How to Send Your Printer Working Files (Without Tears or Tech Headaches)

So, you’ve finished your masterpiece in Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva—or maybe even MS Word (hey, no judgment). Now comes the moment of truth: sending your design to the printer. Easy, right? Well… sometimes.

Here’s a quick guide to make sure your files land in our inbox ready to roll, not ready to crash.

1. Use the Right File Format

We love PDFs. In fact, printers dream about PDFs. They’re the safest, most reliable way to lock in fonts, images, and layouts.

• Best choice: PDF with bleed + crop marks

• Okay choices: JPEG or PNG (fine for simple images, not so great for text-heavy designs)

• Avoid if you can: Word docs or PowerPoint files (they often shift around and make your design cry)

2. Check Your Bleed & Safe Zones

If your artwork runs to the edge, add 3mm bleed on all sides so nothing important gets chopped. Also, keep text and logos a safe distance from the trim line. Think of it like a “no-go zone” for your most important stuff.

3. Package Your Fonts & Images

If you’re sending native files (like AI, INDD, or PSD), make sure to package everything up. That means:

• Include linked images (no one likes a missing photo icon)

• Embed or attach fonts (otherwise we get mystery substitutions that look… interesting, but wrong)

4. Keep File Sizes Friendly

Giant, bloated files can clog inboxes. They can also slow down print machines. Export at high resolution (300dpi for print), but if your PDF is larger than 100MB, consider compressing it or sending via a file transfer tool (Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer).

5. Double-Check Before You Send

• Spelling and grammar: fixed

• Colours: set to CMYK (not RGB—unless neon is your vibe, but printers can’t do that)

• Pages: in the right order

• Important text & shapes not too close to the trim edges

6. How to Send It

• Upload directly through our website (preferred!)

• Email it if it’s small enough

• For big files: Dropbox, Google Drive, or WeTransfer links work a treat

If you’re unsure, send us both the PDF and your working file. That way, we can troubleshoot if anything looks off.

Wrapping It Up

Sending your printer the right files isn’t rocket science, but it does save you time, money, and headaches. Think of it as giving your project the best chance to shine—straight out of the box.

At PrintPup, we’re always here to help if you get stuck (or if your computer decides to test your patience).