Print-ready artwork setup in Cornwall that gets it right first time
Our print-ready artwork setup in Cornwall handles the technical side for you: bleed, CMYK colour, image resolution, and file format, so your files go straight to print without issues.
Design projects from £750 (+ VAT). Fixed quotes, agreed up front, trusted by 250+ Cornwall businesses.
What goes wrong, and how we fix it
No more back-and-forth with the printer. Just artwork that’s set up properly from the start.
Missing bleed gets edges cut into your design. Low resolution images that look sharp on screen print blurry. Wrong colour settings mean the printed piece looks nothing like your monitor. Missing fonts reflow your text, and the wrong file format means your printer cannot open the job at all.
We check your artwork, fix the image resolution, bleed settings, CMYK colour profiles, and embedded fonts, and set it up to meet print requirements. Your files go through smoothly and come back exactly as expected.
Why print preparation is worth getting right
Sending artwork to print without preparation is a costly mistake. Low resolution images, incorrect file formats, missing bleed, wrong CMYK colour settings, and missing fonts all waste time and budget.
For businesses across Cornwall, correct print-ready artwork setup means fewer delays, lower costs, and print that looks as it should. Whether you are printing marketing materials, signage, brochures, or business cards, printers require files that meet specific standards.
If your artwork does not meet those requirements, your project is delayed or the print quality suffers.
File format, resolution, bleed and colour
Print-ready artwork setup is more than saving a PDF. We check and correct every element of your files: document bleed settings, crop marks, CMYK colour profiles, image resolution, correct file format, embedded fonts, and final print size.
Images need to be high resolution, typically 300 dots per inch, to print cleanly. PNG files and other image formats are checked for resolution and compatibility. Vector graphics are used wherever possible because they scale without losing quality, ideal for signage, logos, and large-format print.
Fonts are converted to outlines or correctly embedded, and any illustration or graphic elements are checked so nothing is left in RGB colour mode before we export your final files.
How we set up Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop files
We start by reviewing your existing artwork, whether it was built in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, or any other software, and flag any issues before we begin.
Then we convert text to outlines, embed fonts, correct colour profiles to CMYK, add the right bleed area, and export your final Adobe PDF, Photoshop PDF, or whatever file format your printer requires. If their upload portal asks for something specific, your files match exactly.
If you need brochure or booklet design alongside the setup, we handle everything from original design through to final print-ready files.
What your finished artwork files include
You receive a complete set of correctly prepared digital files, ready to send straight to your printer. Correct file format, accurate CMYK colours, high resolution images, document bleed settings, crop marks, and the right final print size for every item.
Single-page flyer, multi-page brochure or booklet, business cards, or large-format signage, every file is properly structured for professional printing, with your brand colours accurate and your fonts embedded.
Files are organised and clearly labelled, so they are easy to reuse for future print jobs. Good file management keeps your printed materials consistent and your print costs under control.
Plan. Create. Elevate.
01Plan
We check your existing artwork or understand your print requirements.
02Create
We set up your files with the correct sizes, bleed, colours, and formats.
03Elevate
You receive print-ready files, ready to send straight to your printer.
Frequently asked questions
What is print-ready artwork?
Print-ready artwork is a file that has been correctly prepared for professional printing, with the right file format, image resolution, bleed area, CMYK colour settings, and embedded fonts. It means your file can go straight to the printer without any corrections needed.
What file format should I send to my printer?
Most printers prefer an Adobe PDF. If you are working in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, or Adobe Photoshop, we export your files in the correct format required by your chosen printer, whether that is a standard PDF, Photoshop PDF, or another format.
What is bleed and why does it matter?
Bleed is the area of your design that extends beyond the final trim size. Without it, you can end up with white edges along the sides of your printed piece when it is cut to size. Most print jobs require a bleed area of 2mm to 4mm around the edge.
Why do my colours look different when printed?
Screens display colours using RGB, a light-based system. Printers use CMYK, an ink-based system. The two do not match perfectly, which is why artwork must be set up in CMYK from the start. We make sure all colour profiles are correctly converted before your files go to print.
What resolution do images need to be for print?
Images need to be at least 300 DPI, dots per inch, at the final print size. Images that look sharp on screen are often only 72 DPI, which will appear blurry and pixelated when printed. We check every image in your artwork before it goes anywhere near a printer.
Print-ready artwork setup in Cornwall, from a Redruth studio
A £70 (+ VAT) artwork setup fix beats a reprint every time. Sanders Design is an independent Cornwall studio, 22+ years in, trusted by 250+ Cornwall businesses, and print-ready artwork setup is a core part of our graphic design and print offer. We prep existing designs, including Canva or freelancer files a printer has rejected, with correct bleed, crop marks, colour profiles, and file formats.
You work directly with the same designer from brief to delivery. A short discovery call, a fixed-price written proposal within five working days, revisions until you’re happy, and final files ready to use. The same experienced designer throughout, no account-manager layer, and no scope creep.
What is included in every print-ready artwork setup project
- Fixed-price written proposal, no hourly billing surprises
- Direct working relationship with the designer doing the work
- Amends until it’s right, bundled into the project price
- Editable source files supplied at handover, so you own the assets outright
- Brand-consistent execution when guidelines exist
- Meeting on site in Cornwall or over Zoom, whichever suits
Where we work
We are based at Krowji in Redruth and work throughout Cornwall. For clients outside the county, projects run just as well over Zoom.
Why Cornwall businesses choose Sanders Design for print-ready artwork setup
The person you brief is the person who does the work. We price the project rather than the hour, and you always know who is responsible. You deal with one person, on one price, to one deadline.
Ready to get your artwork print-ready?
If you want to avoid printing problems and get your artwork set up properly the first time, we’re here to help. Let’s make sure everything is ready to go.
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