Preparing Your Logo or Branding for Professional Printing: A Complete Guide
Feb 19th 2025
Whether you're printing business cards, brochures, or large banners, ensuring your logo and branding materials are ready for professional printing is essential. A poorly prepared file can result in blurry prints, incorrect colors, or even rejection from the printing company. To avoid these pitfalls, follow this step-by-step guide to preparing your logo and branding assets for professional printing.
Choose the Right File Format
Not all file formats are created equal when it comes to professional printing. Printers require high-quality, vector-based files for the best results. Here are the most commonly used file formats and when to use them:
Vector Files (Best for Logos & Branding)
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AI (Adobe Illustrator) – Preferred format for professional design and printing.
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EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) – A universal vector format supported by most printing software.
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PDF (Portable Document Format) – High-quality format that maintains vector integrity and embeds fonts.
Raster Files (For High-Quality Images Only)
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TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) – Preferred for high-quality images with lossless compression.
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JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) – Acceptable for printing, but must be high-resolution.
Note: CELINA specifies that raster artwork must be at a minimum of 200 DPI at 100% scale, with 300 DPI recommended. We do not accept files larger than 1GB. Additionally, we do not accept Adobe Photoshop (.psd/.psb), InDesign, Corel Draw, or Microsoft program files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Ensure High Resolution and Proper Image Quality
Resolution plays a crucial role in the clarity of your printed materials. Professional printing requires high-resolution images to avoid pixelation.
How to Check and Adjust Resolution:
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Open your image in Photoshop or another image editor.
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Go to Image > Image Size and check the DPI.
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If it’s lower than the required DPI, try resampling it to a higher resolution, but this may not always improve quality.
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Always use high-resolution source images instead of enlarging smaller images.
Use the Correct Color Mode
Printing uses CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) color mode, whereas digital screens use RGB (Red, Green, Blue). To ensure color accuracy, convert your files to CMYK before sending them to the printer.
How to Convert to CMYK:
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In Adobe Illustrator: Go to File > Document Color Mode > CMYK.
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In Photoshop: Go to Image > Mode > CMYK Color.
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In InDesign: Set the color mode to CMYK when creating a new document.
Note: CELINA advises that files submitted in RGB will be printed in CMYK color mode. We recommend including all PMS/Pantone Plus numbers or CMYK percentages. If specific colors are not requested, wewill choose the closest match. Using Pantone/PMS colors is recommended, but an exact match cannot be guaranteed. Colors on PDFs and computer screens may differ from actual printed colors. To ensure accurate color matching, provide a sample color.
Embed Fonts or Outline Text
Printers may not have the fonts you used in your design, which can cause font substitutions and layout issues. To prevent this:
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Convert text to outlines in Illustrator: Select text, go to Type > Create Outlines.
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Embed fonts in PDF files before exporting: Select File > Save As > PDF and ensure the “Embed Fonts” option is checked.
Note: CELINA advises converting all text to outlines (paths) or emailing the fonts used.
Bleed, Trim, and Safe Zone Preparation
Bleed (Ensures No White Edges After Trimming)
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Professional prints require a bleed area (typically 0.125 inches or 3mm) beyond the final trim size.
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Extend the background color or images into the bleed area to avoid unwanted white edges.
Trim Line (Final Size of Print)
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The trim line is where the printer will cut your design.
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Ensure all important elements are inside this area.
Safe Zone (Keeps Text & Elements from Being Cut Off)
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Keep all important text and design elements at least 0.125 inches (3mm) inside the trim line.
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Anything too close to the edge risks being trimmed off.
Check for Transparency Issues
If your design contains transparency effects, flatten them before sending the file to the printer to avoid unexpected printing errors.
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In Illustrator, use Flatten Transparency under Object > Flatten Transparency.
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In Photoshop, merge layers containing transparency effects.
Naming and Organizing Your Files
To avoid confusion, use clear and descriptive file names such as:
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Company_Logo_CMYK.ai
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Brochure_Front_300DPI.pdf
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BusinessCard_3.5x2_Bleed.psd
Organize all assets in a single folder, including fonts, images, and original design files, and compress them into a .zip folder before sending them to the printer.
Note: CELINA requests that you reference the Quote/Order Number in the subject line when emailing or uploading artwork. For files over 10 MB and up to 1 GB, they provide an upload link.
Proof and Pre-Flight Check Before Sending to the Printer
Before submitting your files, double-check everything:
✅ Ensure all images are high-resolution (as per printer's requirements).
✅ Verify the color mode is CMYK.
✅ Confirm the bleed and trim areas are correctly set.
✅ Outline or embed fonts.
✅ Save in the correct file format.
✅ Print a test copy on your own printer to catch any errors.
Communicate with Your Printer
Questions to Ask Your Printer:
- What file formats do you prefer?
- What are your bleed and margin requirements?
- Do you need files in CMYK or with Pantone colors?
- Do you requirea proof before the final print?