Artwork Specification

Print Ready Artwork Specifications: Cardworks only considers artwork to be print-ready if it meets the following requirements, and no further adjustments are required in-house. To avoid additional costs to your printing (incurred when our designers are required to make final amendments before printing), please ensure that if you are providing us with print-ready artwork, you have checked through the requirements below and your material is, in fact, ready for print.

Files: We require PDF files created to print ready specifications. Colour images should be down-sampled to 600DPI. The PDF colour space should be four-colour CMYK. Bleed and trim marks should be included. We require a two page PDF one page with the cutter guide and one without. Files provided in any other format will require our designers to make changes and will incur a fee of £60 per hour.

Fonts: Please ensure that all fonts are embedded in the PDF document or make sure you convert fonts to outlines to prevent any issues with fonts.

Images: If there are any images within in the document, they must be saved as CMYK and no less than 300dpi to ensure quality.

Cutter Guides & Templates: A cutter guide and template will be supplied to you once an order has been placed. Please supply us with a two page PDF one page with the cutter guides and one without.

Bleed, Trim Marks & Fold Lines: All artwork must include a 5mm bleed on all sides, all text and images should be at least 5mm from the cutter and crease guides, this is because die cutting can only be accurate to about 1.5mm.

Proofs: PDF proofs are provided free of charge with every job and are used so that you are able to check spellings, logos and pictures before we proceed to print the job. Once you are happy with the PDF proof, we will need written approval. If you require a printed proof please request one in the email of approval of the PDF and please allow an extra 2-3 working days for the turnaround of your job.

Sending us your Artwork: Please send finished artwork to: studio@cardworks.co.uk with reference to your order number in the subject or upload your artwork using the form below. If you have any questions relating to these specifications please give us a call before sending finished artwork: 01344 450333 

If you’re unsure about whether or not you’re artwork is print-ready, or you require a further explanation, please call our studio on 01344 450333 or Contact Us.

Turnaround & Dispatch: All printed products, from approval of artwork and payment, will be turned around within 10-12 working days.
All plain white stock, from payment will take 1-3 working days to be dispatched.