Preparing your file for print

Five things make the difference between a file that prints perfectly and one that comes back for changes. We check every file before printing and tell you if anything needs fixing.

Bleed, trim and safe area

Printers cut sheets in stacks, and the blade can move a fraction of a millimetre. To avoid thin white edges, extend any background colour or image 0.125 in (3 mm) past the trim line on every side. That extra strip is the bleed.

Keep text, logos and anything important at least 0.125 in (3 mm) inside the trim line, so nothing gets cut off.

Your name

Keep text inside the blue line

Bleed, extend backgrounds to here. It's trimmed off.Trim line, where the card is cut.Safe area, keep text and logos inside.

Sizes with bleed

Set your document to the size with bleed. The product page lists any other sizes we offer.

Product	Finished size	Document size with bleed
Business card	3.5 × 2 in (89 × 51 mm)	3.75 × 2.25 in (95 × 57 mm)
Square business card	2.5 × 2.5 in (64 × 64 mm)	2.75 × 2.75 in (70 × 70 mm)
Postcard	4 × 6 in (102 × 152 mm)	4.25 × 6.25 in (108 × 159 mm)
Sticker (any shape)	3 × 3 in (76 × 76 mm)	3.25 × 3.25 in (83 × 83 mm)
A5 flyer	148 × 210 mm	154 × 216 mm
A4 flyer	210 × 297 mm	216 × 303 mm

Resolution

Photos and images should be 300 dpi at the printed size. An image that looks sharp on screen at 72 dpi will look soft or pixelated on paper. Logos and text are best as vector shapes, which stay sharp at any size.

Colour

Design in CMYK if you can. Screens show RGB colours that ink can't always match, especially bright greens, blues and oranges.
Send an RGB file and we convert it for you, then show you a proof so there are no surprises.
For a deep black on large areas, use rich black: C 60, M 40, Y 40, K 100. Keep small text in plain black (K 100) so it stays crisp.

Fonts and file types

Best: PDF (PDF/X-1a or high-quality print) with fonts embedded or outlined.
Also fine: AI, EPS, PSD, or a high-resolution PNG or JPG.
Send one file per design, with the front and back as separate pages.
Avoid hairlines thinner than 0.25 pt. They can disappear when printed.

Not sure your file is ready?

Send it anyway. A person checks every file before it prints and emails you if anything needs fixing. Questions: info@printieverse.com