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What Is a Print-Ready File? (And How to Make One That Won't Get Rejected)
What Is a Print-Ready File?
A print-ready file is an artwork file that can go straight to the printer without fixes. When we say "print-ready", we mean the file already has the right size, bleed, colour mode, and resolution — so nothing gets stretched, cropped, or printed in the wrong colours.
If your file is not print-ready, one of two things happens: we send it back for changes (delaying your order), or we have to recreate parts of it (often for a small artwork fee). Getting it right up front saves both of us time.
The 5 things every print-ready file needs
1. Bleed (usually 3–5 mm)
Bleed is the extra margin around your design that gets trimmed off. Without it, a tiny misalignment during cutting leaves a white sliver at the edge. Add 3 mm bleed on every side for stickers and signage, 5 mm for larger boards.
2. Correct trim size
Set your canvas to the final physical size — e.g. an A3 poster is 297 × 420 mm. Don't design at 100 × 100 px and expect it to scale to a 1 m banner; that forces upscaling and blur.
3. CMYK, not RGB
Screens use RGB; printers use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Bright RGB blues and greens often can't be reproduced in print and shift darker. Design in CMYK from the start, or convert before export.
4. 300 DPI for small items, vector for large
Business cards and stickers want 300 DPI so fine detail stays sharp. For large format (banners, vehicle wraps), vector artwork (SVG, EPS, or outlined text in PDF) is better — it scales to any size with zero pixelation.
5. Outlined / embedded fonts
If we don't have your font, your text re-flows into a default face. Convert text to outlines (or embed the font) so it prints exactly as designed.
Accepted file formats
- PDF (preferred) — with bleed marks and CMYK
- SVG / EPS — best for logos and cut shapes
- PNG at 300 DPI — acceptable for simple raster designs
- AI / CDR — we can open these if needed
Quick print-ready checklist
- 3–5 mm bleed added on all sides
- Canvas sized to final trim dimensions
- Colours in CMYK
- 300 DPI (or vector for large format)
- Fonts outlined or embedded
- No RGB-only bright colours left un-converted
Not sure? We'll check it for free
Upload your file on any product page and we'll review it before production. If something's off, we'll tell you exactly what to fix.
Need a hand with a specific product? See our vinyl sticker printing, signage & boards, or vehicle decals. Based in the Vaal Triangle? Here's where we deliver.