Before you begin setting up your artwork, please read the following artwork guide. If you cannot prepare your artwork so it passes the checklist, please consult with a graphic designer.
Colour Mode: The correct way to design artwork for print is to set up and design the document in CMYK colour. Not all software has the ability to create files in CMYK colour (like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint). We recommend Adobe Indesign or Photoshop only.
RGB is a colour setting for screens (giving you a huge range of artificially bright colours) whereas CMYK gives you a smaller range of duller, achievable printed colours.
Commercial printing presses, like ours, print onto white paper using CMYK. It's vital to ensure your designs are set as CMYK before you send it to us. If you supply RGB files, we will convert to CMYK and print them. We will not be held liable for any colour changes when the mode is changed.
File Types: We only accept jpegs and print-ready PDFs. Please don't send us native files (MS Publisher, Word, Powerpoint, Pages) as we will instantly reject them, as you cannot print from these formats.
Resolution: Please ensure that if you are sending jpegs, any included images are at a screen resolution of 300ppi. All jpegs must be exported at 300ppi. Do not use images taken off the internet as they are usually poor quality and will not print.
Bleed: Bleed is ink that prints beyond the trim edge of the page, to ensure it extends to the edge of the page after trimming. As there is a degree of movement when printing on any press, you should always create 3mm bleed on all edges. Supplying your job without bleed will result in white edges when we trim it, so it will be rejected.
When designing, you need to extend the object box, whether picture or colour, out past the edge of your page. Then, when creating the PDF or jpeg, you need to set your bleed margins to 3mm.
With programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Adobe Photoshop, you do not have the ability to add bleed when creating a file. You need to make your page/image size 6mm larger at the beginning. You will then treat the extra 6mm (3mm all round) as bleed, which will be removed when we trim your job.
Printed Artwork Sizes:
A6: 105mm x 148mm
A5: 148mm x 210mm
A3: 297mm x 420mm
Artwork Sizes including Bleed:
A6: 111mm x 154mm
A5: 154mm x 216mm
A3: 303mm x 426mm