How to prepare print-ready artwork: bleed, colour, fonts and a pre-press checklist
A practical checklist for print-ready artwork: bleed and safe margins, CMYK and spot colours, image resolution, fonts, finishing marks and the proof checks that avoid reprints.
Print-ready artwork has the right size with bleed, content kept inside a safe margin, colours set for print (CMYK or named spot colours), images at about 300 dpi at final size, fonts converted to outlines or embedded, and finishing marks such as die lines on a separate layer. Export a PDF, check it against the printer’s specification, and approve a proof before the full run.
Most print problems are not caused by the printing machine. They come from files that were prepared for a screen: a logo cut off at the trim, a colour that looks different on paper, or a font that was swapped when the printer opened the file. The checklist below applies to cartons, labels, brochures, visual aids, visiting cards and calendars alike.
1. Set the size, bleed and safe margin
- Start with the exact finished size and, for packaging, the printer’s die line.
- Extend backgrounds and images beyond the trim line by the bleed the printer asks for. Three millimetres is common, but confirm it for each job.
- Keep text, logos and key graphics inside a safe margin from the trim, so a small cutting shift does not clip them.
- For folded or glued items, check where the fold, glue flap and perforation fall before placing any content.
2. Choose colour for print, not for screen
Screens mix light (RGB); presses mix ink. A bright screen blue or green can look duller in CMYK, so decide early. Build print artwork in CMYK, and use named spot colours only when the printer supports them and the job needs an exact brand colour.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Brand colours | Use the CMYK (or spot) values from your brand guidelines, not a screen screenshot |
| Black text | Use a single black for small text, not a rich mix that can misregister |
| Large dark areas | Ask the printer about total ink limits to avoid smudging or slow drying |
| Coated and uncoated paper | The same colour looks different on each, so ask for a proof on the real stock |
Keep a printed swatch of your main brand colours from a previous job. Showing it to the printer is more reliable than describing a colour in words.
3. Check images and graphics
- Use images at roughly 300 dpi at the final printed size. A web image stretched to a poster will print soft.
- Use vector files for logos, icons and line art so they stay sharp at any size.
- Do not pull images from social media or a website. Request the original files.
- Check that every placed image is embedded or packaged with the file.
4. Handle fonts and text
- Convert text to outlines, or embed fonts in the PDF, so nothing is substituted.
- Check minimum text size, especially for regulatory or product information on a pack. Our pharma packaging checklist covers this for medicine cartons and labels.
- Proofread against the approved copy, then proofread again after the layout is final.
We prepare artwork for print for packaging, labels, visual aids, calendars and stationery, and we can coordinate with your printer on specifications. Send us the file or the brief on WhatsApp and we will tell you what needs fixing.
5. Add finishing information
Put die lines, fold lines, varnish, foil, emboss or spot UV on separate, clearly named layers so they do not print as ink. Give the printer a short note describing each finish. Our guide to food and FMCG pack design explains how finishes affect what shoppers notice.
6. Export and proof
- Export a high-quality PDF using the printer’s preset, with bleed and crop marks if requested.
- Open the exported PDF, not just the working file, and zoom in to check edges, fonts and images.
- Ask for a proof: a digital proof for layout, a physical or press proof when colour matters.
- Approve in writing, with the version name, before the full run.
If your brand has several print items, a short set of rules helps every job match. See what to include in brand guidelines.
Common mistakes
No bleed
A thin white edge appears when the sheet is trimmed slightly off.
Approving on screen only
Screen colour is not print colour. For packaging and brand colour, always see a proof.
Last-minute text changes
Edits after approval are where most errors enter. Re-export and re-check the whole file after any change.
Wrong file sent
Name files with version and date so the printer uses the final one.
Questions and answers
What is bleed in printing?
Bleed is extra background or image that extends past the trim line, usually about 3 mm, so no white edge shows if the cut shifts slightly. Always confirm the amount with your printer.
Should print artwork be CMYK or RGB?
Prepare print artwork in CMYK, or in named spot colours when the job needs an exact brand colour. RGB is for screens and can shift when converted.
What image resolution is needed for print?
Aim for about 300 dpi at the final printed size. Use vector files for logos and line art so they stay sharp at any size.
Do I need a proof before printing?
Yes. A digital proof checks layout and text, and a physical or press proof checks colour. Approve it in writing before the full run.
A design studio in Pune, Maharashtra making logos, brand identities, packaging, websites and campaigns for companies that sell real products and services.
