How to Prepare Artwork for Print – File Setup Guide

  1. Preparing your artwork correctly before sending it to print helps ensure your job runs smoothly and your finished print looks exactly as you expect. At Print Direct NI, we've created this simple guide to help you check your files, avoid common artwork mistakes and achieve professional print results.

    Whether you're designing business cards, flyers, banners or booklets, following these steps will help you produce clean, professional, print-ready artwork every time. We support businesses, charities, schools and organisations throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK.

    If you're creating artwork yourself, you can use our artwork templates to set your files up correctly. If you'd prefer support, our design team can prepare new artwork or adjust your existing files before they go to print.

  2. Accepted File Types

    For the best print results, we recommend saving your artwork as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. These industry-standard formats preserve colour profiles, embed fonts correctly and help ensure your artwork prints exactly as intended.

    We also accept high-resolution TIFF, EPS and JPEG files. If you're unsure whether your file is suitable, our team will be happy to check it before printing.

    Before sending your artwork, please make sure:

    • Fonts are embedded or converted to outlines.
    • Images are high resolution and any linked files are included.
    • Layers are flattened where appropriate.
    • Pages are supplied as single pages, not printer spreads.
    • Any unnecessary crop marks, comments or hidden layers have been removed.

  3. Colour Mode and Resolution

    All print files should be set up in CMYK colour mode, not RGB. RGB is designed for screens and digital devices, whereas commercial printing uses CMYK inks. If an RGB file is sent to print, colours may appear different from what you see on screen once they have been converted.

    For the best print quality, images should be supplied at 300 dpi (dots per inch) at their final print size. Images with a lower resolution may appear pixelated or blurred when printed, particularly on larger items such as posters or PVC banners.

    If you're unsure whether your artwork is set up correctly, our experienced team will be happy to check your files before printing and advise if any adjustments are needed to achieve the best possible result.

  4. Bleed, Safe Area, and Trim Marks

    To avoid unwanted white borders, always add 3 mm bleed around every edge of your artwork. Bleed extends your background or images beyond the finished trim size, allowing for the small variations that naturally occur during the cutting process.

    • Keep important text, logos and other key design elements at least 3 mm inside the trim edge (the safe area).
    • Include visible trim marks when exporting your file, where appropriate.
    • Avoid placing borders close to the edge, as even slight trimming variations can make them appear uneven.

    If you're designing something more complex, such as a booklet, folded leaflet or custom-sized product, we can provide an artwork template to help position your elements correctly and ensure everything prints as intended.

  5. Fonts and Images

    Before exporting, double-check that all fonts are embedded or converted to outlines to avoid font substitution.
    Use clear, high-quality images saved at print resolution. Avoid screenshots or web images, as these are typically too low in quality for printing.

    If you’re working with transparency or layered effects, export to PDF/X-4 to preserve these without flattening errors.

  6. File Naming and Uploading

    When sending multiple files, name them clearly — for example:
    CompanyName_Flyer_A5.pdf or Poster_Event_Belfast_May2025.pdf

    You can upload files directly through our website, attach them when requesting a quote, or email smaller files to hello@printdirectni.com For larger files, we recommend using WeTransfer or Dropbox links.

  7. Artwork Templates and Resources

    We provide downloadable templates for popular print sizes, including:

    • A4 and A5 booklets
    • DL leaflets
    • Business cards
    • PVC banners and posters

    Each template includes bleed, trim, and safe area guides to make setup easier. If you need a custom size or format, our design team can prepare one for you.

  8. Need Assistance?

    If you're new to preparing artwork or simply want peace of mind before printing, our experienced team can review your files and identify any potential issues before production begins. We'll check that your artwork is correctly set up and advise if any adjustments are needed to achieve the best possible print quality.

    Don't have artwork ready? No problem. Our in-house design team can create professional artwork from scratch or amend your existing files, ensuring they're fully print-ready before your order goes into production.

    Whether you're ordering business cards, flyers, booklets or large-format printing, we're here to help make the process as straightforward as possible.

  9. Get Started

    When your files are ready, upload them directly via our website or send them with your order details. If you need advice before you start designing, contact us at hello@printdirectni.com and we’ll guide you through the process.