Artwork Guidelines

At Capital Print & Display, we want your printed products to look exactly as intended. Providing print-ready artwork helps ensure the highest quality results while avoiding production delays or unexpected issues.

Please review the guidelines below before submitting your files.

Accepted File Formats

We recommend supplying artwork in one of the following formats:

PDF (Preferred)
AI (Adobe Illustrator)
EPS
PSD (Adobe Photoshop)
JPEG / PNG (High Resolution)

For best results, please export files as high-resolution PDFs with all fonts embedded.

Artwork Size & Dimensions

Please supply artwork at the exact size required for print.

Examples:

Business Cards – 85mm x 55mm
A5 Flyers – 148mm x 210mm
A4 Flyers – 210mm x 297mm
Posters – A3, A2, A1 or custom size

Incorrect sizing may result in stretching, cropping or production delays.

Bleed & Safe Area

Bleed

To ensure accurate trimming, artwork must include bleed:

3mm bleed on all sides for standard print products
5mm bleed may be required for large format printing

Backgrounds, colours and images should extend fully into the bleed area.

Safe Area

Keep all important content such as:

Text
Logos
Contact details
QR codes

At least 3mm–5mm away from the trim edge.

Resolution Requirements

For sharp and professional print quality:

Minimum resolution: 300 DPI
Large format artwork: 150 DPI minimum at final size

Low-resolution images or screenshots may appear blurry or pixelated when printed.

Colour Settings

CMYK Colour Mode

Printing uses CMYK inks rather than RGB screen colours.

Files supplied in RGB may print differently from what appears on screen.

Important Notes:

Convert artwork to CMYK before exporting
Pantone colours should be clearly specified if required
Slight colour variation may occur across different materials and print processes

Fonts & Text

To avoid font issues:

Convert fonts to outlines where possible
Or embed all fonts within your PDF
Use clear and readable font sizes

Very small text or thin fonts may not reproduce clearly in print.

Image Quality

Images should be high resolution
Images should be embedded correctly
Avoid compressed web images or screenshots

Poor-quality images can affect the final printed result.

Transparency & Layers

Before exporting your artwork:

Flatten transparency effects where possible
Remove hidden or unused layers
Check overprint settings carefully

This helps prevent unexpected print issues.

Black Colour Guidelines

For best results:

Use 100% K black for body text
Use rich black for large black background areas

Example Rich Black:

C:60 M:40 Y:40 K:100

Large Format Artwork

For banners, signage, exhibition graphics and roller banners:

Supply artwork at scale if file sizes become too large
Keep important content away from edges and stand mechanisms
Use high-quality images suitable for large viewing distances

If you are unsure about scaling requirements, our team can help.

Proof Checking

Please carefully review your artwork before submission.

We recommend checking:

Spelling
Grammar
Phone numbers
Email addresses
Dimensions
Image placement

Capital Print & Display cannot be held responsible for errors approved within supplied artwork files.

File Naming

To help us process your order quickly, please clearly name your files.

Examples:

business-card-john-smith-print.pdf
a5-flyer-final-artwork.pdf
roller-banner-print-ready.pdf

Uploading Your Artwork

You can upload your artwork during checkout or send files directly to our team.

For large files, we recommend using:

WeTransfer
Dropbox
Google Drive

Please include your order reference when sending artwork.

Need Help Preparing Your Artwork?

Our experienced design and print team can help prepare, adjust or check your files before printing.

Whether you need assistance with:

Artwork setup
File corrections
Print-ready exports
Design amendments
Large format preparation

We are here to help.