What is Print-Ready Artwork?
Print-ready artwork is an image file that a commercial printer uses to create print materials. That includes your promotional products, brochures, catalogues and business cards.
A print-ready artwork includes all the important information the decorator needs to produce the right image.
With the right colours.
In the right size.
Here’s how:
Print-Ready Artwork File Types
You should provide artwork in .EPS, .AI, or vector format.
These are universal files that a decorator’s printing machinery reads.
When your designer creates the image, its details are written into the file with mathematical formulas. This is different to raster images – JPEG and PNG formatted – where the information is stored in each pixel and can degrade if resized.
After receiving your artwork, the decorator’s software reads your vector file and communicates the image and its specifications to the printing machine.
With the correct file type your artwork is reproduced exactly as designed, which is crucial for overall brand integrity.
Ideal Resolution
Print-ready artwork measurements are in dpi, or “dots per inch”.
The perfect resolution for your artwork is between 300dpi and 450dpi shown at its original size, or 100% zoom. This ensures your final product has a high level of detail, retains the original artwork’s quality with a sharp and clear print.
Image Colour Settings
Print-ready artwork supports CMYK (print) and RGB (on-screen) colour models. This means that the colours in your design remain consistent across all applications. Such as:
- Online documents
- Printed documents
- Web pages
- TV advertising
- Staff uniforms
- Promotional products
In vector formatted artworks, the colours are coded into the file, rather than stored in the pixel data, as mentioned above. The formulas describe your artwork colours dynamically across shapes and sizes.
This feature makes vector formats ideal for artwork that require precise colour matching, i.e. your logos and branded materials. Correctly formatted artwork ensures your colours are consistent no matter the scale or output device.
Why do we need it?
Like we’ve stated above, print-ready artwork is necessary to produce the best decoration on your branded merchandise and create a truly on-brand experience.
Providing us your artwork in vector format ensures a clear, correctly coloured, on-brand print. This, in turn protects your brand’s integrity across all of your assets, both internal and external.
Additionally, our decorating partners require us to provide print-ready artwork that their software and machinery can process. You can also read more about how products are printed in our article.
Finally, it’s important to note that without correctly formatted artwork or images, we cannot guarantee a quality decoration.
When do we need it?
Ideally, we would love to see your artwork at the time of quoting. That way, we can give you the most accurate costings. We can also make recommendations to help you achieve the results you’re looking for.
We understand that there can be hold ups though, or that your processes might not allow for this.
In these cases, it’s important to have your artwork ready and in vector format as soon as you’re ready to order.
With your artwork ready to go there will be no delay in the production process and we can have your promotional products underway in a matter of days.
Where do you get it?
If you’ve had your artwork created by a graphic designer, they should be able to provide you with the vector formatted image. Particularly if the artwork was created in Adobe Illustrator.
If you don’t have access to these original files, we also offer a redrawing service through our in-house designers. This service incurs a redraw fee of $150 an hour for a minimum of 2 hours. However, we provide you with the final vector image for all your future use.
At Impact, our purpose is to bring your brand to life with quality promotional products and branded merchandise. We’re here to provide you with the best product to carry your message. What you put on those products is what makes the connection between product and branding. In essence, your artwork is what makes those products truly yours.
Got your artwork ready to go?
Let’s find the right product for your brand.
