The print-ready PDF checklist we run on every file
Most delayed print jobs are not press problems, they are file problems found at the last moment. This is the same checklist our studio runs on incoming artwork, so you can run it first.
Bleed, trim and safe area
Add 3mm of bleed on every edge where colour or imagery runs off the page, and keep any text or logo at least 4mm inside the trim. Guillotines cut through stacks, and a fraction of movement across the stack is normal.
Colour mode and blacks
Supply CMYK, not RGB, or expect a colour shift on conversion. For large solid black areas use a rich black build rather than 100% K alone, but keep small body text as single-plate black so it stays crisp.
Images, resolution and links
Place images at 300dpi at final size. An image that looks sharp on screen at 72dpi will not hold up at A5. Embed everything rather than linking, and flatten transparency if your software warns about it.
- 300dpi at 100% of the printed size
- No logos pulled from a website
- Fonts embedded or outlined
- Single-page PDF per side, in reading order
The final read-through nobody does
Print the PDF on your office printer and read it on paper with someone who has not seen it. Phone numbers, opening hours and offer end dates are the three things that get missed on screen and are the three things that make a reprint unavoidable.
Frequently asked
Do you check files before printing?
Yes. Every file gets a free pre-flight check for bleed, resolution, colour and fonts, and we come back to you before anything goes to press.
What if I only have a Word or Canva file?
Send it anyway. We can usually export a usable PDF, and where the source is not suitable our designers can rebuild it properly.
Can I get a proof?
Yes. A digital proof is standard. For colour-critical work we can arrange a physical proof before the full run.
Not sure your file is ready?
Send it over for a free pre-flight check before you commit to a run.