How to Prepare Your Artwork Files for Custom Printing
You’ve designed the perfect banner, sign, or wrap — now you just need to send the file. But submitting artwork in the wrong format is one of the most common causes of print delays, unexpected costs, and disappointing results. The good news? Getting your files print-ready is straightforward once you know the rules.
Here’s a practical guide to help you submit files that print exactly the way you envisioned.
1. Use the Right File Format
The format you use makes a huge difference in print quality.
- PDF — The gold standard for print. Preserves fonts, colors, and vector elements reliably. Always flatten layers and embed fonts before exporting.
- AI (Adobe Illustrator) — Great for vector-based designs. Ideal for logos, text-heavy layouts, and any design that may need to be scaled.
- EPS — Another solid vector format, especially for logos.
- TIFF or PNG — Acceptable for photographic or raster-based designs, but only at the correct resolution (see below).
- ❌ Avoid JPEGs for final print files. JPEG compression degrades quality each time the file is saved, and artifacts become visible in large prints.
2. Set Up the Correct Resolution (DPI)
Resolution is measured in DPI (dots per inch). Too low, and your print will look blurry or pixelated.
- 300 DPI at actual print size — required for most standard prints (business cards, posters, smaller signs)
- 150 DPI at actual size — acceptable for large-format prints (banners, vehicle wraps) viewed from a distance
- 72–96 DPI — screen resolution only. Never use screen-resolution images for print.
⚠️ Important: Scaling up a low-resolution image in Photoshop does NOT add detail — it just makes the pixels bigger. Always start with a high-resolution source file.
3. Use the CMYK Color Mode
Screens display colors in RGB (red, green, blue), but commercial printers use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). If you submit an RGB file, colors can shift during the conversion process — sometimes significantly.
- Set your document to CMYK color mode before you start designing
- If your design uses a brand-specific color (like a Pantone swatch), provide the CMYK equivalent
- Expect that colors on your printed piece will differ slightly from your screen — this is normal
4. Add Bleed and Safe Zones
Bleed is the extra area around your design that gets trimmed off after printing. Without it, you risk white edges showing on your finished piece.
- Add 0.125’’ (1/8 inch) of bleed on all sides for most standard prints
- For large-format banners and wraps, we’ll specify bleed requirements with your order
- Keep all important text and logos at least 0.25’’ inside the trim line (the safe zone) to ensure nothing gets cut off
5. Outline Your Fonts
If your design includes text, convert all fonts to outlines (also called “paths” or “curves”). This embeds the letterforms directly into the file so they print correctly even if we don’t have your specific font installed.
In Adobe Illustrator: Select All → Type → Create Outlines
In CorelDRAW: Text → Convert to Curves
6. Quick Checklist Before You Submit
- ✅ File format: PDF, AI, EPS, TIFF, or PNG
- ✅ Resolution: 300 DPI (or 150 DPI for large format)
- ✅ Color mode: CMYK
- ✅ Bleed added on all sides
- ✅ Fonts outlined / embedded
- ✅ Important elements inside the safe zone
- ✅ Layers flattened (for PDF exports)
Need Help With Your File?
Not a designer? No problem. Flash Printing offers design services to help you create print-ready artwork from scratch or clean up an existing file. Contact us to get started, or browse our full range of custom print products and upload your file when placing your order.