Getting your file ready for print
Getting your file ready for print is the most important step before your document actually gets to the press. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered if you need help at any stage! When we receive your artwork files there may be additional alterations we recommend to get your file ready for print, but here is a checklist of the 5 most important things:
File type
Please send us a PDF of your document. If you just send us the working file, (i.e. the InDesign file or Word document you designed your artwork in) then odd things can drop off the file depending on which software version you use. PDF is much safer!
Artwork size
Please set up your file to the correct size and let us know what size your artwork is. If you are printing a standard size (A3, A4, A5 etc.) then make sure your file is set up to that size.
Bleeding images
‘Bleed’ is the printer’s term for printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet past the area that will be trimmed. Bleed is important if you have images or colour that you want extending to the edge of the sheet with no white space around the sheet. We recommend you set your files to have 3mm of bleed around each edge… so an A4 document that is usually 297 x 210mm becomes 303 x 216mm. Please do let us know if you want a hand!
Check your colours
There are a few things to check when it comes to colour. Firstly, make sure your colours are set in CMYK not RGB. CMYK are the four colours that printers use to make colour from. RGB is used for digital media such as web design or web marketing and needs to be converted to CMYK before it hits the press. Secondly, if you have a specific pantone colour (i.e. you have a pantone number for the specific colour you want from a swatch) then please let us know and also set the specific colour to this pantone. This can be tricky if you’re not using design software so let us know if you need help! Thirdly, if you are doing just a black and white print check that the ‘black’ colour you have set your file to is a solid black, not a combination of CMYK colours. A CMYK black will cost you more to produce.
High resolution images and logos
Please make sure your logos and colours are high resolution. Things that look high-res on a screen can look pretty patchy when they’re printed so high resolution images and logos are an important part of a successful print project.
We’re only a phone call or email away and are really happy to help. Alternatively, we have full design services available and one of our design team can liaise with you to get your project underway.
Happy printing!
The team at NZ Print
Contact us
Phone: 04 802 3952
Email: info@nzprint.co.nz