What Makes a Print-Ready File?
A plain-English checklist so your artwork prints the way it looks on screen, plus exactly what Gammage accepts.
File types Gammage accepts
Upload files on any product page or the quote form: PDF, PNG, JPG, AI, EPS, PSD or SVG, up to 5 files per request. Images can be up to 25 MB each, and PDF, AI, EPS and PSD files up to 100 MB each. You can also share a link to your files or email them to gammagesalesinc@gmail.com.
| File type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Finished layouts (cards, flyers, forms, invitations). Usually the safest choice. | |
| AI, EPS, SVG | Logos and vector artwork that needs to scale to any size, like banners and signs. |
| JPG, PNG | Photos and simple images, as long as they are large enough (see resolution). |
| PSD | Photoshop layouts. Flatten layers or include fonts if you can. |
Resolution: 300 ppi for close-up items
For anything people hold in their hands, such as business cards, flyers, invitations and brochures, images should be about 300 pixels per inch at the printed size. A 4 x 6 inch photo needs to be about 1200 x 1800 pixels. Banners and posters are seen from farther away, so around 100 to 150 ppi at full size usually looks fine.
Images saved from websites or social media are usually too small. A logo that looks sharp on a phone can print blurry. Ask your designer for the original logo file (often AI, EPS, SVG or PDF).
Bleed and safe area
- Bleed: if color or a photo runs to the edge, extend it 1/8 inch (0.125″) past the final size on every side. A 3.5 x 2 inch business card becomes 3.75 x 2.25 inches; an 8.5 x 11 flyer becomes 8.75 x 11.25 inches.
- Safe area: keep text and logos at least 1/8 inch inside the final edge so nothing gets trimmed close.
- Don’t put a thin border right at the edge; small trimming shifts make it look uneven.
Color: CMYK vs. RGB
Screens show color in RGB (light); presses print in CMYK (ink). Very bright screen colors, especially neon greens, electric blues and bright oranges, can print a little duller. If you can, design in CMYK. If your brand uses a specific color, tell us in your request. For large areas of black, a “rich black” looks deeper than plain black, but small text should stay plain 100% black so it prints crisp.
Fonts and text
- Embed fonts in your PDF, or convert text to outlines in Illustrator.
- Keep body text at about 7 point or larger, and fine lines at least 0.25 point thick.
- Proofread everything: phone numbers, emails, web addresses, dates and spelling.
Common file mistakes to avoid
- Low-resolution logo or photo pulled from a website
- No bleed on a design with color to the edge
- Text too close to the trim
- Wrong size or proportions (for example a letter-size design for a 2 x 6 ft banner)
- Missing fonts that change when the file opens
- QR code not tested
Not sure if your file is ready? Send it anyway. Gammage reviews every file before printing and will let you know if something needs attention.
No file? No problem
Start from a template in our free design-it-yourself studio, or tell us what you need in the quote form; graphic design is part of what we do. For specific products, see the business card guide, the banner size guide and the NCR forms guide.
Ready to order?
Call Gammage Print Shop at (229) 924-4029 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM) or request a quote online. Customers outside Americus can call to ask about shipping to their area. Email your designs to gammagesalesinc@gmail.com. Already a customer? Reorder with your invoice number.