Frequently asked questions.

Please see link below to artwork requirements depending on product type.

A4 Brochure (Z-fold)

A4 Brochure (Roll-fold)

DL Flyer

A5 Flyer

A4 Flyer

Business Cards

Custom-cut Paper & Vinyl Stickers

Pull Up Banner

Data Merge Template

If files are supplied in RGB or spot colour our printers will automatically convert it to CMYK.

CMYK and RGB are two different colour systems used for different purposes:

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black.

It’s the colour mode used for most commercial printing.

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue.

It’s used for digital screens like phones, computers, and TVs. Screens mix light, to show colours.

Why it matters:

If you design something in RGB but print it in CMYK, the colors might look different on paper. That’s why we recommend:

• Always designing in CMYK for print projects

• Or converting your files from RGB to CMYK before sending them to print

For high-quality prints, your artwork should be at 300 DPI (dots per inch).

Why 300 DPI?

DPI measures how sharp and detailed your image will be when printed.

300 DPI is the industry standard for professional printing—it ensures your images and text come out crisp, not blurry or pixelated. 

Tip: Web images are usually 72 DPI, which looks fine on screen but not suitable for print.

Always check your file size and resolution before uploading or sending to print.

Bleed is the extra space you add around the edges of your design to make sure there are no white borders when your artwork is trimmed after printing.

Why does bleed matter?

Printers trim stacks of paper after printing, and small shifts can happen. If your design goes right up to the edge without bleed, you might end up with an unwanted white line.

The standard bleed size is 3mm on each side.

That means if you're designing an A4 (210mm x 297mm), your artwork size should be:

216mm x 303mm with bleed included.

The safe area is the part of your design where you should keep all important content—like text, logos, or key visuals—so they don’t get cut off during printing.

Why is the safe area important?

During the trimming process, small shifts (usually 1–2mm) can happen. If your content is too close to the edge, it might get cropped off.

Safe Area Guidelines:

Keep all important elements at least 3mm inside the trim line.

Think of it as a "no-go zone" near the edge—great for background colors, but not for text or logos.

Example:

For an A5 flyer (148mm x 210mm):

Bleed area: +3mm on each side → final file = 154mm x 216mm

Trim size: 148mm x 210mm

Safe area: Keep all key elements within 140mm x 202mm

While trim marks are not essential, they do help.

Trim marks (also called crop marks) are thin lines placed at the corners of your artwork that show the printer where to cut the paper after printing.

Why are trim marks important?

When you add bleed to your design, the artwork extends beyond the final size to avoid white edges. Trim marks tell the printer exactly where the finished size should be, so your print gets cut clean and accurately.

Quick Facts:

Trim marks don’t appear on the final printed product—they’re cut off.

Most design programs (like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign) can automatically add trim marks when exporting to PDF or may have a tick box or an option to select.

Always use trim marks + bleed together for professional results.

Rich Black is a deep, dark black created by combining black ink with small amounts of other colours (like cyan, magenta, and yellow) to make the black look bolder and richer when printed.

Why not just use 100% black (K)?

Using only 100% black (K = Key/Black) can make large areas of black look dull or greyish—especially in backgrounds or solid fills.

Rich black adds extra ink to boost the depth and vibrancy of the colour, making it look truly black instead of flat.

Common Rich Black Formula (for CMYK print):

C: 20%   M: 20%   Y: 20%   K: 100%

Important: Don’t use rich black for small text—stick to 100% K for sharpness and readability.

When to Use:

Great for large black backgrounds, banners, or bold titles

Avoid in fine lines or small text, as too much ink can blur detail.

When preparing files for print, you’ll hear the terms vector and raster. They’re both types of images—but they work very differently.

Vector Files (Best for Logos, Text, and Line Art)

• Made from mathematical paths (not pixels)

• Can be scaled to any size without losing quality

• Always crisp and clean—great for print!

Common vector file types:

.AI (Adobe Illustrator)

.EPS

.SVG

.PDF (when saved with vector data)

Raster Files (Best for Photos or Detailed Images)

• Made of pixels (tiny dots of colour)

• Can become blurry or pixelated if scaled too large

• Needs to be high resolution (300 DPI @ 100%) for print

Common raster file types:

.JPG / .JPEG

.PNG (supports transparency)

.PSD (Photoshop)

.TIFF

Type         Best For                       Scalable               Print Quality

Vector        Logos, icons, text          ✅ Yes                      ✅ Always sharp

Raster        Photos, textures            ❌ No                      ✅ If high resolution

Converting text to outlines means turning your text into shapes, so it’s no longer editable as a font. This ensures that your text prints exactly as designed, even if the printer doesn’t have the font you used.

Why it’s important:

It prevents font issues or substitutions

Keeps your design looking consistent

Makes your file print-ready and safe to share

When to do it:

Right before sending your final file to the printer

Especially if your file includes custom or downloaded fonts

How to convert text to outlines (in design software):

Adobe Illustrator

Select your text → Right click → Create Outlines

 Adobe InDesign

Select text → Type menu → Create Outlines

Canva

Canva automatically flattens text when you download as PDF Print, so you’re safe!

Tip: Always save a copy of your file with editable text before outlining—once outlined, the text can’t be edited.

File type:

PDF

Resolution:

✅ 300 DPI for sharp, high-quality print

❌ Avoid 72 DPI (web quality)

Color Mode:

✅ ideally CMYK but not essential unless you have brand guidelines

Bleed:

✅ 3mm bleed on all sides

Prevents white edges after trimming

Safe Area:

✅ Keep important text/logos at least 3mm inside trim line

❌ Don't place anything critical near the edge

Trim Marks:

✅ Include trim/crop marks if possible

Helps printers cut to correct size

Fonts:

✅ Convert text to outlines (vector)

❌ Don’t rely on installed fonts—avoid font issues

File Types:

✅ PDF (preferred), AI, EPS, TIFF

❌ Avoid low-res JPG or PNG unless very high quality

Size:

✅ Double-check dimensions (e.g. A5)

Include bleed in total document size

Rich Black (for large areas):

Use C:20 M:20 Y:20 K:100 instead of just 100% black

Proofread:

✅ Check spelling, alignment, margins

❌ Don’t skip the final review before sending to print!