Artwork Guidelines

01 File formats we accept

We accept the following file formats for custom print orders:

• PNG — preferred format, especially for designs with transparent backgrounds.
• JPG / JPEG — suitable for photographic images, but does not support transparency.
• PDF — great for vector-based designs and multi-layer artwork.
• AI (Adobe Illustrator) — accepted, please outline all fonts before sending.
• PSD (Adobe Photoshop) — accepted, please flatten layers or clearly label the print-ready layer.

If you're unsure which format to use, PNG is your safest bet for most designs.

02 Resolution & size requirements

Resolution determines how sharp and clear your print will look. Low-resolution files will result in blurry, pixelated, or soft prints — and this cannot be fully corrected after the fact.

03 Colour mode

Screens display colour using RGB (red, green, blue) while printing uses CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). These two colour systems work differently, which means colours can shift slightly between what you see on screen and the final print.

To minimise this:

• Supply your artwork in CMYK colour mode where possible for the most accurate colour reproduction.
• If you supply an RGB file, we will convert it to CMYK for printing. Some colour shift may occur, particularly with very bright or saturated colours.
• Neon or highly saturated colours are the most likely to shift in print — this is a limitation of the printing process, not an error.

Exact colour matching is not guaranteed unless specifically agreed upon in advance.

04 Transparency & backgrounds

If you want your design to print without a background (e.g. a logo or illustration on a clear or white sticker), your file needs to have a transparent background.

• PNG files support transparency — use this format if your design has a transparent background.
• JPG files do not support transparency — any transparent areas will be filled with white.
• If you are unsure whether your file has a transparent background, open it in an image viewer and look for a grey checkerboard pattern behind your design — that indicates transparency.

05 How we handle your artwork

Once we receive your file, we prepare it for print. This may involve:

• Checking the resolution and flagging any quality issues before proceeding.
• Adjusting colour profiles from RGB to CMYK as needed.
• Resizing or repositioning your artwork to fit the product dimensions.
• Applying sharpening or enhancement to improve print clarity — see Section 6.

We will always send you a draft to review before printing any custom artwork. Nothing goes to print without your approval.

06 Our use of AI tools

We use AI-assisted tools in two ways:

• Image enhancement & sharpening — for all custom orders, we may use AI tools to sharpen, upscale, or enhance your artwork to improve print clarity. This is particularly useful for files that are slightly under our recommended resolution. The goal is always to make your final product look as good as possible.
• Artwork modification — for custom artwork requests where you ask us to adapt, modify, or extend your design to fit a specific format or product, we may use AI tools to assist with those changes. Any modifications will be shown to you in the draft before printing.

We will never make significant changes to your artwork without showing you first. All AI-assisted modifications are reviewed by our team before being sent to you for approval.

If you would prefer we do not use AI tools on your artwork, please let us know when placing your order and we will work within the limitations of the file as supplied.

07 The draft & approval process

For all custom artwork orders, we follow a draft and approval process before anything goes to print. Here's how it works:

1. You place your order and upload your artwork or brief.
2. We prepare your artwork — checking resolution, colour, sizing, and applying any enhancements or modifications requested.
3. We send you a draft via email for your review. This will show exactly how your design will look when printed.
4. You approve or request changes — if you're happy, we go to print. If you'd like changes, let us know and we'll revise.
5. We print and dispatch once you've given the green light.

Please respond to draft emails promptly — orders awaiting approval are not processed until we hear back from you, which may affect your delivery timeframe.

08 Common mistakes to avoid

• Uploading a screenshot or image exported from a website — these are almost always 72 DPI and not suitable for print.
• Sending a JPG when your design has a transparent background — use PNG instead.
• Supplying a very small file and expecting it to print at a large size.
• Using RGB colours and expecting them to match exactly in print — especially bright blues, greens, and oranges.
• Embedding text as a raster layer in Photoshop — supply text as a vector or outline it to keep it sharp at any size.
• Forgetting to check your spelling — once it's printed, it's printed.

09 Need help?

Not sure if your file is print-ready? Just ask. We'd rather help you get it right before your order than deal with a reprint after. Get in touch before placing your order and we'll take a look.