Artwork Preparation Guide
Follow this guide to set up your artwork correctly and avoid common print errors. Properly prepared files mean faster turnaround and better quality results.
Why Artwork Setup Matters
Incorrectly set up artwork is the most common cause of print delays and reprints. White borders, clipped text, blurry images, and colour shifts can all be avoided by following these guidelines before you submit your files to MerseyPrint. If you're unsure, our team is happy to check your artwork before we go to print.
Bleed
Extend 3mm beyond trim edge
- Bleed extends 3mm beyond trim
- Trim line (final print size)
- Safe zone — keep content here
Crop Marks
Guides for cutting the final print
- ✔ Crop marks sit outside the bleed area
- ✔ They indicate exactly where to cut
- ✔ Set to 100% black (not registration)
- ✔ Include when exporting your PDF
Safe Zone
Keep important content inside
- Danger zone — avoid placing content here
- Safe zone — keep all text & logos here
Common Mistakes & What Goes Wrong
No Bleed Added
Problem: White borders appear around the edges of the finished print.
Fix: Extend all background colours and images 3mm beyond the trim edge on all sides.
Text Too Close to the Edge
Problem: Text or logos get clipped or cut off during the trimming process.
Fix: Keep all important content at least 5mm inside the trim line within the safe zone.
Low Resolution Images
Problem: Images appear blurry, pixelated, or soft in the final print.
Fix: Use images at 300 DPI minimum at the final print size. Never scale up low-res images.
RGB Colours
Problem: Colours shift noticeably when printed — blues go purple, greens dull.
Fix: Convert your document and all images to CMYK before creating your artwork. See our RGB to CMYK guide.
Fonts Not Outlined
Problem: Text is substituted with a different font, changing the layout or appearance.
Fix: Outline all fonts (Create Outlines in Illustrator) or embed them when exporting your PDF.
Wrong Document Size
Problem: The artwork is printed at the wrong size or cropped incorrectly.
Fix: Set your document to the exact finished print size, then add bleed on top. Do not include bleed in the document size itself.
Pre-flight Checklist
Go through this checklist before submitting your artwork to MerseyPrint.
1Document Setup
- ✓Document colour mode is set to CMYK (not RGB)
- ✓Resolution is at least 300 DPI at final print size
- ✓Document size matches your intended print size (excluding bleed)
- ✓All fonts are embedded or outlined/converted to paths
2Bleed
- ✓A minimum of 3mm bleed has been added on all four sides
- ✓Background colours and images extend fully into the bleed area
- ✓No important content sits inside the bleed area
3Safe Zone / Margins
- ✓All text and important content sits at least 3–5mm inside the trim line
- ✓No logos, faces, or key graphics are too close to the edge
- ✓Text is not too close to folds on folded products
4Crop Marks
- ✓Crop marks are included in your exported PDF (if required)
- ✓Crop marks are outside the bleed area — not overlapping artwork
- ✓Crop marks are set to black (registration colour) — not a spot colour
5Images & Graphics
- ✓All images are at least 300 DPI (avoid upscaling low-res images)
- ✓No images are sourced from websites (screen resolution is 72 DPI)
- ✓All linked images are embedded in the file before export
- ✓Photos have been colour-corrected in CMYK
6File Export
- ✓File is exported as a print-ready PDF (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 preferred)
- ✓Overprint settings have been checked
- ✓No hidden layers or unwanted objects in the file
- ✓File has been proofread carefully before submission
Recommended File Formats
Best
PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. The gold standard for print.
AI
Great
Adobe Illustrator native file. Ensure fonts are outlined.
EPS
Good
Vector format, widely supported. Embed all images.
TIFF
Good
High-quality raster. 300 DPI minimum, CMYK mode.
JPEG
Acceptable
High-quality JPEG only. Avoid over-compressed files.
PNG
Limited
Usually RGB. Only suitable for specific digital-to-print jobs.
Word / PPT
Avoid
Not designed for print. Fonts and layouts often shift.
Screen JPEG
Avoid
Website images are 72 DPI — far too low for print.
Need Help With Your Artwork?
Our team at MerseyPrint can check your files before we go to print, or we can prepare your artwork from scratch with our design service.