What is a Print Ready Design?
» Print Ready Check List
If  you’re a designer, chances are you spend a lot of time in the digital  realm. And while you might be the best pixel pusher around, the rules  change when it comes to print design. Here’s a checklist of everything  you need to do to make sure your design is perfectly print-ready.

» 1. Dimensions: At least 300 DPI
If  you’re working with vector artwork, you can go ahead and check this  off. If you’re working with raster artwork, you’ll want to make sure it  is at least 300 PPI.

If  you plan on using a logo, text, or illustration for print, we recommend  tracking down a vector version of the artwork if possible. Otherwise,  try to get the highest resolution version of the artwork possible.(Learn more about the differences between vector and raster artwork here.)

» 2. Color Mode: CMYK
Digital  screens use a combination of red, green, and blue light (RGB) to form  different colors, while printers use a combination of cyan, magenta,  yellow, and black ink (CMYK) to form different colors.

You can convert your colors from RGB to CMYK (or vice versa) in most applications by simply changing the color mode.

However,  while RGB can display a very wide color gamut for screen viewing, the  same bright, vibrant colors may not be achieved in the more limited CMYK  color space available for printing.

When designing something for print only, it is best to start in CMYK color mode, or at least be aware that some RGB colors might look different when printed.

» 3. Units: Inches
Designing with inches (instead of pixels) will help you in a few ways.

» 4. Cut lines
Cut lines tell the print shop where to cut your print.

Some print products, such as die cut stickers,  can be cut into any shape. At Sticker Mule we will automatically figure  out your cut lines for you if none are indicated. By default, this is  usually a uniform offset of the shape of your artwork.

Indicating your own cut lines will give you full control over how your print is cut and can often  speed up the proofing process. Cut lines should be indicated with a 1pt  stroke.

» Bleeds
A  bleed is anything being printed that extends beyond the cut lines.  Bleeds are necessary whenever you want something to extend beyond the  trim edge, leaving no white margin. 

» Outline text
This  is a pretty basic rule when it comes to design, but it is often  overlooked. Since there’s no way to ensure that a print shop will have all the fonts you use in your design, it’s best to make sure any text  used is converted to outlines.