Artwork & File Setup Guide

How to prepare your file for each product we print. If you're not sure which section applies to your order, check the product page — it links straight to the right spot here.

Rules that apply to everything

File format depends on the product — check the format listed in each section below before you upload.
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB — RGB files can shift colour when printed.
Make sure all images and fonts are embedded in the file.
Remove any crop marks, trim marks or registration marks before you upload — we don't need them and they can interfere with automated production.
Images should be 300dpi at the size they'll actually print — anything much lower can look blurry or blocky; anything much higher just makes the file bigger with no extra quality.

Each product below also has its own file format, bleed and margin requirements — these vary by product, so check the right section before you send your file through.

A5 / A4 / A3 Printing

Straight-printed, cut to standard size with a white border — no bleed needed.

File format: high-quality PDF.
Supply your file at the exact finished size: A4 = 210mm × 297mm, A3 = 297mm × 420mm, A5 = 148mm × 210mm.
No bleed required — don't extend your design past the trim edge. If your background needs to reach the edge of the page, get in touch first, as that may need to be quoted as a bleed job instead.
Leave an even margin around your text/logo so nothing sits awkwardly close to the edge.

Spiral Bound Booklets

White border, no bleed — but the bound edge needs its own safety margin.

File format: high-quality PDF.
Supply your file at the exact finished page size (A4 = 210mm × 297mm) — no bleed required.
Keep all text, logos and important content at least 10mm clear of the edge that will be spiral bound. That edge gets punched with holes for the coil, so anything closer than 10mm risks being punched through or trimmed off.
This 10mm margin only applies to the bound edge — the other three sides just need the normal even margin, same as any other white-border job.

Business & Loyalty Cards

Bleed is required for these — the design needs to extend past the trim edge so there's no white sliver if the cutter is a fraction off.

File format: high-quality PDF.
3mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background colour/image 3mm past where the card will actually be trimmed.
Keep all text and logos at least 3mm inside the trim line (safe zone), so nothing important gets cut off if trimming shifts slightly.
Standard finished size is 90mm × 55mm — with bleed included, your file should be 96mm × 61mm. Double check the product page if you're ordering a square or non-standard size card.
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB, with all fonts and images embedded, and no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Signs

Bleed job — signs get extra bleed and a wider safety margin than most products, since they're often viewed from further away and trimmed on larger equipment.

File format: high-quality PDF.
20mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 20mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 10mm inside the trim line (safe zone), so nothing important ends up too close to the edge.
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB, with all fonts and images embedded, and no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Posters

Standard bleed job.

File format: high-quality PDF.
5mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 5mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line (safe zone).
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB, with all fonts and images embedded, and no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Large Format Posters

Custom size product — the bleed and safety margin apply the same way no matter what size you order.

File format: high-quality PDF.
10mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 10mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 10mm inside the trim line (safe zone).
This is a custom-size product — supply your file at your ordered finished size, plus 10mm bleed added to each side (e.g. a 1000mm × 1500mm poster needs a 1020mm × 1520mm file).
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB, with all fonts and images embedded, and no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Flyers

Standard bleed job.

File format: high-quality PDF.
5mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 5mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line (safe zone).
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB, with all fonts and images embedded, and no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Calendars

Same file setup as flyers.

File format: high-quality PDF.
5mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 5mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line (safe zone).
Set your file up in CMYK, not RGB, with all fonts and images embedded, and no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Stickers (standard)

Covers our standard sticker sheets, kiss-cut stickers and similar (not large format).

File format: JPEG or PNG.
3mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 3mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line (safe zone).
Supply your file at 300dpi at the size it will actually print, with no crop, trim or registration marks left in.

Large Format Stickers

Custom size product, same idea as standard stickers, just with more bleed.

File format: JPEG or PNG.
10mm bleed on all sides. Extend your background/image 10mm past the trim edge.
Keep all text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line (safe zone).
Supply your file at 300dpi at the size it will actually print, with no crop, trim or registration marks left in.