Artwork guide

The easiest way to get your setup right is to start from one of our free artwork templates. Each PDF is made for a specific product, size and orientation, with the bleed, trim line and safe area already marked.

1. Download the template for your exact product, size and orientation.
2. Open it in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Affinity, Canva (import the PDF) or any program that opens PDFs.
3. Place your design on a new layer above the template guides.
4. Delete or hide the guide layer before you export.

The page size listed for each template includes the bleed, so it's slightly larger than the finished product. That's expected.

Printed sheets are trimmed to size, and trimming can move by a fraction of a millimetre. Three zones on every template stop that from showing:

We print in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). Screens show colour in RGB, which can display brighter colours than ink can reproduce, so set your document up in CMYK from the start to see a closer match.

• RGB files are converted to CMYK when we print, and bright greens, blues and oranges can look duller as a result.
• For small black text, use 100% black (K) only so it prints crisp and sharp.
• For large areas of black, a rich black (for example C40 M30 Y30 K100) looks deeper than black alone.
• Colours vary slightly between screens and paper stocks, so if an exact brand colour matters, tell us when you order.

Photos and other images should be 300 dpi at the size they'll print. Images taken from websites and social media are usually 72 dpi and will look blurry or pixelated in print.

• Enlarging a small image doesn't add detail, so start with the largest original.
• Logos and text are best as vector artwork (AI, EPS, SVG or vector PDF), which stays sharp at any size.
• Large-format products such as banners are viewed from further away, so lower resolutions are usually fine. Ask us if you're unsure.

Not sure about an image? Drop it into our free print size checker to see the largest size it will print sharply.

Images from ChatGPT, Canva, Midjourney and other AI tools are often smaller than they look on screen, so check they'll still be sharp at your print size. They usually come out square or 2:3 rather than A-size, so expect some cropping, and any text inside the picture can be misspelt or print soft. See how we handle AI-generated designs, or test your image in our print size checker.

Embed all fonts when you export your PDF, or convert text to outlines (curves). Otherwise a missing font can be swapped for a different one when we open your file. Keep body text to 6 pt or larger and very fine lines to at least 0.25 pt so they print clearly.

• Folded leaflets:panels aren't always equal widths (roll folds, for example, have a slightly narrower inside panel). Use our template for your fold so the panels and fold lines are in the right place.
• Booklets and brochures: supply single pages in reading order (not spreads), with the total page count a multiple of 4 for stapled booklets. Keep text well away from the spine.
• Double-sided products: supply the front as page 1 and the back as page 2 of the same PDF.

1. Delete or hide the template guide layer.
2. Export as PDF using a print preset such as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4(or "High Quality Print").
3. Include the 3 mm bleed. You don't need to add crop marks.
4. Keep colours in CMYK and images at 300 dpi.
5. Open the exported PDF and check it before you upload.

In Canva, choose Download → PDF Print and tick Crop marks and bleed, which adds the bleed we need.

Upload your file on the product page when you add it to your basket, or choose Upload laterand add it from your account after you've ordered.

• Accepted file types: PDF, JPG, PNG, AI, PSD. A print-ready PDF gives the best results.
• Maximum file size: 100 MB per file.
• One file per product line, with all pages and sides in a single PDF.

Our studio checks every file before we print. If something needs attention, such as missing bleed or low-resolution images, we'll get in touch, and where needed we send a proof for you to approve before anything is printed.