate. Do not use fit-to-page, which shrinks or stretches the drawing and throws off measurements. Check that the page size in your PDF matches the sheet size you want, and tell us the sheet size when you send it. See our guide to plotting CAD drawings for more tips.
Colour expectations
Colour on a screen and colour on paper never match exactly. If a colour is critical, such as a brand colour, tell us before printing. Bright, saturated blues, greens and oranges on screen are the colours most likely to look different once printed.
How to send files
Email your files to hi@printeh.ca, and include your name, the product and the quantity so we can match the file to your quote. If they are too large to attach, tell us and we will suggest a way to send them.
What we check
- File size against the product size
- Bleed and margins
- Image resolution
- Fonts and colour mode
- Spelling and obvious layout problems you may want to double check
Common mistakes
- Artwork saved at the wrong size
- No bleed
- Low-resolution images
- RGB images for printed colour jobs
- Missing fonts
- Text too close to the edge
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