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How to supply your artwork files for print
Here at Admiral Design and Print, our Design team are used to receiving artwork files in many different formats. The artwork you supply for printing is critical to the quality of your print finish.
Ensure an excellent print-finish every time and boost your brand with our top tips for supplying your artwork.
Choosing the right format
When working with new clients, the question is often asked “how would you like the artwork supplied to you?”. As your service provider, we do try and remain as flexible as we can; but if asked, we prefer all artwork to be supplied in PDF format.
PDF artwork ensures accuracy between a designer's computer screen and the final printed item: what you see is what you get. If artwork is supplied as a source file (perhaps built on Adobe InDesign with fonts and images) then we will still need to convert to PDF. Converting your artwork to a PDF before submitting to us allows you to check that the file is correct and as expected.
Supplying the perfect PDF file
Ensure an excellent print finish every time with our top tips on achieving the perfect PDF file:
- High Resolution: this can be done by selecting the “high quality print” setting when exporting your document to PDF. Don’t forget to make sure all images and logos are also high resolution. The higher the DPI, the better the quality of the image when printing. As a rule, images should be no less than 300dpi. DPI = dots per inch. A higher DPI rating ensures your final design and print finish is clear and crisp.
- The Correct Size: when setting up your document, the page size must be the exact size of the trimmed and finished product.
- Bleed and Crop Marks: we ask that artwork is supplied with 3mm bleed on all edges and with crop marks. Bleed is necessary when the artwork extends right to the very edge of the page. Without bleed, you will be left with a white edge to your printed item when the final print job is trimmed.
- Colour Matching: CMYK and/or Pantone colours – not RGB or LAB.
- Fonts: with fonts embedded or set to outline.
- No Rich Black: blacks should not be made up from Registration or 100% CMYK.
Handy alternatives to PDF files
We want to make your working day easier. If it's difficult to supply your artwork files in PDF format, then we're also happy to accept them in the following formats:
● Illustrator: supplied with fonts converted to outlines.
● Photoshop: supplied with layers flattened, at least 300 dpi and supplied JPEG or TIF format.
● InDesign: supplied with fonts converted to outlines and as a packaged file.
We’re here to help, so please contact any member of the Admiral team if you have any questions. For friendly and local support with your design and print, get in touch today on 01933 443455.
