Mistake #1: No Bleed

Bleed is the extra artwork that extends beyond the edge of your finished piece. When we cut a print to size, the blade doesn't land in a perfect pixel — it lands in a zone. Without bleed, even a tiny shift leaves a white sliver of unprinted substrate along the edge.

The fix: Extend your background color, image, or pattern at least 0.125" (1/8") beyond every edge of your document. For larger format pieces, we often recommend 0.25". If your design has a hard edge — a border, a frame — keep it at least 0.125" inside the trim line so it doesn't get clipped.


Mistake #2: Low Resolution Images

Resolution is measured in PPI (pixels per inch). The rule of thumb for large format printing is 100–150 PPI at final print size. For small format or anything viewed up close, you want 300 PPI. The problem is that images look fine on screen at any resolution — a 72 PPI image looks sharp on your monitor because monitors are 72–110 PPI themselves. On a print, that same image looks blown out and pixelated.

The fix: Use the largest file size version of files available and we will let you know if any fall below standards at scale.

Mistake #3: RGB Color Mode Instead of CMYK

RGB is the color mode for screens. CMYK is the color mode for print. When a file built in RGB gets sent to press, our software converts it — and that conversion doesn't always go the way you'd expect. Vivid blues can shift purple. Bright oranges can go muddy. Neon anything becomes something much more subdued.

The fix: Set your document to CMYK color mode before you start designing. In Illustrator: File > Document Color Mode > CMYK. In Photoshop: Image > Mode > CMYK Color. If you're inheriting an RGB file, convert it and eyeball every color before sending — what you see after conversion is what will print.


Mistake #4: Fonts Not Outlined or Embedded

Fonts are software. When you send us a file with live text, our system needs to have that exact font installed to render it correctly. If we don't have it, the text either substitutes with a different font or throws an error. Either way, your job stops moving until it's resolved.

The fix: Before exporting your final file, convert all text to outlines. In Illustrator: Select All, then Type > Create Outlines. This converts your text into shapes — no font required on our end. Just make sure you save a working copy with live text first, because outlined text can't be edited. Alternatively, embed all fonts when exporting to PDF.


Mistake #5: Wrong File Format for the Job

Not all file formats are created equal for print. JPEG compresses images and discards data every time you save — fine for web, problematic for print. Word documents, PowerPoint files, and PNGs pulled from websites are some of the most common culprits we see on jobs that need to be rebuilt from scratch.

Preferred formats for large format print:

  • PDF (with bleed, fonts embedded or outlined, CMYK) — the gold standard

  • AI (Adobe Illustrator native) — ideal for vector artwork

  • EPS — good for vector art without the full AI package

  • TIFF — acceptable for raster images at full resolution

The fix: Export as a print-ready PDF whenever possible. It preserves resolution, embeds fonts, locks in color mode, and includes your bleed — all in one file our team can work with immediately.

The Fastest Way to a Fast Turnaround

A print-ready file gets your job to press without a single back-and-forth email. Every revision cycle adds time — sometimes hours, sometimes days. The clients who consistently get fastest turnaround are the ones who've learned to check these five things before they hit send.

Not sure if your file is print-ready? Send it over and we'll take a look. We offer free file preflight on every order — we'd rather catch it early than surprise you at deadline.