If you’re new to submitting artwork for print, don’t worry! This guide will walk you through the basics, even if you’ve never worked with graphic design before. 

1. Choosing the Right File Format

When you finish designing your artwork, you need to save it in the right format so that it prints correctly.

• The best format to use is a PDF because it keeps everything looking as it should.

• If you can’t save as a PDF, a PNG or JPG will also work, but the quality might not be as sharp.

• Avoid using Word documents or PowerPoint files - they can change the way your design looks when opened on another computer.

• Want more info? Check out our guide on PDF print-ready artwork.

2. Setting the Correct Size & Bleed

• Every print product (business cards, postcards, stickers, etc.) has a specific size. Before you start designing, check what size is needed. Or use our templates on each product page to download a document with the sizes pre-set.

• If your design has colour, patterns or images that go all the way to the edges, you need to add 3mm bleed on each side. This means your artwork should be slightly bigger than the final cut size to prevent unwanted white borders. Our templates have this bleed added already, so you don't need to add an additional bleed.

• How to do this in Canva: Click "Resize" and manually add 3mm to both the width and height. If using our canva template, this step has been done, so you don't need to add an additional bleed.

◦ If you’re unable to add the bleed yourself, don’t worry - we can do it for you. Just make sure to leave a little extra space around the edges of your design so nothing important gets cut off, and we’ll adjust it to the correct size.

3. Making Sure Your Image is High-Quality (Resolution)

• For clear and professional printing, your images need to be a minimum of 300 DPI (dots per inch). This ensures that your design won’t look blurry or pixelated.

• How to check DPI: If you're using Canva, it doesn't display DPI, but downloading your file as a PDF Print ensures the highest quality. In Photoshop or other design programs, you can check and set DPI in the image settings.

• If you're unsure about your image quality, try zooming in on your design to at least 300%—if it looks blurry or pixelated, it may not print clearly.

• Avoid using images copied from the internet or screenshots, as they are usually low resolution and won’t print well.

4. Understanding Colours - CMYK vs. RGB

• Digital screens use RGB (Red, Green, Blue), but printers use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). If your design is in RGB, colours may look different when printed.

• In Canva: Canva automatically works in RGB, so some colours might print slightly different than they appear on your screen. You can download your file in RGB format, and we will do our best to match the colours as closely as possible when printing.

5. Making Sure Text is Clear and Safe

• Keep all text at least 5mm away from the edges so nothing gets cut off when printed.

• Make sure your text is large enough to read and not too thin, as very small or fine details might not print well.

• If you’re using a design program like Adobe Illustrator, convert text to outlines (curves) so that fonts won’t change when opened on a different computer.

6. Handling Backgrounds & Transparency

• If your design has a white background, make sure it’s intentional and not just because of the editing program.

• If you need a transparent background (e.g., for stickers or overlays), save your file as a PNG with transparency enabled (JPGs do not support transparency).

7. Checking Your Design Before Submitting

Before you send your artwork, do a final check:

• Zoom in to make sure everything looks sharp and clear.

• Check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

• If possible, print a test copy at home on your printer to check all fonts are legible, and see if anything needs adjusting.

8. How to Send Files

• Upload it to our website using the file uploader on each product page.

• If the file is too large to email, you can use our file sharing portal to send it.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure your artwork is print-ready with no surprises! If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to ask before submitting - we’re happy to help!