Print Design 101: How to Prepare Files Like a Pro (And Avoid Costly Mistakes)

Print Design 101: How to Prepare Files Like a Pro (And Avoid Costly Mistakes)

If you’ve ever sent a file to print only to get back misaligned colours, cut-off text, or blurry images, you know how frustrating it can be. The truth? Most printing errors happen because of incorrect file setup.

At Glu Group, we print hundreds of projects every month—from business cards to banners—and we’ve seen it all. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to prepare your files so they print perfectly every time.

How to Supply Print-Ready Files (The Right Way)

1. Always Include Bleed

What is bleed?

Bleed is the extra space (usually 3mm) beyond your design’s edge. It ensures no white borders appear when your design is trimmed.

How to add bleed:

Adobe InDesign/Illustrator:

• Go to File > Document Setup (InDesign) or File > New (Illustrator). Set bleed to 3mm on all sides.
• Extend background colours/images past the crop marks.

Canva:

• Make sure you have some of your design bleeding over the edge 
• Click Share > Download > Print PDF > Select Crop Marks and Bleed.

2. Use Crop Marks (Trim Marks)

Crop marks show where the printer should cut.

How to add crop marks:

InDesign/Illustrator:

• When exporting, check "Crop Marks" in the PDF settings.

Canva:

• Same process as adding bleed: Click Share > Download > Print PDF > Select Crop Marks and Bleed.

Common Print Design Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

1. Frames/Borders on Business Cards

❌ The Problem:

• If you add a thin border around a business card, even a 0.5mm misalignment during trimming will make it look uneven.

✅ The Fix:

• Avoid borders unless they’re at least 5mm thick.
• Or, bleed the background so the border isn’t noticeable if trimmed slightly off.

2. Text Too Close to the Edge

❌ The Problem:

• Text placed near the edge risks being cut off during trimming.

✅ The Fix:

• Keep text at least 5mm inside the safe zone.
• In InDesign/Illustrator, use margins/guides to mark the safe area.

3. Low-Resolution Images

❌ The Problem:

• Images under 300 DPI will print blurry or pixelated.

✅ The Fix:

• Use high-res images (300 DPI or higher).
• Avoid stretching small images—they’ll lose quality.

4. Incorrect Colour Mode (RGB vs. CMYK)

❌ The Problem:

• Designs in RGB (for screens) often print duller than expected.

✅ The Fix:

Always work in CMYK for print.

• In Illustrator/InDesign: File > Document Colour Mode > CMYK.
• In Canva: It is in a RBG workspace, but you are able to add in CMYK colours

5. Fonts Not Outlined

❌ The Problem:

• If the printer doesn’t have your font, we might have to substitute it (and ruin your design).

✅ The Fix:

• Outline fonts before sending:
• In Illustrator: Select text > Type > Create Outlines.
• In InDesign: Package the file (includes fonts).
• Also send in the font file if any changes need to be made.

Bonus: Our Recommended File Setup

To make things easy, here’s how we prefer files:

✔ Format: PDF (print quality)

✔ Colour Mode: CMYK

✔ Resolution: 300 DPI

✔ Bleed: 3mm on all sides

✔ Fonts: Outlined or embedded

Need Help? Let’s Get It Right the First Time!

Print design can be tricky, but we’re here to help. At Glu Group, we offer:

✅ File setup assistance

✅ Professional print design services

✅ High-quality printing with fast turnaround

📩 Contact us today for a free file check—we’ll make sure your design prints perfectly!