Artwork Requirements
Required
For your artwork to be produced accurately, please ensure that you follow the requirements below.
All artwork must be supplied:
- According to or on our product templates (if applicable). Template-specific requirements are included on each product page and within the templates.
- With 5mm bleed for standard banners and prints (when scaled to full-size). For double-sided banners or fabric items, other bleed limits are required
- With crop marks (unless supplied on one of our product templates)
- With each artwork/design as a separate file or page
- With each file name including the finished dimensions and a description (eg. "3m x 1m Description.pdf")
- At the correct width-to-height ratio
- In CMYK colour mode
- With all images embedded
- With all fonts converted to outlines/curves/shapes
- With all visible in-canvas template elements removed
Accepted file formats:
- PDF (preferred)
- EPS (Encapsulated PostScript, CS6 and below)
- AI (Adobe Illustrator, CS6 and below)
- PSD (Adobe Photoshop, recommended flattened)
- TIFF (recommended flattened)
- JPG/JPEG (recommended high-resolution)
Once your artwork is ready to upload, please use our upload service, WeTransfer. However, if you experience any problems with WeTransfer, please try uploading your files with either Hightail or MailBigFile.
Not Acceptable
Artwork:
- Without 5mm bleed
- Without crop marks
- With multiple artworks/designs on one page
- At an incorrect width-to-height ratio
- In RGB colour mode
- With missing links or images which are not embedded
- Without fonts converted to outlines/curves/shapes
- Protected by a password
Unaccepted file formats:
- AI (Adobe CC Illustrator versions)
- INDD (Adobe InDesign)
- QXP (Quark Xpress)
- CDR (Corel Draw)
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- GIF
- PNG
- BMP
- DOC/DOCX (Microsoft Word)
- XLS/XLSX (Microsoft Excel)
- PPT/PPTX (Microsoft Powerpoint)
- PUB (Microsoft Publisher)
Notes
Please note that we cannot be held responsible for issues contained in the supplied artwork itself such as spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, RGB colour mode, overprint, resolution, missing fonts and missing images. To avoid these issues, please ensure your artwork adheres to our requirements.
Artwork not supplied to our requirements will likely render an unsatisfactory result or delay your order. If you are unsure about the artwork you have, please check with us beforehand to ensure there are no complications with your order.
If artwork cannot be used to produce what has been ordered, we will advise you of this and request how you would like to proceed.
If an artwork size is different to the ordered size, the ordered size always takes precedence. This is due to the fact that artworks from our customers are supplied in a variety of scales.
With subjective issues of quality such as image resolution, we will sometimes advise you if the quality is extremely low, though again, we cannot be held responsible if the artwork is supplied in such a manner and isn't suitable for your needs.
Artwork created in non-Adobe applications (such as CorelDRAW, SignLab and AutoCAD) can cause output issues. If you are using a non-Adobe application, please ensure to follow all of our artwork requirements and use a modern PDF generator.
What file types do you accept?
We accept PDF format artwork only.
If you are sending us artwork with a mix of graphics and photography, please provide us with a print ready PDF. If you are sending any photography, please ensure it is as high resolution as possible.
What is the maximum file size for uploading my artwork?
Our maximum size upload is 500MB.
If you need any help as your file are larger, please email our team
My file is over 500MB how can I send it to you?
We would recommend WeTransfer as it is free to use and you can send files up to 2GB. All you need to do is enter the email address you need to send the artwork (if you have not been provided with an email address, please send to info@onlinetradeprinting.com provide your address, select your file, add a message along with order number.
What happens if my artwork is wrong?
As trade printers, we expect print ready files to be supplied. Files not to our specifications may produce unexpected results, may be rejected and may cause a delay to your job.
My artwork has been rejected what should I do?
Please note all artwork issues are corresponded through email so please make sure you check your inbox (or junk folders) to make sure your artwork has not been rejected.
Can I receive a proof?
As trade printers, we expect print ready files to be supplied and currently do not offer a proofing service.
What are Trim, Bleeds and Safe Margins?
The Trim lines help indicate where the product is cut down to the desired size and refers to the end of the paper or finished size of a product.
The Bleed is the area to be trimmed and ensures that no unprinted edges occur in the final trimmed document.
The Safe Margin is the area between the text and graphics that are not meant to be trimmed.
I have ordered Scodix, how do I let you know where to apply it?
We recommend using a program like Adobe Illustrator, creating a new layer called ' SCODIX' and indicating where you'd like it, using 100% Magenta Spot Colour to highlight the area. Alternatively,
Do you print in RGB or CMYK?
We print in CMYK. When providing artwork, the colour needs to be set as CMYK not RGB (RGB artwork will be converted to CMYK, as this could affect your colours).