Print-Ready Artwork Preparation
A design file is not a print-ready file. Print-ready artwork has the right page size, bleed and trim area, outlined fonts, a known colour space and clean, production-safe paths. We prepare that file from the artwork you already have.
What usually goes wrong
These are the production problems this service is built to catch. If your file has a different issue, describe it in the upload form; we will tell you whether it is fixable before quoting.
The artwork was designed on screen, not for a press
RGB colours, 72 DPI images and no bleed are common in files built for social media or a website.
The print shop asked for a different file
A PDF with missing fonts or a JPG logo is often the only thing the customer can send.
The job is urgent and the source file is messy
We work from what you have and tell you clearly what can be fixed and what needs a new source.
What you get
- Print-ready PDF with correct page size and bleed
- Fonts outlined (or a clear note when a font must be replaced)
- 300 DPI raster images placed at final size
- CMYK or job-appropriate colour setup
- Trim, bleed and safe-area check
- A one-page delivery note listing what was checked
The production check
Every file is checked against the items that matter for the stated production use. The delivery note records what was checked and any assumption we had to make.
Who it is for
- Print shops receiving customer-supplied artwork
- Sign shops scaling a logo for a large format print
- Designers who need a production hand-off file
- Small brands preparing packaging or promo print
How the job runs
- Upload the artwork and tell us the use. Send the customer-supplied logo, PDF or design file, plus where it will be printed, cut, engraved or embroidered.
- We review it like a prepress desk. A person checks resolution, paths, fonts, colour, size and output requirements before we quote. No black-box auto-conversion.
- Approve the quote and turnaround. You get a fixed price for the file, not a surprise invoice. Standard turnaround is 24–48 hours after approval.
- Receive checked files and a delivery note. You get the production files, a before/after note and the 8-point check result. If the checked file fails, we rework it or refund it.
Pricing factors
We quote after seeing the file and the intended use. The price depends on the work, not on a flat per-format rate.
- Source quality: a clean vector file takes less work than a low-resolution JPG
- Number of pages or artboards:
- Colour complexity and image count:
- Turnaround: standard or rush
- Whether a new source file or redraw is required:
Frequently asked
What is the difference between print-ready artwork and a normal design file?+
A normal design file is made to look right on screen. A print-ready file is built for a specific production process: correct size, bleed, colour, outlined fonts and clean paths that the printer or cutter can run.
Can you fix a low-resolution JPG logo?+
Sometimes. A simple logo can be redrawn as clean vector paths. A photograph or a very detailed illustration may not be recoverable and may need a new source. We tell you which case applies before quoting.
Do you check the file against my printer's specs?+
Yes, if you send them. Tell us the print method, finished size and any printer requirements in the upload form. If you do not have specs, we prepare a sensible production file and state the assumptions in the delivery note.
What if the file still fails at the printer?+
If the failure is within the checks we said we performed, we rework the file or refund the job. Send us the printer's error note and the file so we can see what happened.
Background reading: bleed in printing and crop marks.
Related services
Need print-ready artwork for a job this week?
Upload the customer file with the production details. We will confirm what is possible and quote it before any work starts.