How should my files be configured before sending them for printing?
To ensure professional printing and avoid errors in borders, cuts, colors or text, your files must meet a series of technical specifications.
These settings ensure that the final result is sharp, accurate and true to your original design.
Here we show you how to properly prepare any file before sending it.
🟪 1. Use 3 mm bleeds if your design reaches the edge.
If your design has backgrounds, colors or images that touch the edge of the page, you need to add 3 mm bleeding on each side.
🟩 Why are indentations necessary?
- Avoid unwanted white edges
- Correct minimal shear variations
- Ensure a professional finish
If your design does NOT reach the border (everything is inside the margin), it is not mandatory to use indents.
🟪 2. Always work in 300 dpi
The minimum resolution for printing must be 300 dpi.
Less resolution generated:
- Blurred images
- Pixelated text
- Grainy photos
Especially important for:
- Photographs
- Covers
- Magazines
- Catalogs with images
🟪 3. Use CMYK color space
To ensure accurate colors when printing, you must work in:
🎨 CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black)
RGB looks good on screen, but changes when printing.
CMYK ensures that:
- Colors are consistent
- No dull tones
- The photos come out correctly
🟪 4. Use internal margins of at least 7 mm.
To prevent the text from being too close to the edge or getting lost in the binding area, you need to use:
📏 Recommended internal margins: 7 mm
Especially important in:
- Books
- Stapled magazines
- Catalogs
- Editorial Material
🟪 5. How should I prepare the cover page?
We accept two modalities:
🟩 A) Complete cover in a single file
Includes:
- Home page
- Loin
- Back cover
This file must be provided:
- In PDF
- In FINAL SIZE
- With 3 mm indentation
- With the spine width calculated according to your paper and number of pages
🟩 B) Front and back cover in separate files
In this case:
- Cover → exact final size
- Back cover → exact final size
- Lomo is assembled in production
Both options are valid.
🟪 6. All fonts must be embedded
To avoid errors such as:
- Typefaces changed
- Line breaks
- Modified styles
You must embed all fonts in your file.
In PDF this usually comes as:
✔️ “Embed fonts”
✔️ “Embed fonts”
🟪 7. Your file must come in the FINAL product size.
This is essential.
You must send your file EXACTLY in the size you want to print.
Examples:
- Letter Book (21.5 × 27.9 cm)
- Half Letter
- A5
- Custom size magazines
- Square catalogs
⚠️ We do NOT adjust files that come in the wrong size.
If you send letter size when your product is A5, it will require prior correction.
🟪 What happens if I do not meet these specifications?
The file can present:
- Incorrect cuts
- Changed colors
- White edges
- Out-of-area texts
- Blurred photos
- Misaligned covers
That is why it is important to prepare your file correctly before sending it.
🟪 Where can I get more information?
🟦 Conclusion
To print with the best quality, your files must come with bleeds, in 300 dpi, in CMYK, with internal margins, embedded fonts and in the exact final size.
These rules guarantee a professional result in any project.
