How to prepare print-ready files
Get your artwork right before you order. Follow these Print Hut guidelines for clean trims, sharp colour and fewer delays — then upload when you're ready.
Print Hut file requirements
These apply to most products — flyers, business cards, stickers, posters and more.
Use a high-quality PDF
PDF is our preferred format. Export from Illustrator, InDesign, Canva or Word as a print-ready PDF — not a low-res JPEG screenshot.
Add 3mm bleed
Bleed is extra artwork beyond the final trim size. We need 3mm on all sides so your design trims cleanly with no white edges.
Keep a safe margin
Keep important text, logos and barcodes at least 5mm inside the trim edge. Trimming can vary slightly — don't place critical content on the edge.
Use sharp images
Photos and logos should be 300 DPI at the size they'll print. Enlarging a small web image will look blurry on paper.
Embed or outline fonts
Embed all fonts in your PDF, or convert text to outlines/curves. Missing fonts can cause text to reflow or substitute incorrectly.
Colour settings
Design in CMYK where possible for the most predictable print colour. RGB files are accepted, but colours may shift slightly when converted for print.
Adobe's print file preparation guide
Adobe has an excellent step-by-step guide on preparing files for professional printing — covering bleed, colour, resolution and export settings in Illustrator and InDesign.
We recommend reading it alongside our Print Hut checklist above. It's especially helpful if you design in Adobe Creative Cloud.
Read Adobe's guideCommon artwork mistakes
White edges appear after trimming. Always extend background colour or images 3mm past the trim.
Web images pulled from Google or social media are usually too small for print. Use original high-res files.
Important details get cut off. Keep logos, phone numbers and QR codes inside the safe zone.
Text can change appearance or fail to print. Embed fonts or outline text before exporting.
Match your PDF to the exact product size ordered (e.g. A5, DL, business card). Wrong sizes delay production.
Artwork questions
What file format should I upload?
PDF is preferred. We also accept JPG, PNG and TIFF, but PDF gives the best results — especially for multi-page or vector artwork. See our full preparation guide for details.
Do you check my artwork before printing?
Yes — we do a basic artwork check on every order. If we spot a major issue (missing bleed, wrong size, low resolution), we'll contact you before production.
What is bleed and why do I need it?
Bleed is extra artwork beyond the final trim line. Commercial printing trims in stacks, so a small shift is normal. Bleed ensures your colour runs to the edge with no white border.
Can I design in Canva?
Yes. When exporting, turn on bleed and download as a PDF print file. Check that images are sharp and text isn't placed on the edge of the canvas.
Where can I learn more about file setup?
Read Adobe's print file preparation guide for professional design tips, or contact our team if you're unsure.
What if I don't have artwork?
Our design team can build print-ready artwork for you. Upload your brief or request design help on our artwork upload page.
Artwork ready?
Upload your file and we'll check it before we print.