Skip to main content

Artwork File Requirements

Every order we print is checked by a real person before it goes on press. To keep that file check free and your turnaround on track, please supply artwork that matches the specs below. If anything isn't right we'll email you before printing — we never print bad files silently.

Accepted file formats

In order of preference:

  • PDF — the safest format. Export with crop marks and bleed where required.
  • AI and EPS — Adobe Illustrator native files. Outline your fonts or include them.
  • PSD, TIFF, PNG, JPG — accepted but flatten layers before exporting and supply at the final print size.

Resolution

Supply raster artwork at 300 DPI at the final print size. Anything under 200 DPI will look soft once printed, even if it looks fine on screen. Vector artwork (lines and shapes drawn in Illustrator) is resolution-independent and will print sharply at any size.

Colour mode

We print in CMYK. If you supply an RGB file we'll convert it automatically, but the screen colours and the printed colours may differ — particularly bright blues, vivid greens, and any neon shades. For colour-critical jobs, convert to CMYK in your design app before exporting so you can see what you'll get.

Bleed

If your design runs to the edge of the page, include 3mm of bleed on every edge. Bleed is extra artwork outside the trim line that gets cut off — it stops a sliver of white showing if the cutter drifts by a fraction of a millimetre. Keep any important text or logos at least 3mm inside the trim line too (the "safe area"), for the same reason.

File size and quantity

Maximum 100 MB per file, up to 5 files per order. If your artwork is bigger than that, flatten the PSD or export the PDF with image downsampling at 300 DPI — that almost always brings it down to a sensible size without losing print quality.

How to send us your files

After placing your order you can upload artwork from your account dashboard at My Account, or email it to artwork@printout.graphics quoting your order reference (PG-XXXX).

Free file check

Every file gets a free human check before it hits the press. We look for:

  • Resolution below 300 DPI
  • RGB colours that will shift on conversion
  • Missing bleed or text too close to the trim
  • Fonts that haven't been embedded or outlined
  • Spot colours we'd need to convert

If we find anything, we'll email you with a quick description and a suggested fix. No charge, no surprises.

Need help making artwork?

If you've got a Canva or AI-generated design that isn't print-ready, our Fix My Canva Design and Fix My AI Design services start at £25 and turn it into a proper print-ready file. For something from scratch, see our full design service.