The Print Guide

01 / The Print Guide

Choosing a business card finish

Start with how the card will be used. Silk is coated paper with a gentle sheen; matt and gloss lamination add a separate protective film. Matt gives a quiet appearance, gloss reflects more light and soft touch feels velvety. Uncoated paper has a natural surface and is usually a better starting point when writing or stamping matters; test your chosen pen or stamp.

A screen cannot reproduce the feel of a stock. Ask Dan for advice before a large run. The business card configurator lists supported combinations; a finish described here is not a promise that every product offers it.

02 / The Print Guide

Understanding bleed and safe areas

Bleed is extra background beyond the cut edge. The safe area sits inside that edge and protects text and logos from small trimming variations. Extend backgrounds into the bleed; keep essential content inside the safe area. Do not simply enlarge a finished design to create bleed.

For the listed 85 × 55mm business cards, 3mm bleed makes a 91 × 61mm artwork area. Keep text at least 3mm inside the trim. This illustration is not a production template. NCR forms, envelopes, folds, bottle wraps and large-format products have different requirements: follow the selected product guide and confirmed supplier template.

03 / The Print Guide

Preparing a print-ready PDF

1. Use the ordered size and confirmed template. Check page count, front/back orientation and finishing clearances.
2. Export a PDF with fonts embedded or outlined and images suitable for the final printed size. Use the product’s requested colour settings.
3. Include the required bleed. Add crop marks only as the supplier template requests, outside the artwork.
4. Open the exported PDF and check spelling, contact details, small text, missing images, white edges and QR codes at actual size.
5. Email the file with your order reference and instructions. Keep editable source files for corrections.

A PDF is a container, not proof that a file is print ready. Dan reviews supplied files; a standard check does not include rewriting text or repairing a design. Agree any repair cost before work starts.

04 / The Print Guide

Choosing paper for flyers and leaflets

Gsm means grams per square metre. It describes weight, rather than guaranteeing thickness or stiffness. Lighter stock can suit high-volume handouts; heavier stock gives a more substantial feel. Coated gloss reflects light; silk has a subtler sheen. Uncoated stock can suit a softer appearance or writing.

Choose from combinations shown for flyers or folded leaflets. Folding panels need a confirmed template; do not assume equal panels for every fold.

Illustrative comparison, not actual scale. Each size has twice the area of the previous size. Portrait and landscape describe orientation; they do not change paper area. Supply the orientation and reverse-page rotation requested by the template.

05 / The Print Guide

Understanding CMYK and RGB

Screens combine red, green and blue light (RGB). Most full-colour print uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks (CMYK). Bright screen colours can fall outside what ink and paper reproduce, so printed colours may appear less vivid. Paper colour and finish also affect the result.

Use the colour mode and profile requested for your product. Avoid repeated conversions. Some merchandise uses one spot colour rather than a CMYK image. If an exact brand colour matters, discuss it before payment; a screen proof cannot guarantee a physical colour match.

06 / The Print Guide

Selecting materials for signs and banners

Choose for the setting, fixing method and intended use. Lightweight Correx suits temporary signs; smooth Foamex suits displays and short-term signage; aluminium-composite board provides a more rigid option. PVC banners need suitable mounting and edge clearance. These descriptions do not guarantee a service life or suitability for every exposed location.

Confirm dimensions, wind exposure, fixings, mounting surface and any fire-rating requirements with Dan. Listed boards are supply only unless stated otherwise. Magnetic signs need suitable flat steel panels and regular care. Installation and specialist certification need a separate agreement.

Compare sign packages · Choose a banner · Magnetic sign suitability

07 / The Print Guide

Understanding artwork resolution

Check image pixels at the size they will print. A photograph that looks sharp on a phone can become soft when enlarged. For small-format products, 300 pixels per inch at final size is a common target; use the product requirement for posters, signs and banners. Vector logos and text retain sharp edges when scaled.

A 1,200-pixel-wide photo printed 4 inches wide provides 300 pixels per inch. Changing a resolution label or enlarging the file does not recover missing detail. Send the original image or vector logo, rather than a screenshot or compressed social-media copy.

08 / The Print Guide

Preparing artwork using Canva

Start with the exact finished size; a generic template may not match the order. Show the bleed area and extend backgrounds fully; keep text and logos inside the safe margin. For folds and specialist products, ask for the confirmed template first.

Download as PDF Print. If your account offers CMYK export, use it where the product requests CMYK. Otherwise, tell Dan so conversion and colour changes can be reviewed. Follow the template for bleed and crop marks; inspect the exported PDF to check the required bleed is present.

Send the PDF with your order reference. A Canva edit link is useful only if Dan agrees it; it does not replace the final PDF or proof approval. For file fixes, request an artwork-assistance quote.