File Preparation Guide

To get the best print results (and the fastest turnaround), we recommend sending clean, print-ready artwork at the final size. This guide covers the basics for small print, medium print, and large format—written for people who don’t know print, but still useful if you do.

The #1 Rule: Send Artwork Only

Preferred: Provide your file at the exact finished size (final scale) with no crop marks, bleed marks, registration marks, or printer’s marks. Please send only the artwork/image you want printed.

• Do: Final size artwork, clean edges, correct orientation, correct spelling.
• Don’t: Include crop/bleed marks, color bars, notes on the artboard, or multiple versions stacked in one file.

1) Choose the Right File Type

Different projects need different file types. If you’re unsure, send what you have—we’ll let you know if anything needs adjusting.

Best (Preferred)

• PDF (Preferred file type, press-quality / exported for print)
• AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• EPS (vector)
• PSD (Photoshop document)

Good (If Built Correctly)

• PSD (Photoshop) — flattened or with linked assets included
• TIFF — high resolution

Okay (Use With Caution)

• PNG — can be fine if high resolution, but often too small
• JPG — avoid heavy compression; send the highest-quality version

Not Recommended

• Word / PowerPoint files
• Canva screenshots
• Images pulled from websites/social media (usually too low resolution for print)

2) Size Matters: Provide Artwork at Final Size

Printing works best when your file is built at the exact finished dimensions. Scaling up small art can cause blur, pixelation, or softness—especially for photos and raster graphics.

• Preferred: Build and export at final size (example: a 24" × 36" poster file should be 24" × 36").
• If you must build smaller: Tell us the intended final size and the scaling percentage.

3) Resolution & Pixel Density (DPI / PPI)

Resolution is the most common issue we see. Screens can look sharp even when a file is too low-res for print. Print needs enough pixels for the size you’re printing.

Quick DPI Guidelines (At Final Size)

• Small print (business cards, flyers, small labels): 300 DPI
• Medium print (posters, display boards, small signage): 150–300 DPI
• Large format (banners, window graphics, wall prints): 72–150 DPI (depends on viewing distance)

Why Large Format Can Use Lower DPI

Large prints are usually viewed from farther away. The more distance, the less resolution is needed to look sharp. Example: a banner viewed from 10+ feet away can look great at a lower DPI than a brochure held in your hand.

Common pitfall: A small image stretched to a big size will look pixelated. If you’re not sure your file is large enough, send it and we can check it.

4) Vector vs. Raster (What’s the Difference?)

Understanding this helps avoid blurry prints—especially for logos and text.

Vector (Best for Logos & Text)

• File types: AI, EPS, SVG, PDF (vector-based)
• Scales up without losing quality
• Ideal for logos, lettering, icons, simple graphics

Raster (Photos & Pixel-Based Art)

• File types: JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD
• Quality depends on resolution (DPI/PPI)
• Best for photos and complex imagery

5) Fonts & Text

To prevent font substitutions or spacing changes:

• Best: Convert text to outlines in vector files (AI/EPS/PDF), or
• Include fonts: Package your file if outlines aren’t possible
• Avoid tiny text for large-format installs where viewing distance matters

6) Color: Why It Looks Different in Print

Color differences are normal when going from a backlit screen to printed material. Screens use light (RGB), printing uses ink/toner (CMYK). That’s why colors can shift.

What You Can Expect

• Brightness: Printed colors usually look less bright than a screen
• Blues/greens/neons: Some very vibrant screen colors can’t be perfectly matched in CMYK
• Material effects: Vinyl, fabric, paper, metal, and laminate can change how color appears

PMS / Pantone & Standard Color Books

Using a standardized color system (like Pantone / PMS) can help communicate a target color more consistently. However:

• Print results can still vary by printer, ink set, material, and finish
• Even a great print match may look different next to paint or other manufacturing processes
• Lighting changes everything (daylight vs. indoor lighting)

Best Practice for Critical Color

Provide a PMS value when you have one (example: Pantone 186 C)

If color must be exact, request a printed proof (when available for the project)

7) Borders, Safe Areas, and Edge-to-Edge Designs

Even when you don’t want bleed marks, design choices still matter. If your design has a border near the edge, small trimming/finishing tolerances can make it look uneven.

• Avoid thin borders close to the edge
• Keep important text/logos slightly inset from the edge
• For edge-to-edge designs: build the art at finished size and keep critical elements comfortably inside

8) Transparent Backgrounds

If you need a transparent background (common for decals/window graphics), tell us. Not all formats support transparency the same way.

• Best: Vector files (AI/EPS/SVG/PDF) or PNG (high-res)
• Note: White in your file may print as white depending on material/print method—ask if you’re unsure

9) Quick Checklist Before You Send

• Artwork is at it's the final size (preferred)
  • For PDF artwork larger than 240 inches that was built on a Large Scale artboard, please paste the artwork into a new Illustrator file with Large Scale turned off, then scale the artwork down to 10%, 25%, or 50%. Save it as a PDF and include the scale in the filename (for example: ProjectName_25pct.pdf).
• File includes only the artwork (no crop/bleed/registration marks)
• Images are high enough resolution for the print size (What does this mean?)
• Logos/text are vector or high resolution (outlined text is preferred)
• Colors are provided (CMYK when possible, PMS if needed)
• Spelling, phone numbers, and addresses are double checked & confirmed

Need Help? We Can Check Your File

If you’re not sure whether your file is ready, send it over. We can confirm size, resolution, and basic print readiness. If adjustments are needed, we’ll tell you what to change (or help you rebuild it if requested).