Artwork Guidelines

Print-ready artwork is a file prepared according to the final product specifications. It should use the correct finished size, bleed, safe area, resolution, color mode, fonts, page order and finishing setup. The artwork should also contain final approved text, images, contact information and other content.

Sunlight Graphics accepts print-ready PDF, JPG, PNG and TIFF files. A properly prepared PDF is preferred for most commercial printing. Editable or vector files such as AI, EPS and SVG are helpful for logos, lettering, resizing and custom-cut graphics when available.

Most cut-to-size paper products require 0.125 inch of bleed on each edge when the design extends to the trim. For example, a 3.5 by 2-inch business card with bleed is commonly prepared at 3.75 by 2.25 inches. Specialty products may require different bleed, so use the applicable product template or confirmed specifications.

The safe area is the space inside the trim line where important text, logos, borders and other critical content should remain. Keep critical content at least 0.125 inch inside the trim line, and allow approximately 0.25 inch when the layout provides enough room. Folds, binding, drilling and specialty finishing may require larger safety margins.

Use approximately 300 PPI at the final printed size for most small-format business printing. Large-format resolution requirements vary according to the final dimensions and viewing distance. Vector artwork is preferred for logos and lettering. Increasing the resolution setting of a low-quality image does not recreate missing image detail.

Use CMYK for most process-printed business materials unless another color setup is specified. DTF apparel artwork is generally submitted in RGB when requested. Pantone or spot colors should be used only when the product and quote specifically call for spot-color production. Printed colors may differ from their appearance on a monitor.

Yes. Embed fonts in the exported PDF or convert them to outlines when appropriate so text does not change during file processing. Keep an editable source-file copy before outlining the text. Review line breaks, spacing, punctuation and special characters in the final exported file.

Yes. Set the Canva document to the correct finished dimensions, enable bleed when the background reaches the trimmed edge and download the design using the PDF Print option. Review the exported PDF at full size to confirm image quality, bleed, safe margins, page order and font appearance before submitting it.

No. A digital proof is mainly used to review layout, text, image placement, orientation and general content. Monitor calibration, lighting, paper, coatings, sign materials, garment colors, inks and production methods can affect the final color. Ask about a physical proof or sample when color matching is especially important.

Yes. Graphic design and file-preparation assistance is available when artwork needs to be created, resized, reorganized, corrected, vectorized or prepared for a specific print product. Design or correction charges may apply depending on the project complexity, supplied files and requested revisions.