• ARTWORK & FILE GUIDE

    Preparing artwork
    for professional print.

    Straightforward guidance on file formats, sizing, bleed, resolution and colour—plus practical help if your artwork is not yet ready to print.
  1. THE QUICK CHECKLIST

    The essentials for
    print-ready artwork.

    If you are supplying finished artwork, check these six points before uploading. More detailed guidance for each requirement appears further down the page.
    01
    Supply a PDF
    A high-quality PDF is the preferred format for finished print artwork.
    02
    Use the correct size
    Set the document to the finished size of the product you are ordering.
    03
    Add 3 mm bleed
    Extend backgrounds and images 3 mm beyond every edge that will be trimmed.
    04
    Protect important content
    Keep text, logos and essential details safely inside the finished edge.
    05
    Check image quality
    Aim for approximately 300 ppi at the final printed size wherever practical.
    06
    Check every detail
    Confirm spelling, contact details, page order, dimensions and final layout.
    Not sure whether your file is ready?
    Send it to us before ordering. We can review the file and explain any obvious technical changes required. Artwork charges may apply if alterations or design work are needed.
  1. SIZE, BLEED & TRIMMING

    Allow for movement
    during finishing.

    Printed sheets are trimmed after production. Small variations are normal, so artwork that reaches an edge must continue beyond the finished size and important content must remain safely inside it.
    3 MM BLEED

    Extend artwork beyond the trim

    If a photograph, colour or graphic should reach the edge of the finished product, extend it by 3 mm beyond that edge.
    For example, an A4 page finishes at 210 × 297 mm. With 3 mm bleed on every edge, the complete artwork area becomes 216 × 303 mm.
    SAFE AREA

    Keep key details away from the edge

    Keep important wording, logos, borders and essential design elements at least 3 mm inside the finished trim edge unless a product template specifies a larger safe area.
    Bound, folded, drilled and specially finished products may require additional clearance. Check the relevant template or ask us before finalising the layout.
    CROP MARKS

    Helpful when exported correctly, but not always essential

    Crop marks may be included when your design software generates them correctly. They should sit outside the 3 mm bleed and indicate the exact finished size.
    If your PDF has the correct finished page size and properly defined bleed, crop marks are not normally required. Please do not draw crop marks manually or position them inside the finished artwork.
  1. FILE FORMATS & IMAGE QUALITY

    Supply the best file
    available for your project.

    File format and image quality both affect the finished result. A file that looks acceptable on screen may not contain enough detail for professional printing at the required size.
    PREFERRED
    Print-ready PDF
    A high-quality PDF normally preserves the document size, layout, fonts, graphics and page order more reliably than an editable file.
    IMAGE FILES
    JPG, TIFF and PNG
    These may be suitable for photographs or single flat designs, but they are less suitable for small text, logos, multi-page documents and artwork requiring changes.
    EDITABLE FILES
    Illustrator and other originals
    Native design files may require linked images, fonts and supporting assets. Exporting a print-ready PDF is normally the safer option.
    IMAGE RESOLUTION

    Aim for approximately 300 ppi at the final printed size

    Photographs and detailed graphics should ideally have an effective resolution of approximately 300 pixels per inch when placed at their final printing size. Enlarging a small image reduces its effective resolution and does not create genuine detail.
    Large-format graphics may be suitable at a lower effective resolution because they are usually viewed from farther away. Send us the artwork and finished dimensions if you would like us to assess whether the available image is appropriate.
    Logos and line artwork
    Logos, fine lines and illustrations are best supplied as vector artwork where possible. Vector graphics remain sharp when resized, while logos copied from websites, screenshots or social media may appear blurred or pixelated in print.
  1. CREATING ARTWORK IN CANVA

    Download the correct file
    for professional printing.

    Canva can be used to create suitable print artwork, but the document must be set to the correct finished size and downloaded using the appropriate print settings.
    STEP 01
    Use the correct dimensions
    Create the Canva document at the exact finished size of the product you intend to order.
    STEP 02
    Show the print bleed
    Open Canva’s view settings and enable the print-bleed display before completing your design.
    STEP 03
    Extend every background
    Pull photographs, colours and other edge-to-edge elements fully into the bleed area shown around the page.
    STEP 04
    Keep text inside the edge
    Leave a safe margin between important wording, logos and the finished edge of the design.
    STEP 05
    Select PDF Print
    Choose Share, then Download, and select PDF Print as the file type rather than a screen-quality PDF or image.
    STEP 06
    Enable crop marks and bleed
    Tick Canva’s Crop marks and bleed option, download the PDF and check every page before supplying it.
    Canva artwork may still contain low-resolution images, RGB colours or elements positioned too close to the trim. We can review the exported PDF and advise if an obvious technical issue needs attention.
    Creoprint is not affiliated with or endorsed by Canva. Menu names and export options may change as Canva updates its software.
  1. COLOUR, FONTS & EFFECTS

    Help your artwork reproduce
    as reliably as possible.

