In the world of professional printing, creating print-ready files is essential to achieving the best results for your projects. Whether it’s a brochure, a business card, or a banner, ensuring that your files meet print specifications can be the difference between a smooth, efficient process and unexpected delays. Here’s a guide to help you understand the key steps to make sure your designs are print-ready, focusing on outlines, fonts, and embedded images.
CONVERT TEXT TO OUTLINES
One of the most common issues with print files is missing fonts. When you design in software like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign, the fonts used might not be available on the print shop’s computers. This can cause your text to display incorrectly or even disappear.
Why Create Outlines? Outlining text transforms it from an editable font into a graphic shape, ensuring that it appears the same on any computer, without needing the original font files. This step is particularly critical for logos, brand names, or any text with a custom style.
How to Create Outlines: In most design software, you can convert text to outlines with a few clicks:
- In Adobe Illustrator, select the text, go to Type > Create Outlines.
- In Adobe InDesign, select the text, right-click, and choose Create Outlines.
Make sure to save a separate copy of your file if you still need to edit the text, as outlining makes it uneditable as text.
EMBED IMAGES
Linked images are a common design choice to keep file sizes down, but for printing, this can create issues. If the links to those images break, the images may not show up in the final print. To prevent this, always embed images directly into your file before sending it to print.
Why Embed Images? Embedding images ensures that every element of your design is intact and included in the final print file. This is especially important if you’re using multiple images or complex graphics in your design.
How to Embed Images:
- In Adobe Illustrator, select the image, go to Window > Links, select the image in the Links panel, and click on the Embed Image icon.
- In Adobe InDesign, you can check that images are embedded by going to Links and making sure there are no broken links.
MAKE SURE COLORS ARE IN CMYK
Print color is different from digital color! To ensure the colors in your design print accurately, set your file to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) rather than RGB (Red, Green, Blue).
Most printers use CMYK color profiles to achieve the widest range of colors possible in print. RGB colors might look vibrant on your screen, but they can appear muted or altered when printed. Checking this setting early on helps avoid surprises with color shifts or dull-looking prints.
PACKAGE YOUR FILES
Packaging is an essential last step for multi-layered or complex designs with multiple assets (like images, logos, or unique fonts). When you package a file, you create a folder containing all the elements needed for printing. This is especially helpful if you haven’t embedded every element or if your file includes specific fonts that the printer will need.
- In Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, go to File > Package. This will gather all your fonts, images, and graphics into a single folder for easy transfer.
DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR RESOLUTION
Resolution matters, especially for images. Images should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) for crisp, high-quality printing. Anything lower may look pixelated or blurry. You can check this in your design software and adjust images as necessary to ensure they’re print-ready.
FINAL CHECKLIST FOR PRINT-READY FILES
Here’s a quick checklist to follow before you hit send:
- Fonts Outlined: Text is outlined or fonts are included with the file.
- Images Embedded: All linked images are embedded.
- Color Mode Set to CMYK: Double-check for vibrant, accurate colors.
- Resolution at 300 dpi: Ensures images will print clear and sharp.
- Packaged Files: If needed, ensure all elements are included in a single folder.
Taking these steps to ensure your files are print-ready saves time, reduces errors, and guarantees a smoother, faster print process. Ready files make for a happy print team and a great final product that brings your vision to life exactly as you imagined. Happy printing!