To help us print your project accurately and on schedule, please review these basic artwork guidelines before uploading your files.
Submitting print-ready artwork helps avoid delays, extra prepress time, additional charges, or the need to resupply your file before production.
For full setup instructions, software-specific export tips, and project-specific details, please download our complete Presstige Ready Artwork Preparation Guide.
Quick Upload Checklist
- Your file is built at the correct final trim size.
- Your artwork includes 0.125" bleed on all sides.
- Important text, logos, QR codes, and key graphics are at least 0.25" inside the trim edge.
- Your file is exported as a print-ready PDF whenever possible.
- Your PDF is not password-protected, locked, or restricted.
- Your artwork is not imposed with multiple copies on one page.
- All pages are included in the correct order.
- Front and back files are clearly labeled or included in the correct page order.
- Images are high resolution and not blurry or pixelated.
- Fonts are embedded, outlined, packaged, or otherwise supplied if edits may be needed.
- QR codes and barcodes have been tested from the final exported PDF.
- You opened and reviewed the final PDF before uploading.
Required Print Setup
Required print setup measurements and file requirements
| Item |
Requirement |
| Final document size |
The actual finished trim size of your printed piece |
| Bleed |
0.125" on all sides |
| Safe zone |
0.25" inside the final trim edge |
| Preferred final file |
Print-ready PDF |
| Preferred color mode |
CMYK when available |
| Preferred image quality |
300 dpi at final print size |
Bleed and safe zone are very important. Files that are missing bleed or have important content too close to the edge may need to be adjusted before printing.
Bleed and Safe Zone
Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the final cut edge. This prevents unwanted white edges after trimming. Any background color, image, texture, shape, or design element that is supposed to reach the edge of the paper must extend into the 0.125" bleed area.
The safe zone protects important content from being cut off or looking too close to the edge. Please keep all important content at least 0.25" inside the final trim edge, including text, logos, QR codes, phone numbers, websites, disclaimers, faces, mailing information, barcodes, and postal marks.
Best File Types to Send
Preferred files
- Print-ready PDF
- Packaged Adobe InDesign files, if native files are requested
- Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop files, if native files are requested
- Canva share link, if requested for troubleshooting
- High-resolution TIFF, JPG, or PNG files only when the artwork is final, correctly sized, high resolution, and does not require editing
Files that may cause production issues
- Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Publisher files
- Canva preview links without a PDF export
- Native CorelDRAW files
- Native Affinity files
- Low-resolution JPG, PNG, GIF, or web images
- Screenshots or photos of printed artwork
- Flattened artwork that still needs text changes
- Files built at the wrong size
- Files with missing fonts or missing links
Presstige Printing works primarily with Adobe software for native design and prepress work. If your artwork was created in Canva, Affinity, CorelDRAW, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, or another non-Adobe program, please export and send a print-ready PDF whenever possible.
Do Not Impose Your Own Files
Please do not place multiple copies of your design on a larger sheet. For example, do not place ten business cards on an 8.5" x 11" page, two flyers on one page, multiple postcards on one sheet, or booklet pages arranged for press printing.
Send the artwork at the final finished size. Presstige Printing will handle imposition for production.
Canva Artwork
If your artwork was designed in Canva, please export and send a final PDF Print file.
Recommended Canva export
- Choose PDF Print.
- Select Crop marks and bleed.
- Select CMYK if available.
- Use Flatten PDF if your design includes many shadows, transparencies, overlays, or effects.
- Open and review the PDF before uploading.
Presstige Printing can accept Canva share links when helpful for troubleshooting, but a Canva link should not replace the final print-ready PDF unless we specifically request it.
Mailing, Folding, Binding, and Finishing Areas
Some projects require extra setup for mailing, folding, binding, cutting, drilling, scoring, perforating, or specialty finishing. Please request a Presstige template before designing projects such as EDDM mailers, direct mail pieces, folded brochures, booklets, catalogs, perfect-bound books, die-cut pieces, door hangers, stickers, labels, and specialty-cut products.
Do not place important text, logos, faces, QR codes, or key graphics in mailing/address areas, fold lines, binding gutters, drill holes, die cuts, perforations, or other production areas.
Common Reasons Files Are Delayed
- Missing bleed
- Incorrect final size
- Important content too close to the trim edge
- Low-resolution images
- Missing fonts or linked images
- Locked or password-protected PDF settings
- Multiple designs imposed on one page
- Incorrect page order or missing pages
- Crop marks or template guides inside the artwork area
- Artwork placed in mailing or barcode areas
- QR codes that do not scan
- Flattened files that require text edits
- Native files from unsupported software
- Specialty finishing that was not discussed before file submission
Submitting a clean, print-ready PDF helps your project move more quickly through prepress and into production.
Need Help?
If you are unsure how to prepare your file, please contact Presstige Printing before submitting your artwork. We are happy to help confirm the correct setup before your project goes into production.
Files that do not meet these requirements may require additional prepress time and charges, or may need to be resupplied before printing. This can delay the printing schedule and delivery of the final product.