Design & File Prep

Resolution, color, bleed and layout so what prints is what you meant.

Most print disappointments start on screen. Resolution, color mode, bleed and safe zones decide whether the printed piece looks like your design. These guides explain the specs printers ask for, in plain English.

Design & File PrepHow to set up a banner or poster file printers won't send backThe specs printers ask for, translated: document size and scale, bleed and safe zones, resolution, color mode, fonts and the right PDF export.Design & File PrepCMYK vs RGB: why your print doesn't match your screenScreens glow; paper reflects. Here is why bright colors shift in print, which colors suffer most, and practical steps to get brand colors and photos closer to what you expect.Design & File PrepHow to design a banner people can read in three secondsMost banners are seen for a few seconds from a distance. Here is how to cut the copy, size the letters, pick fonts and colors that carry, and lay it out so it works.Design & File PrepPrint resolution: how big can your photo or file print?PPI, DPI and viewing distance explained, with a pixels-to-print-size table for posters and banners and what to do when your file is too small.