Key facts
- Use CMYK colour, not RGB, for anything printed in four colours
- Images should be 300 dpi at the size they will print
- Add 3 mm bleed to every edge unless your printer specifies otherwise
- Keep text and logos at least 3 to 5 mm inside the trim line
- Export as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 with fonts embedded
- Always follow your printer's own spec sheet if it differs
Why artwork gets rejected
Most print problems come from files that looked fine on screen. White lines appear along the edge where the guillotine missed by a millimetre. Text is chopped off because it sat too close to the trim. Photos print soft because they were 72 dpi web images. Bright blues turn dull because the file was RGB. Fonts swap to something else because they were not embedded.
Every one of these is avoidable at the artwork stage. The checklist below covers what UK printers expect for most jobs: flyers, leaflets, business cards, brochures and posters.
The print-ready checklist
- Correct size. Set the document to the finished trim size: A5 is 148 × 210 mm, A4 is 210 × 297 mm, DL is 99 × 210 mm, a UK business card is 85 × 55 mm.
- Bleed. Extend any background colour or image 3 mm past every edge, so an A5 file with bleed is 154 × 216 mm. Our guide what is bleed in printing explains why.
- Safe zone. Keep text, logos and anything important at least 3 to 5 mm inside the trim line. For booklets, allow more on the spine side.
- CMYK colour. Convert images and colours to CMYK, or use Pantone spot colours if the job is printed with them.
- Resolution. Photos should be 300 dpi at the size they print. A 150 mm wide photo needs about 1,770 pixels across.
- Fonts. Embed all fonts in the PDF, or convert text to outlines for logos and headings.
- Black text. Set small body text in 100% black (K only), not a four-colour mix, so it prints crisp without registration blur.
- Crop marks. Include trim marks offset outside the bleed if your printer asks for them.
- Export. Save as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. These standards lock in fonts, colour and settings that printers rely on.
Rich black, ink limits and other details
Large areas of black print better as a rich black, a mix such as 40% cyan, 30% magenta, 30% yellow and 100% black, which looks deeper than plain black. Ask your printer for their preferred mix, and never use rich black for small text.
Printers also set a total ink limit, often around 300% on coated paper, because too much ink takes too long to dry and can mark the sheet above it. Dark photos converted carelessly can exceed this.
Watch for white objects set to overprint; they disappear entirely when printed. And check any transparency or drop shadows in the final PDF, because some older print workflows flatten them badly. PDF/X-1a flattens transparency at export; PDF/X-4 keeps it live for modern RIPs.
Choosing the right paper
Artwork and paper go together. Heavy ink coverage looks best on coated silk or gloss stock, while uncoated paper softens colours and suits a natural, crafted look. Very thin paper shows ink through from the other side. Our guide to paper weights for flyers and business cards covers which gsm to choose for each job.
If the job uses special finishes such as spot UV, foil or embossing, the printer will need a separate vector layer or file showing exactly where the finish goes, built at the same size and position as the main artwork.
Proofing before you print
Always check a PDF proof at 100% and print a copy on your office printer at actual size. Read every word aloud: phone numbers and email addresses are where errors hide. Check the folds on a leaflet by folding your printout. For colour-critical work, such as packaging or a new brand launch, ask the printer for a hard proof on the actual stock before the full run.
When to call dijitul
If you would rather hand the technical side to someone who does it every day, dijitul designs and supplies print-ready files for any UK printer, or we can arrange the print and quote for it through our print management service. Flyers start from £95 + VAT, business cards from £75 + VAT and brochures from £295 + VAT. Fixing someone else's artwork is charged at £45 an hour + VAT. Ask for a quote or see print design.
Frequently asked questions
What does print-ready mean?
Print-ready means the file can go straight to press without the printer fixing anything: correct trim size, 3 mm bleed, CMYK colour, 300 dpi images, embedded fonts, and exported as a PDF/X file. dijitul supplies artwork this way as standard.
What resolution should print artwork be?
Photos and raster images should be 300 dpi at the size they will be printed. Large-format items viewed from a distance, such as banners, can be lower, often 100 to 150 dpi at full size. Logos and text should be vector, so resolution does not apply.
Should I send my printer a PDF or the original file?
Most UK printers want a print-ready PDF, ideally PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. Original InDesign or Illustrator files are only needed if the printer is making changes. dijitul can supply both, so you have the editable masters for future updates.
Can I design print artwork in Canva or Word?
You can, but check the export carefully. Word cannot add bleed or output proper CMYK. Canva can add bleed and crop marks, but colours may shift when the printer converts RGB to CMYK. For important or colour-critical jobs, use professional layout software or a designer.
How much bleed do I need?
3 mm on every edge is the standard for most UK printers on flyers, leaflets, cards and brochures. Some large-format and packaging jobs need more, so always check the printer's spec sheet. Text should stay at least 3 to 5 mm inside the trim.
Can you fix artwork my printer rejected?
Yes. dijitul can add bleed, convert colours, replace low-resolution images, embed fonts and re-export to the printer's spec. Small fixes are charged at £45 an hour + VAT, and we will tell you up front if a redesign would be quicker.
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