Print-ready brand assets require five technical specifications that differ fundamentally from digital assets: CMYK colour mode (not RGB), 300 DPI minimum resolution (not 72 DPI screen resolution), 3mm bleed on all edges, embedded or outlined fonts (not linked system fonts), and vector-based logos (not rasterised images). Incorrect file preparation causes 23% of all print job reprints in Australia (PrintNZ Industry Report, 2024), costing businesses an average of $2,400 per incident in wasted materials, reprinting fees, and project delays.
What is the difference between RGB and CMYK and why does it matter?
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is an additive colour model used by screens — monitors, phones, and tablets create colours by adding light. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive colour model used by printers — printing presses create colours by layering ink that absorbs (subtracts) light. The same design viewed in RGB on screen will look different when printed in CMYK because the two colour spaces don’t overlap completely. Vibrant blues, bright greens, and neon colours that display beautifully in RGB cannot be reproduced in CMYK — they shift toward duller, darker versions. Professional brand designers always work in CMYK for print assets and specify both RGB and CMYK values in brand guidelines. For brand-critical colour matching (logos, brand colours on packaging), Pantone spot colours provide the highest accuracy — Pantone inks are pre-mixed to exact specifications rather than built from CMYK process dots.
What file formats should businesses use for print?
Five file formats serve specific print purposes. PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4: the universal print-ready format — flattened, CMYK, with embedded fonts and images. All commercial printers accept PDF/X, making it the safest final delivery format. AI (Adobe Illustrator): the source file for vector artwork including logos, illustrations, and layouts — editable and infinitely scalable. EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): a legacy vector format still used by some print houses and sign makers — being replaced by PDF but still occasionally requested. TIFF: the standard format for high-resolution raster images (photographs, textured backgrounds) — uncompressed, CMYK, 300 DPI. PSD (Photoshop): the source file for image editing — not a delivery format but necessary for any future modifications. At TDS Australia, all graphic design projects include final file delivery in both print-ready (PDF/X, CMYK) and digital-ready (RGB, web-optimised) formats.
What is bleed and trim and why do print files need them?
Bleed is the area of artwork that extends beyond the final trim size of a printed piece. When a printer cuts a sheet to its final size, the blade position varies by up to 1–2mm — bleed ensures that any colour, image, or pattern that touches the edge of the design extends far enough that this cutting tolerance doesn’t leave a white strip. Standard bleed in Australia is 3mm on all four edges. Trim marks (crop marks) indicate where the printer should cut. Safe zone (or live area) is the area 3–5mm inside the trim line where all critical content (text, logos, key information) must be placed — anything closer to the edge risks being cut off. A business card designed at 90×55mm (standard Australian size) should be built at 96×61mm (adding 3mm bleed on each side) with all text and logos within an 84×49mm safe zone.
