Does my artwork need bleed?
Yes. Indie Printing asks for 1/8 inch (0.125") of bleed on all sides of your artwork. Bleed is extra image area extending past the finished trim size, and it exists because commercial cutting has a small tolerance — without it, a trimmed edge can show a thin white line. If your design has a background colour, photo or pattern that should run to the very edge of the finished piece, extend it 1/8 inch beyond that edge. Artwork that sits entirely inside a white border does not strictly need bleed.
What resolution do my files need to be?
Indie Printing will only print files supplied at 300 DPI at final print size. The "at final size" part matters: a 300 DPI image is only 300 DPI at the dimensions it was created for, so scaling a small image up in a layout reduces its effective resolution. Images saved from a website or a social media post are typically 72 DPI and will look soft or pixelated in print.
Should my files be CMYK or RGB?
For offset printing, CMYK is required — all files must be supplied in CMYK colour mode. For digital printing, Indie Printing accepts both RGB and CMYK. CMYK is the four-ink model a press actually prints with, while RGB is how a screen emits light, so converting to CMYK yourself gives you control over how saturated screen colours land on paper. Printed colours may vary from what you see on a monitor; Indie Printing does not provide colour matching and does not guarantee exact colour reproduction.
What file format should I send?
PDF is preferred. A correctly exported PDF carries fonts, vector artwork, image data and page geometry in a single file, which is why it is the standard handoff format in commercial print. Indie Printing also accepts PSD, EPS, TIFF and JPG, and the quote uploader additionally takes AI, PNG and ZIP.
What is the difference between vector and raster artwork?
Vector artwork is defined by mathematical paths, so it can be scaled to any size without losing sharpness — which makes it the right format for logos, type and line art. Raster artwork is a fixed grid of pixels, so its quality depends on having enough pixels for the printed size; that is what the 300 DPI requirement is about. Photographs are always raster. Logos and illustrations are best supplied as vector where you have it.
What is a safe zone, and how far in should I keep text?
A safe zone (or safety margin) is a margin inside the trim line that you keep important content out of, so the same cutting tolerance that makes bleed necessary cannot clip your text or logo. Indie Printing lists "submitting files without bleed zone or safety zone" as a client responsibility in its terms. Keep critical text, logos and anything that must not be cut comfortably away from the trim edge, and confirm the exact margin with the team for your specific product — it varies with trim size and finishing.
Will I get a proof before you print?
Proofs are available on request. Indie Printing offers e-proofs and printed proofs when you ask for one, and requesting a printed proof may add to turnaround. A proof is for reviewing layout, content, size, positioning, spelling, image placement, trim and general artwork. It is not a colour-match or final printed-colour guarantee.
Why Indie Printing does not offer colour matching
No. Indie Printing does not provide colour matching and does not guarantee exact colour reproduction. Printed colours may vary from what you see on a monitor or other digital display, and output can vary with the printing process, paper or other material, ink or toner, coatings, finishing, equipment and file construction. Pantone/PMS ink specifications can be supplied and noted on a job, but specifying a Pantone or approving a proof does not create a colour-match or final-colour guarantee.
How do I send files that are too large to upload?
The quote form accepts up to 100 MB per file, 250 MB per job, and 10 files. For anything larger, use the Indie Printing FTP at ftp.indieprinting.com or the WeTransfer channel at indieprinting.wetransfer.com. Artwork can also be emailed to files@indieprinting.com.
What happens if my file has a problem?
Indie Printing reviews incoming artwork, and a file that is not print-ready can push a job to the next business day — which matters most on same-day work, where the cut-off is 3pm PST and the file has to arrive print-ready. The issues that most often hold a job up are low-resolution images, missing bleed or safety zone, artwork supplied in the wrong colour mode for the process, transparency and overprint problems, and incorrect setup on foil, embossing or spot-UV files.
