Most print shops prefer a press-ready PDF, and 300 dpi at the final placed size is a common target for small-format printing. Neither rule is universal: file acceptance, resolution, color, bleed and font requirements vary by shop and product. Use the exact specifications or template from the printer producing your job.
Which file type should you send?
PDF is a common preferred handoff because it can preserve page size, layout and embedded fonts, but each shop sets its own accepted formats. Some accept editable or image files; others may convert them or require a particular export. Check the current instructions for your product before preparing the artwork.
| Provider | Formats and preference | Published resolution guidance | Other setup guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jukebox Print | PDF preferred; AI, PSD, EPS, TIFF and JPG accepted. | 300 dpi minimum at 100% print size. | CMYK; 1/8-inch bleed; safe zone at least 1/8 inch inside trim; embed or outline fonts. Its guide is dated December 24, 2025. Jukebox Print specifications |
| TPH | PDF recommended; JPEG/JPG, PNG and TIFF accepted. AI, EPS and PSD may need store conversion. | 300 dpi for high-quality prints; 150–200 dpi for large format, depending on size. | CMYK recommended; RGB accepted with possible color shifts. 1/8-inch bleed for edge-to-edge work and 1/4-inch safe zone. Publication date is not stated. TPH file requirements |
| Stripes Printshop | PDF recommended; TIFF, JPEG, PSD, PS, AI, EPS and some native application documents accepted. | At least 300 dpi at final output size. | CMYK for color and grayscale for black and white; 1/8-inch bleed where art reaches the edge; outline or supply fonts; embed or separately supply placed images. Publication date is not stated. Stripes Printshop file preparation |
| PrintRunner | PDF preferred; accepts many formats, including JPG, PNG, TIFF, AI, EPS, PSD and office formats. | 300 dpi minimum. | CMYK; 0.125-inch bleed for most products. Publication date is not stated. PrintRunner file preparation guide |
| AzePrint | PDF preferred; AI, INDD, PSD, TIFF and high-resolution JPG also listed. | 300 dpi at final print size. | CMYK; 3 mm bleed; text and logos 3 mm inside trim; fonts outlined or embedded. Publication date is not stated. AzePrint file guidelines |
These are examples from five providers, not an industry-wide standard. Requirements can change and may differ between products at the same shop.
What resolution should images have?
Check the image’s effective resolution at its final placed print size, not just a resolution value displayed in an image app. For example, enlarging an image in the layout reduces its effective pixels per inch at the printed dimensions; shrinking it increases them. Jukebox Print specifies 300 dpi at 100% print size, and Stripes Printshop calls for at least 300 dpi at final output size. These are provider specifications, not a universal requirement.
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Small-format printing
For items such as flyers or business cards, 300 dpi at final size is a common provider recommendation. Ask the printer what it requires for the specific product if your source image is below that level; do not assume that changing a document’s dpi setting creates additional image detail.
Large-format printing
Large prints may use a different target because they are often viewed from farther away. TPH says 150–200 dpi may suit large-format prints depending on size. Ask your provider about the print dimensions, typical viewing distance and its own resolution requirements instead of automatically applying the small-format target.
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How should you handle color?
Color instructions vary. Jukebox Print and Stripes Printshop call for CMYK for color work, while TPH recommends CMYK but accepts RGB and warns that conversion can shift colors. Before converting a file, confirm the requested color mode and profile with the shop—particularly for brand colors, photographs or other color-critical work. A conversion can change how colors look, so review a proof when the result matters.
When do you need bleed and safe margins?
If artwork or a background is meant to print to the edge, it usually needs to extend beyond the trim line as bleed. This gives the printer room for small cutting variations and helps avoid an unprinted sliver at the edge. The reviewed provider guides commonly specify 1/8 inch (0.125 inch, about 3 mm) of bleed, but follow the dimensions for your product and shop.
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Keep important text and logos inside the safe area so they are not cut off. Safe-zone dimensions differ: for example, Jukebox Print specifies at least 1/8 inch inside trim, while TPH specifies 1/4 inch. Use the receiving shop’s template rather than combining measurements from different providers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should fonts and linked images be prepared?
For a PDF, embed fonts when the export settings and printer instructions allow it. For editable files, the printer may ask you to outline text or supply the fonts. Outlining prevents font substitution but makes text harder to edit, so keep an editable copy of your design. Also embed or package linked images, or supply them separately if the shop requests that, so the printer receives every asset used in the layout.
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Preflight your artwork before submission
- Get the product-specific instructions. Ask the shop for its current accepted formats, template and export settings.
- Set the page or artboard to the final trim size. Add bleed only as specified, especially for edge-to-edge artwork.
- Check each raster image at its placed size. Ask for large-format guidance when relevant; a nominal dpi label alone does not prove an image has enough pixels.
- Confirm the color workflow. Check whether the shop wants CMYK or RGB and whether it specifies a color profile before converting.
- Prepare fonts and images for handoff. Embed fonts in PDFs or outline/package them for editable files as required; embed or package linked images.
- Check page handling and marks. Find out whether the shop wants single pages or spreads, flattened files, crop marks or another setup. Do not add crop marks unless its instructions request them.
- Review a proof when the job is sensitive. Color, trimming, folds or finishing can make a proof useful for catching setup issues before production.
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