We print exactly what you upload, so five minutes checking your file saves a reprint. Our configurator checks size, bleed, page count and resolution automatically when you upload, and tells you if something needs fixing. If you would rather we set the artwork up for you, that is what we do all day: get in touch.
The essentials
- File type: PDF. Export as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 if your software offers it.
- Size: the finished size plus 3 mm bleed on every edge. A 85 x 55 mm business card is supplied at 91 x 61 mm.
- Bleed: extend any colour, image or background that touches the edge by 3 mm past the trim. Never leave a white border unless you want one.
- Safe area: keep text, logos and anything important at least 3 mm inside the trim, 5 mm on brochures.
- Resolution: 300 dpi at final size for anything up to A3. 150 dpi is fine for posters, and 100 to 150 dpi for roller banners.
- Colour: CMYK, not RGB. Bright RGB blues and greens will print duller than they look on screen.
- Rich black: for large black areas use C60 M40 Y40 K100. For small text use 100% K only.
- Fonts: embed them in the PDF or convert to outlines.
- Lines: no thinner than 0.25 pt. Thin white text on dark backgrounds should be at least 6 pt.
- Crop marks: optional. If you include them, keep them outside the bleed.
- No printer's marks in the artwork, no spot colours, no overprint settings you did not mean.
Sides and pages
- Single sided: one page in the PDF.
- Double sided: two pages in the PDF, front then back.
- Brochures: one PDF with single pages in reading order, page 1 being the front cover. Do not supply spreads. The page count includes the cover and must be a multiple of four.
Product specifics
| Product | Supply at (with bleed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business cards 85 x 55 mm | 91 x 61 mm | Rounded corners are cut after printing, so keep content 5 mm from corners |
| Flyers A6 / A5 / A4 / DL | 154 x 111 / 216 x 154 / 303 x 216 / 216 x 105 mm | Perforations: send a second PDF marking the perf line |
| Stapled brochures | finished size + 3 mm on every page | Text 5 mm from spine; page count in multiples of 4, 8 to 64 |
| Posters A3 to A0 | finished size + 3 mm | 150 dpi at full size; keep type as vectors |
| Roller banners 800 x 2000 mm | 806 x 2006 mm | Important content 100 mm from the bottom, 50 mm from the sides; 100 to 150 dpi |
Foil and spot UV
Supply two PDFs: the print file, and a separate file of the same size showing only the areas to be foiled or UV-varnished as solid 100% black on white. Keep foil and spot UV areas at least 1 mm from the trim and avoid fine serifs and hairlines, which do not hold foil well.
Colour expectations
Every print run is a little different and every screen shows colour differently. Expect small variation between your monitor, a previous print and this one. If a colour has to match exactly, tell us before you order and we will talk you through options.
Templates
Download blank templates at the right size with bleed and safe-area guides: [link the Solopress templates for each product, or your own].