Check these points before sending us your file: this is exactly what our prepress team checks every time.
Work in CMYK, never in RGB. Black text in 100% K. Profiles FOGRA51 (coated) or FOGRA52 (uncoated).
Add 2 mm (3 mm for signage) around the finished size and extend your background to the edge. No white edges.
Keep text and logo ≥ 3 mm from the trimmed edge (5 mm from the edge including bleed). Folded leaflets: 5 mm either side of the fold.
Images: 250 dpi. Large formats with text: 150 dpi. Line art and small fonts: 1,200 dpi.
Outline your fonts (or embed them). This prevents any character substitution at print time.
Export as PDF/X-4 (PDF 1.6), or JPG/TIFF. Avoid multiple layers; keep transparencies live.
Lines ≥ 0.125 pt with at least 40% colour. Avoid borders right at the edge (risk of off-centre trimming).
Create at the finished size + bleed. Scaling a file up (A6→A4) degrades quality.
Pages in reading order, page 1 = front cover, last page = back cover. Remove any extra pages.
The margin added to the finished size, trimmed off at cutting.
| Product | Bleed |
|---|---|
| Flyers, business cards, posters, folded leaflets, brochures, letterheads | 2 mm |
| Envelopes | 1 mm |
| Signage, rigid signs, banners, presentation folders, placemats | 3 mm |
| Stretched canvas on frame | 15 mm |
A low-resolution image will look blurry in print.
| Element type | DPI |
|---|---|
| Photos, images, graphics | 250 dpi |
| Greyscale / colour halftones | 250 dpi |
| Line art, small fonts, drawings | 1,200 dpi |
| Posters & signage with text | 150 dpi |
| Very large signage | 72 dpi |
A template shows the finished size, the trim line, the bleed and the safe zone. Import it as a guide layer, then create your design on top.
In the size of your choice (universal PDF) — button below, or on each product page.
In Illustrator / InDesign / Photoshop: place the template on a guide layer, work on your own layer.
Background up to the bleed line, text and logo inside the safe zone.
Delete/hide the guide layer, export as PDF/X-4 with outlined fonts. Front and back = separate pages.
24 practical guides to prepare a print-ready file, from bleed to spot UV varnish. Click a topic for the detailed guide.
No file? Our AI assistant creates your print-ready artwork (bleed included) and checks your files before production — nothing goes to press without your approval.
⬇ Download a templateAvailable sizes: A3A4A5A6A7DL / long85×5555×85square 100×100120×120210×210 and more.