A print file describes more than the words and pictures on a screen. It also needs to show where the item ends, what extends beyond the cut, and which elements receive a separate finish. A clear file and brief help the artwork check focus on the result you intended.
Confirm the finished size
Use the dimensions of the item after trimming, rather than the paper it might be printed on. Tell us whether the specification refers to an open sheet or a folded item. For a booklet, distinguish the closed page size from a spread. For packaging, use the agreed dieline instead of drawing a box from memory.
Ask for the requirements of your chosen product before final export. Bleed, safe areas, folds, holes and fixing points vary by format. A business card and an outdoor banner should not inherit the same file settings simply because both have a printed edge.
Keep backgrounds past the cut
Bleed is artwork that extends beyond the finished edge, allowing the image or background to reach the trim. Keep important words and logos within the safe area. A border placed very close to the edge can make small trimming differences more noticeable.
Use the bleed specified for the job. Include crop marks only when requested, and keep them outside the artwork area. Adding a white margin to an image is different from extending the image itself.
Check images at their printed size
Inspect placed images at the size they will appear in the finished print. A small image enlarged across a poster may look different from the same image used in a brochure. Avoid relying on a messaging-app preview to judge the source file: compression may have changed it.
Where possible, keep logos and line artwork as vectors. For photographs, send the suitable source image within the exported file. Tell us if a supplied image is the only version available so the intended size can be assessed.
Make colour and type intentional
Confirm the colour requirements for the product and the production process. Screens emit light; printed colour depends on ink, substrate and finish. If a particular colour matters, identify it in the brief rather than expecting every screen to be a physical reference.
Check that fonts are embedded or handled as required for the file. Read the exported version for missing characters, line breaks and unexpected substitutions. Proofreading belongs before approval, including names, dates, contact details and small text.
Keep finishing information separate
Foil, spot UV, embossing and a die-cut shape need clearly identified production information. Keep the intended finish in a separate named layer or file as instructed. Do not assume that a shiny-looking effect in a photograph tells the printer which part receives foil.
Review both the artwork and the specification together. A finish mentioned in the message but absent from the production information needs clarification before approval.
Send a complete brief
Attach the file through WhatsApp or email and include the product, quantity, finished size, material, printed sides, finishing and required date. State the version being approved. If you revise it, make the replacement version clear.
The quote builder can prepare the specification. The materials reference and product directory help identify what to request. EZ Print checks artwork before production and raises issues that need to be resolved against the chosen specification.
Same-day printing available. Subject to artwork, stock and production capacity confirmation. Timing is agreed for each job.
Same-day printing available. Subject to artwork, stock and production capacity confirmation. Timing is agreed for each job.