Artwork Guidelines

Artwork Guidelines

We have prepared the following guide to help you prepare and submit electronic files for printing. Following these steps will ensure your art is printed correctly and help keep the manufacturing process on schedule.

If you encounter any issues that are not covered in this guide or need assistance with your design files, please feel free to contact us. Improperly prepared files may cause production delays or unexpected printing results.

Quick Checklist

Before you submit in your artwork to be reproduced, please make sure of the following:

• All fonts are included or converted to outlines.
• Text and typography are clear, readable, and crisp.
• Page layout matches the final print size.
• Margins and safe areas are properly set.
• Artwork dimensions match the specified product size.
• All linked files, images, and fonts are included in separate folders.
• Colors are set in CMYK mode for accurate printing.

Bleeds

A 1/8 inch (3 mm) bleed area must be added to pictures and designs that extend to the edge of the paper. This ensures that no unwanted white borders appear after trimming.

It is also vital to keep all important text and logos at least 1/4 inch from the trim edge so they don't get cut off by mistake.

Color Specifications

Print previews on digital screens are not always an accurate reference for final printed colors. The appearance of colors on a monitor can vary depending on screen calibration, resolution, brightness, and lighting conditions.

When you switch to four-color printing, many Pantone colors may vary slightly.

If you're printing one, two, or three colors using Pantone spot colors, make sure the colors are accurately defined as spot colors and separated. You can verify this by printing color separations on your laser printer.

You should make all of your digital artwork files in the CMYK color mode with the proper color values if you want the best print results.

Image Resolution

For high-quality print output, please ensure that all images meet the following resolution requirements:

• All images and photographs should be 300 DPI at actual print size.
• Rasterized text or logos should be 1200 DPI for sharpness.
• Screen values should generally range between 133 LPI and 150 LPI.

If you use low-resolution photographs, your prints may be hazy or distorted.

Guidelines by Application

The following section outlines file preparation guidelines for different design applications. If you have any questions regarding file setup or compatibility, don't hesitate to get in touch with our graphics department.

Adobe Photoshop

When preparing files in Adobe Photoshop, please follow these recommendations:

For high-quality offset printing, files should be made at 100% actual size and 300 DPI resolution.

When you save or export files, they should be in PDF format with all fonts included.

Set the screen value to 133 LPI when preparing files for print production.

Digital Proofs

Before we print, we send you PDF digital proofs to go over. You can use these proofs to evaluate the layout, design aspects, and where text and images are placed.

Digital proofs can't guarantee that the colors are exactly right, though, because colors can seem different on different displays and devices.

We suggest getting a physical proof before the final manufacturing if color accuracy is highly critical to your project.

Scan all line art and transparencies at 100% of the final size, unless the file is too big. In certain situations, it might be okay to scan at half or a quarter of the final size.

Following these rules for artwork will assist make sure that your designs print correctly and look professional. Before you send your files to Tagsen for printing, make sure they have the right bleed, margins, image resolution, and CMYK color options. These tips will help you avoid mistakes while making files for business card printing, bespoke envelope printing, flyer printing, letterhead printing, and sticker printing. They will also help you get the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are artwork guidelines for printing?

Artwork guidelines are instructions that help prepare print-ready files using the correct size, bleed, margins, color mode, and resolution to ensure accurate printing results.

2. What is bleed in printing?

Bleed is the extra design area added around the artwork (usually 3 mm or 1/8 inch) to avoid white edges after the paper is trimmed.

3. Why should artwork be in CMYK color mode?

CMYK is the standard color model used in printing. Designing in CMYK helps ensure the printed colors match the intended design.

4. What image resolution is required for printing?

For best print quality, images should be 300 DPI at actual size to ensure sharp and clear printing.

5. What file format should be used for printing?

The recommended format for print files is PDF, as it keeps fonts, images, and layout settings intact.

6. How much margin should be kept from the edge?

Important text and logos should be kept at least 1/4 inch (6 mm) away from the trim edge to prevent accidental cutting.

7. Can RGB files be used for printing?

RGB files are designed for screens. For printing, files should be converted to CMYK color mode.

8. What happens if artwork files are not prepared correctly?

Incorrect files can cause issues like color changes, blurry images, missing fonts, or printing delays.