Colour Print Format
The colour model used in lithographic and digital print is known as CMYK. Designs for
The colour model used in lithographic and digital print is known as CMYK. Designs for
Lithographic and digital printing use a wide range of materials and sizes, and it’s important
Preparing your files for print can seem confusing to the uninitiated. Follow our quick checklist
Preparing your files for print can seem confusing to the uninitiated. Follow our quick checklist below to ensure maximum compatibility with our print presses and print finishing equipment.
Click a question to expand for a more in-depth explanation.
Your files should be designed with print in mind, using the CMYK colour format. If the original artwork has been designed in RGB, it can be converted, but be aware that there could be a colour shift, due to CMYK having a smaller colour gamut when compared with RGB (see the Colour Format guide if you are unsure on different colour spaces).
For example: If you’re ordering A4 flyers, and the artwork design is A5 sized, this needs to be adjusted before creating your print ready files to avoid any unexpected results.
If the source computer is using a different typeface or font to the outputting software, errors in mismatched or missing fonts can occur. Always be sure to embed your fonts or convert them to curves before export.
Low resolution images and graphics will print blurry. If it’s pixelated or blurry on screen, the printed version will be too. Typically 300dpi (dots per inch) is usable for print quality images.
Always proof read your artwork to check for spelling mistakes, addresses, phone numbers, etc, before submitting. It’s easy to miss the odd misspelt word here and there. Run your spell checker prior to exporting your files and avoid costly reprints.
Crop marks show the print finisher where the printed job needs trimming to size. Bleed is the image which extends outside the crop marks. 3mm of bleed is standard to avoid white edges showing when trimming.
Text, images and details too close to the edge have a chance of being trimmed into. Make sure they’re at least 3mm away from the document edge.
Easily missable, but if a colour has overprint set unintentionally this could ruin the look of the final print. Always check design artwork looks as it should prior to sending.
For example; when designing a spiral bound booklet or pages with perforations, the design should accommodate where the spiral or perforation will appear.
On thick stapled booklets, creep on the centre pages needs to be taken into account as the centre pages will ‘push out’ and trim closer to the edge of the artwork than the outer pages. In this case, avoid using images or text which go over a two page spread and employ a 5-6mm safe zone.
Always consider the finished product, not just the screen representation.
This is an area outside the document (a minimum of 3mm on all edges) created so that when the printed job is trimmed, there are no white edges. No trimming equipment is 100% accurate, and slight movement does occur.
The safe zone, or safe area is the area close to the edge of a finished product. Text or important design features need to be kept away from the edge to avoid being trimmed into. Usually 3mm from all edges is sufficient.
Trim, or crop marks are added to the very edges of a design to show a print finisher where to trim down to.