YOUR GUIDE TO PERFECT,

PRINT READY

FILES AND OTHER THINGS.

Welcome! Here at our print shop in McAllen, our goal is to bring your vision to life on paper, exactly as you imagined it. The key to a perfect print job is a perfect digital file.

Think of it like giving a baker a precise recipe versus a list of ingredients. A "print-ready" file is the perfect recipe that allows our advanced printing equipment to produce a beautiful final product without any delays, unexpected costs, or disappointing results.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to prepare your file for professional printing. Following these steps ensures faster turnaround times and a final product you'll love.

Rule #1: File Format - The Universal Language of Print

The single most important step is saving your file in the correct format. For professional printing, the universal standard is the PDF.

Why a PDF? Think of a PDF as a locked container. Everything you put inside—your images, fonts, colors, and layout—is sealed in place. When we open it on our end, it looks exactly the way you designed it, regardless of the computer or software we use.

Accepted Format:
- PDF (Press Quality or PDF/X-1a): Always save or export your design as a high-quality PDF. In programs like Canva, this is called "PDF Print".
Unacceptable Formats for Printing:
- JPEG or PNG: These are for on-screen use (websites, social media). They compress image data and are almost always in the wrong color mode (RGB), leading to quality loss and color issues.
- Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher (.doc, .ppt, .pub): These programs are not designed for professional printing. Fonts can be substituted, and layouts can shift dramatically when opened on different computers.
- Screenshots: These are low-resolution and will always result in a blurry, pixelated final product.

Rule #2: Color Mode - The Truth About Screen vs. Ink (CMYK vs. RGB)

This is the most common reason for a difference between what you see on your screen and what you see on paper.

Your computer screen and our printing presses speak two different color languages.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue): This is the language of screens. Your monitor, phone, and TV create images by mixing colored light. This is why screen colors can appear so bright and vibrant.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black): This is the language of printing. We create images by mixing colored ink on paper. The range of colors that ink can produce is different from what light can produce.

What This Means for You: Bright, neon, and glowing colors on your screen (RGB) do not exist in the CMYK ink spectrum. When your RGB file is converted for print, those vibrant colors will automatically shift to the nearest printable CMYK equivalent, which will often appear duller or darker.

How to Set Up Your File:

Professional Software (Adobe): Set your document's color mode to CMYK before you begin designing.
Canva Users: The ability to design and export in CMYK is a Canva Pro feature. If you are using the free version of Canva, your file will be exported in RGB. Please be aware that we must convert it to CMYK, and this will cause a color shift. For projects where color accuracy is critical (like matching brand colors), a Canva Pro account or professional design software is highly recommended.

Rule #3: Resolution - The Secret to Sharp, Crisp Images (300 DPI)

Resolution determines the clarity and detail of your printed images. A low-resolution file will look blurry and unprofessional, no matter how good the design is.

What is DPI? DPI stands for "Dots Per Inch." It's the number of tiny ink dots our printer will place in every square inch of your image. More dots = a sharper, clearer picture.

The Print Standard: 300 DPI is the minimum resolution for all images and photos at their final print size.
Line Art & Text: For designs that are purely black text or simple line art, 1200 DPI is recommended for the sharpest possible edges.
The Web Image Trap: Images saved from websites, Google Images, or social media are almost always low-resolution (typically 72 DPI). They are designed to load quickly on a screen, not for high-quality printing.

Easy Math for Resolution: Simply multiply the dimensions of your print in inches by 300 to find the minimum pixel size required.

Example: For a 5" x 7" postcard, your image file should be at least (5 inches x 300 DPI) by (7 inches x 300 DPI), which equals 1500 x 2100 pixels.

Rule #4: Bleed - For a Professional Edge-to-Edge Finish

If your design includes a background color, pattern, or image that you want to extend all the way to the edge of the paper, you must include a bleed.

What is Bleed? Printing presses are not able to print to the absolute edge of a sheet. To achieve that borderless look, we print your design on a larger piece of paper and then trim it down to the final size. The bleed is an extra margin of your background image or color that extends beyond the final trim line.

Requirement: Your design must have a 1/8 inch (0.125") bleed on all four sides.
Why it's necessary: This extra margin ensures that when the product is trimmed, there are no thin, accidental white slivers on the edges if there is a microscopic shift in the paper. It guarantees a clean, professional finish.

How it Works: If you are ordering an 8.5" x 11" flyer, your final PDF file should be 8.75" x 11.25". The outer 1/8" on each side is the bleed area that will be trimmed away.

Rule #5: Safety Margin - Keeping Your Content Safe

Just as important as adding content outside the trim line (bleed), you must keep important content inside the trim line.

What is a Safety Margin? The safety margin is a "safe zone" inside the final trim edge. All your crucial text, logos, and important parts of images should be kept within this area.

Requirement: Keep all important content at least 1/8 inch (0.125") away from the final trim line on all four sides.
Why it's necessary: This guarantees that nothing important gets accidentally cut off during the final trimming stage.

Your Canva-to-Print Checklist

Canva is a great tool, but getting a print-ready file requires specific export settings. Follow these steps exactly:

Finalize your design.
Click the Share button in the top right corner.
Select Download.
Under File type, choose PDF Print (this is the most important step!).
If you have a design with bleed, check the box for Crop Marks and Bleed.
⭐ Under Color Profile, select CMYK. (Remember, this is a Canva Pro feature. If you have the free version, your file will be RGB and colors will shift during printing).
Check the box to Flatten PDF. This helps ensure all elements print correctly.
Click Download.

Have Questions? We Have Answers.

Q: Can you just fix my file for me? A: Yes, we offer file correction and graphic design services. However, these services come with a fee and will add time to your order's turnaround. For the fastest and most affordable service, we always recommend submitting a print-ready file.

Q: What will happen if I submit an RGB file from the free version of Canva? A: Our system will automatically convert the file to CMYK before printing. This process is automated, and the resulting color shift is unavoidable. We cannot be held responsible for color differences that occur from an RGB-to-CMYK conversion.

Q: My file is a JPG and it looks fine on my screen. Why can't you print it? A: A high-resolution JPEG might look okay, but it is not ideal. JPGs are always in RGB color mode and use a "lossy" compression that can create artifacts (slight distortions) in your image. A PDF is a "lossless" format that preserves all the original data perfectly.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help you get the best possible result!