What does “print-ready” mean?

Five terms you’ll hear from printers and designers, with a short explanation of each.

If you’re printing a business card or a brochure, you’ll hear these terms from the printer. Here’s what they mean.

CMYK

Screens show color with light (RGB). Printers build it with ink (CMYK). That’s why a color can look a little calmer on paper than on screen.

Bleed

A small margin, usually 3 mm, where the background extends past the edge so no white line shows after trimming.

Safe margin

Space inside the edge kept clear of text and logos, away from the blade.

Image resolution

Print needs sharper images than screens. The usual standard is 300 dpi at actual size.

Fonts

Fonts are outlined or embedded in the PDF so they don’t change at the printer.

Every printer has its own preferences, like bleed size and file type, so ask them before you order the design.