A clear, beginner-friendly guide for businesses and creators
Preparing your artwork for print doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether you’re ordering business cards, flyers, labels, or signage, submitting a properly prepared file helps you avoid delays, extra costs, and unexpected surprises in the final product.
At Agility Print, we receive many files every month, and most artwork issues come down to just a few simple factors. This guide provides an easy, step-by-step checklist so you can submit print-ready artwork with confidence
1. Use the Right Colour Mode: CMYK vs RGB
Screens like phones, laptops, and TVs use RGB colours, and appear brighter because they shine light through your image. Printers, on the other hand, use CMYK, which mixes ink on paper
Design in CMYK colour if you can, but remember that a screen will always be brighter than paper. If colour is important, ask your printer to print a sample from your artwork before committing to a full production run.
Quick tip:
If a colour looks “neon” on screen, it won’t print the same way. CMYK cannot reproduce neon or very bright blues and greens.
2. Add Bleed to Avoid White Edges
Bleed is extra space added around the edges of your artwork. It ensures your design prints edge-to-edge without thin white lines.
Standard bleed: 3 mm on all sides
For example, if your final printed size is 100 × 150 mm, your design file should be 106 × 156 mm.
Common bleed issues:
- Design stops exactly at the edge
- Backgrounds don’t extend far enough
- Important text is too close to the trim edge
How to fix it
- Extend backgrounds and images beyond the trim line
- Keep text 3–5 mm inside the safe area to ensure nothing is cut off
3. Embed, Outline, or Provide Your Fonts
If we receive a file and the font isn’t available, your software may substitute it, causing layout shifts and unexpected design changes.
To avoid this:
- Outline your fonts (Illustrator or InDesign) – converts text into shapes for perfect printing
- Embed fonts when exporting your PDF – keeps text editable but ensures the printer has the font data
- Provide font files along with your artwork – lets the printer use the exact font you intended
This ensures your text prints exactly as designed.
4. Use High-Resolution Images (300 DPI)
Low-quality images can appear pixelated or blurry in print.
Resolution tips:
- Use 300 DPI for items viewed up close, like business cards, brochures, and labels
- Use 150 DPI for large signage or banners viewed from a distance
Avoid:
- Screenshots
- Images downloaded from Facebook or Instagram
- Small images stretched larger than their original size
Quick tip: Always check your images at 100% zoom to see how they will print.
5. Keep Text Inside the Safe Margin
The safe margin is usually 3–5 mm inside the trim size. It prevents important text from being cut off or appearing too close to the edge.
If text is too close to the trim:
- It can be cut during printing
- Look unbalanced on the page
- Appear cramped
Layout tip: Pull text inward slightly to create a balanced and professional design.
6. Save Your File in the Best Format
For print, the most reliable file format is a PDF (Press Quality).
You can also provide:
- AI (Adobe Illustrator)
- EPS
- INDD (Adobe InDesign)
- High-resolution JPEG or PNG
Why PDF is best:
- Fonts can be embedded
- Colours are more consistent
- Layout remains intact
When exporting:
- Include bleed
Crop marks are optional — we can work without them
7. Double-Check Before Sending
Quick 30-Second Print-Ready Checklist
✔ Is your file in CMYK colour mode?
✔ Is there 3 mm bleed on all sides?
✔ Are fonts outlined, embedded, or provided?
✔ Are images at 300 DPI (or 150 DPI for large signage)?
✔ Is all important text inside the safe margin?
✔ Is the file saved as a PDF (Press Quality)?
If everything checks out, your artwork is print-ready!
Why This Matters
Submitting print-ready artwork doesn’t just help us, it helps you.
When your files are prepared correctly, it means:
- Faster turnaround
- More accurate colours
- No unexpected reprints
- Professional, polished results every time
A little preparation goes a long way and ensures your final print looks exactly as you envisioned.
Need Help with Your Artwork?
If you’re not sure whether your file is print-ready, our team is happy to check it for you, no stress, no fuss. Just upload your artwork here and we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Call: 02 9893 7480
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.agilityprint.com.au
Location: Ground Level, 100 George Street, Parramatta NSW 2150