Help Center

Avoiding Common Mistakes with Files

When submitting your files to be printed, there are a few simple mistakes that can sometimes delay the printing of your job. Avoiding these issues will ensure that your job is printed as timely as possible.

Problems with Bleed Area
Problems with Image Resolution
Problems with Safe Area
Problems with Color Mode
Problems with Borders

Bleed Area

Incorrect - Missing Bleed

Issue: Whenever you want an image or color to print to the edge of your printed piece, those images or colors must extend 1/8” past the cut line of your artwork.

Result: When this card is printed and cut, white strips of unprinted paper would appear at the edges of the card.

Correct - 1/8" Bleed on all sides

Best Practice: By extending the images and color near the cut line 1/8" past the cut line, you ensure your card will be trimmed properly. 1/8" bleed on all sides (for most products).

Image Resolution

Incorrect - Low Image Resolution

Issue: The image of the car is low resolution, perhaps because it was simply saved off a website.

Result: When this card is printed, the image would have very poor quality.

Correct - All images are 300dpi

Best Practice: By using larger, high-resolution, images to begin with, you're able to achieve a terrific amount of image detail in your final printed product.

Safe Area

Incorrect - Objects outside of Safe Area

Issue: Important text and photo objects are outside the safe area.

Result: When this card is printed, the objects close to the trim line may be cut off or appear too close to the Cut Line.

Incorrect - Objects outside of Safe Area

Correct - Objects well within Safe Area

Best Practice: By keeping important objects within the safe area, you ensure that no important text is trimmed off during the final cutting process. The safe area is 1/8" (.125") in from the Cut Line. 1/8" safe area on all sides (for most products).

Color Mode

Incorrect - Submitted in RGB Color Mode

Issue: Files were not designed in the correct color mode for print (CMYK).

Result: When this card is printed, the color does not translate properly to the 4-color process of a professional printing press, which results in colors appearing dull and washed out compared to how they viewed on screen.

Correct - Submitted in CMYK Color Mode

Best Practice: By converting the color mode to CMYK for all graphical elements you are using, you can see a more accurate view of the colors in your art, and make any necessary changes before uploading your files for print.

Rich Black

Incorrect - Large solid area not Rich Black

Issue: This artwork includes a large solid area defined with black ink only.

Result: Due to ink coverage in the offset printing process, the solid black area will appear to be a washed out gray color.

Incorrect - Large solid area not Rich Black

Correct - Large solid area with Rich Black

Best Practice: For all areas of solid black, set the color values to the following combination for the best result.

C: 60%
M: 40%
Y: 40%
K: 100%

Correct - Large solid area with Rich Black

Borders

Incorrect - Border near the Cut Line

Issue: The artwork includes a border right at the edge of the card's cut line.

Result: Due to mechanical tolerances of the cutting process, the border will not appear symmetrical.

Correct - Border well within Safe Area

Best Practice: By moving the border within the safe area, you ensure that the border will appear symmetrical after the card is trimmed.