Key Details For Your Next Print Job When Providing Print Ready Artwork

Creating print-ready artwork files involves a few critical steps to ensure that your final printed piece looks exactly as intended.

Here’s a comprehensive guide:

1. Choose the Right Software

• Use professional graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, or Adobe Photoshop.
• These programs offer the necessary tools and settings for creating high-quality print designs.

2. Set the Correct Document Size and Bleed

• Document Size: Set your document to the exact size of the final print piece.
• Bleed: Add a bleed area (usually 3mm or 1/8 inch) around your document to ensure that there are no white edges when the piece is trimmed.

3. Use CMYK Colour Mode

• Convert your colours to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) instead of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) because printers use CMYK inks.

4. Resolution

• Ensure that all images and graphics are at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) for high-quality printing.

5. Embed Fonts or Outline Text

• Embed all fonts used in the document or convert text to outlines to prevent font substitution issues.

6. Use High-Quality Images

• Use high-resolution images to avoid pixilation. Images should be at least 300 dpi.

7. Ensure Proper Colour and Contrast

• Check your colours and contrast to ensure that they look good in print.
• Some colours may look different on screen compared to print.

8. Avoid Overlays and Transparencies

• Flatten any layers with transparencies to avoid unexpected results when printed.

9. Include Crop Marks and Safe Zone

• Crop Marks: Add crop marks to indicate where the document should be trimmed.
• Safe Zone: Keep important text and graphics within a safe zone, typically 3mm or 1/8 inch inside the trim line, to avoid cutting off any important elements.

10. File Format

• Save your artwork in a print-ready PDF format.
• Ensure that the PDF settings are set to high quality, and include bleed and crop marks.

11. Check for Errors

• Carefully proofread and check your artwork for any errors before sending it to print.
• This includes checking for spelling mistakes, alignment issues, and correct placement of all elements.

12. Pre-flight Check

• Use a pre-flight tool or the pre-flight features in your design software to check for any potential issues that might cause problems during printing.

Example Workflow in Adobe InDesign

Create a New Document:  Set the document size. Add a bleed of 3mm on all sides.

Design Your Artwork: Ensure all colours are in CMYK mode. Place high-resolution images. Keep important elements within the safe zone.

Prepare for Export: Convert text to outlines or embed fonts. Flatten transparencies.

Export as PDF: Choose “High Quality Print” pre-set. Check “Use Document Bleed Settings” and include crop marks.

Pre-flight and Proof: Use pre-flight tools to check for errors. Proofread the final PDF.

Following these steps will help ensure that your print job turns out as expected, with crisp, clear, and vibrant results.