Artwork guidelines for print

How to supply print-ready files

Supplying correctly prepared artwork is essential for achieving sharp, accurate and high-quality print. This guide explains everything you need to know before sending us your files — including the best file formats, image resolution, colour settings, bleed requirements and font handling.

Following these guidelines ensures your project runs smoothly through prepress and avoids delays. And if you're unsure about anything at all, our Customer Services team is always happy to help on 01487 823546 or customerservices@ciconi.co.uk. And remember, we can do the design for you too!

File formats

Our preferred format is a high-resolution PDF exported with bleed and crop marks. If your print item is multi-page, such as brochures, catalogues and magazines, please export as single pages, not spreads. We can also accept Adobe InDesign packages. If you send native files, please export them as a package including all linked images and fonts.

If you don't use InDesign, don't worry – we can work with other formats like Word documents, PowerPoint slides and Publisher files and prepare them for print. This can take time, so please be aware that an extra artworking charge may apply.

Images and resolution

Image resolution should ideally be at least 300ppi, but quality depends on more than pixel count. For example:

A noisy, poorly lit mobile photo, even if high-resolution, may still be unsuitable for print.
A well-exposed 200ppi photo from a quality camera may print perfectly.

If you’re unsure about the suitability of an image, we’re happy to review it before production.

Colour settings

For standard full-colour print, please supply all artwork in CMYK.

Converting RGB to CMYK at the prepress stage can cause unexpected colour shifts.
If you require Pantone spot colours, please ensure that all other elements are converted to CMYK so that it’s clear which colours will print as spot colours.

Bleed

If any colours, images or backgrounds extend to the edge of the page, your artwork needs bleed.

Recommended bleed: 3mm on all sides
Ensure you include crop marks when exporting your PDF

Bleed prevents thin white edges from appearing on the edges of your print after trimming.

Fonts

Please ensure all fonts are embedded when exporting your PDF. Most design software (including InDesign) handles this automatically. Missing fonts can cause layout issues, so embedding them helps avoid delays during prepress checks.

Proofs

We provide PDF proofs of your artwork before printing. For the best on-screen accuracy, please:

Open the file in an up-to-date version of Adobe Reader
Go to Edit → Preferences → Page Display
Set Use Overprint Preview to Always

This ensures colours, overprints and transparency behave as intended.

Artwork FAQs

What resolution do my images need to be?

300ppi is ideal, but lighting, exposure and quality are just as important. If in doubt, send your images for checking.

How do I include bleed in my artwork?

Add 3mm on each edge of your document and export with crop marks. Most design tools include a bleed option in their export settings.

Can I send artwork created in Word, PowerPoint or Publisher?

Yes. We can convert these into print-ready files, though additional artworking time may be needed.

Do you accept native InDesign files?

Absolutely — please package your document so all assets and fonts are included.

Can you check my artwork before printing?

Yes. Our prepress team will review your files and highlight any issues before production begins.