When it comes to professional printing, the quality of your final product depends heavily on how your files are set up. Even small mistakes can lead to delays, extra costs, or poor print results. At PDX Printing, we want to make sure your project comes out exactly how you expect.
Here are the most important things to check before sending your files to print.
1. Use CMYK Color Mode
Most screens display colors in RGB, but printing uses CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). If your file is not converted to CMYK, the colors may look different when printed.
Tip: Always convert your file to CMYK before exporting to ensure accurate color results.
2. Add Bleed to Your Design
Bleed is extra space around your design that gets trimmed off after printing. Without bleed, you may end up with unwanted white edges.
Recommended: Add at least 0.125 inches (1/8” bleed) on all sides of your document.
3. Keep Important Content Inside Safe Margins
Text, logos, and important elements should be kept at least 0.25 inches away from the edge of the document.
This prevents anything important from being accidentally cut off during trimming.
4. Use High-Resolution Images
Low-quality images can look blurry or pixelated when printed. For best results, all images should be 300 DPI (dots per inch) at actual print size.
Avoid: Images downloaded from websites—they are usually too low resolution for printing.
5. Convert Fonts to Outlines
Fonts can sometimes cause issues if they are not embedded properly. To avoid this, convert all text to outlines (or curves) before sending your file.
This ensures your design prints exactly as intended, without font substitutions.
6. Save Your File in the Right Format
The most reliable file formats for printing are:
- PDF (Preferred)
- AI (Adobe Illustrator)
- PSD (Photoshop)
Tip: When saving as a PDF, use high-quality print settings and make sure bleed and crop marks are included.
7. Double-Check Everything Before Sending
Before submitting your file, take a moment to review:
- Spelling and grammar
- Image quality
- Alignment and spacing
- Correct sizes and dimensions
Catching mistakes early saves time and money.
Need Help? We’ve Got You Covered
Not sure if your file is print-ready? No problem. At PDX Printing, we’re happy to review your files and help you make any necessary adjustments before printing.
Our goal is to make the process easy and ensure you get the highest quality results every time.
👉 Contact us today for a file check or a custom quote!
