Artwork guidelines
Most production delays come from artwork, not from printing. These are the requirements we check every file against.
File formats
| Preferred | AI, EPS, PDF (vector), SVG |
|---|---|
| Acceptable | High-resolution PNG or JPG (300 dpi at final size) |
| Not usable | Screenshots, Word documents, web images, flattened low-resolution mockups |
Size, bleed and safe area
- Final size — supply the file at the exact printed dimensions in millimetres.
- Bleed — 3 mm beyond the trim on every side. Backgrounds must extend into it.
- Safe area — keep text and logos at least 3 mm inside the trim line; on curved containers, further.
- Dielines — for irregular shapes, include the cut path as a separate spot-colour layer named “Die”.
Colour
Supply CMYK. RGB files are converted, and some bright greens, oranges and blues shift visibly when they are. If colour accuracy matters — brand colours, a match to existing packaging — send a physical reference or a Pantone number and we will quote a match rather than an approximation.
Resolution
300 dpi at final size for raster elements. A logo that looks sharp on screen at 72 dpi will look soft printed at 40 mm wide; scaling a small image up does not add detail.
Fonts
Outline all text, or embed the fonts. Unoutlined text gets substituted, and the substitute is never the font you chose.
White ink and clear material
On clear or metallic stock, colours print translucent unless a white layer sits underneath. Mark the areas that need white ink on a separate layer and expect it to be quoted as an extra pass.
Barcodes and variable data
Supply barcodes as vector at the required module size, with the quiet zone intact. For variable data (serial numbers, batch codes, QR codes), send a CSV with one row per label and confirm the field order in writing.
The five things that get a file sent back
- No bleed on a full-bleed design.
- Text closer than 2 mm to the cut line.
- RGB artwork with a brand colour that must match.
- Raster logo below 300 dpi at final size.
- Dieline supplied as a picture instead of a vector path.
Not sure whether your file is usable? Send it before ordering — we will check it and tell you, at no cost and with no obligation.
Get a quotation for your labels or stickers
Send your size, material, quantity and destination. We reply with options, pricing and a delivery estimate — usually within one working day. Minimum order: 50 units.