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How to Create Print-Ready Artwork for Online Printing (Without the Stress)
- November 22, 2024
- Printing Tips
Getting your design ready for online printing doesn’t have to be a headache. Missing key details like bleed, margins, or colour settings can lead to unexpected results—but with a few simple steps, you can ensure your artwork prints exactly as you envision.
Follow our Artwork Guidelines to prepare your files the right way, avoid common mistakes, and get professional-quality prints from your trusted online printing service in Brisbane.
1. Use the Right Colour Mode: CMYK, Not RGB
Your screen displays colours in RGB (Red, Green, Blue)—but printers use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black).
- Always set your design to CMYK to ensure colours print accurately.
- Avoid RGB — it’s meant for screens, not print.
- Need precise colours? Use Pantone spot colours for consistency.
2. Set Up Your Bleed & Margins Correctly
One of the most common mistakes when submitting artwork for online printing is forgetting to include bleed. To avoid unwanted white edges, your design must extend beyond the trim line into the bleed area.
- Minimum bleed: 3mm
- Keep important text & logos at least 5mm from the trim line for safety
Not sure about your setup? Every product has a pre-made template with the correct bleed & safe zones—download them from the product page.
Using Canva? Check out our guide on Exporting Print-Ready Files in Canva to ensure your design is set up correctly. Canva also has their own guide to margins, bleed & crop marks.
3. High-Resolution Images Only
Blurry prints? Low-res images are the culprit.
- Use 300 dpi resolution for sharp, crisp results
- Ensure all images are in CMYK—not RGB
- Avoid web images—they’re usually too low-res for print
4. Outline or Embed Your Fonts
Missing fonts can cause unexpected substitutions.
- Outline fonts (turning them into vector shapes) or
- Embed fonts when saving your PDF
5. Save as a PDF—Not JPEG or PNG
PDFs are the gold standard for online printing because they keep all design elements intact.
- Always save as a print-ready PDF
- Skip JPEGs and PNGs unless specifically requested
6. Overprint & Transparency Issues? Check Your PDF
Before sending your files to your online printing provider in Brisbane, make sure they display correctly in Adobe Acrobat:
- Preferences → ‘Use Overprint Preview’ → Set to ‘Always’
Need more advanced tools for checking your print files? Adobe’s Print Production Tools provide a complete guide on preflight checks, colour management, and print-ready file preparation.
Get Print-Ready, Stress-Free
Final Checklist Before You Upload:
- CMYK colour mode
- 3mm bleed & 5mm safe margins
- 300 dpi high-resolution images
- Fonts outlined or embedded
- Saved as a PDF
Need help? Download our full Artwork Guidelines here or check out our product-specific templates on each product page.
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