    Screens produce colour using light, while commercial printing uses inks or toner. Some variation between the screen and finished print is therefore unavoidable, but correctly prepared artwork gives the most predictable result.
    CMYK colour is preferred
    Supply artwork using CMYK colour where possible. RGB colours are normally converted for printing and very bright screen colours may appear different or less vivid in print.
    Screens are not colour proofs
    Colour appearance varies between phones, monitors and software. If a particular colour is critical, discuss it with us before production and provide a suitable reference where available.
    Embed fonts
    Fonts should be embedded in the PDF or converted to outlines where appropriate. Missing fonts can cause wording, line breaks and spacing to change unexpectedly.
    Small black text
    Small black wording and fine black lines should normally use black only rather than a mixture of all four CMYK colours. This helps them reproduce cleanly.
    Transparency and effects
    Shadows, transparency, blending modes and other effects should be checked carefully in the exported PDF. Review the final PDF rather than relying only on the original design file.
    Check overprint settings
    Incorrect overprint settings can cause elements to disappear or colours to combine unexpectedly. Designers should review overprint output before supplying the final PDF.
    Need help matching an existing colour?
    Send us the artwork and explain what needs to match. Where appropriate, we can discuss printed references, proofs and the practical limitations of the chosen production method and material.
  1. DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARTWORK

    A few additional checks
    for particular products.

    Multi-page documents, editable office files and shaped products require some additional consideration. Contact us before preparing the artwork if you are uncertain about the correct setup.
    BOOKLETS & DOCUMENTS
    Supply individual pages in reading order
    Multi-page PDFs should normally contain one finished page per PDF page, arranged in the order they should be read. Do not create printer spreads or manually rearrange pages unless we specifically request this.
    Saddle-stitched booklets require a page count divisible by four. Blank pages should be included in the correct position where required.
    WORD, POWERPOINT & OTHER FILES
    Export a PDF before supplying
    Editable office documents can change when opened on a different computer because of missing fonts, substituted typefaces, page settings and software differences.
    Export the finished document as a high-quality PDF and compare it carefully with the original before sending it to us.
    MULTIPLE DESIGNS
    Keep files clearly organised
    Supply each design as a separate, clearly labelled file or as clearly identified pages within one PDF.
    Include the finished size, design name and any front-or-back description in the filename where practical. Do not impose several copies onto one oversized sheet.
    CUSTOM-SHAPED STICKERS
    You do not need to create the cut line
    Supply your design and tell us the finished sticker size and required shape. We can prepare or check the cutting path as part of the artwork and production process.
    Designers may supply a vector contour path on a separate, clearly labelled layer, but the required setup should be confirmed with us before the final artwork is prepared.
  1. ARTWORK CHECKING

    We check for obvious technical concerns

    We review supplied artwork for clear production issues such as incorrect dimensions, missing bleed, unsuitable resolution or a mismatch with the product ordered.
    This is not a full proofreading or design service unless separately agreed. Artwork charges may apply where files require alteration, rebuilding or additional preparation.
    ARTWORK & DESIGN SUPPORT

    Need help preparing the design?

    We can assist with minor alterations, resizing and file preparation, or provide a broader graphic-design service when a project requires a new layout.
    Supply a clear brief, final wording and the best available logos, photographs and brand assets. We will explain what is required and confirm any artwork costs.
    BEFORE APPROVING YOUR ARTWORK

    Check the complete content carefully

    Customers are responsible for checking the content of supplied artwork and approving any proofs. Before approval, carefully confirm:
    Spelling, grammar and punctuation
    Names, dates and contact details
    Prices and product information
    Page order and orientation
    Finished dimensions and quantities
    Image quality and positioning
    Logos, fonts and missing elements
    Colours, transparency and effects
    Production times begin once the required artwork is complete and any final proof has been approved.
    READY TO SEND YOUR FILES?

    Upload your artwork or ask us for advice

    We recommend placing your order or discussing the project with us before uploading files. Include your name, order details and a brief explanation so we can identify the artwork correctly.