Why Print Ready Artwork Matters (and What That Actually Means)

Why Print-Ready Artwork Matters (and What That Actually Means)

If you’ve ever placed an order for business cards, banners, or uniforms, chances are you’ve been asked to “supply print-ready artwork.” But what does that actually mean? And why do printers and branding companies like us make such a fuss about it?

Let’s break it down.

What is print ready artwork?

Print ready artwork is a file that’s been set up correctly for professional printing. It’s already at the right size, high enough resolution, and saved in the correct colour format meaning we can take it straight to print without needing to fix or redraw anything.

In short: it’s artwork that’s ready to do its job without causing delays or extra costs.

Why does it matter?

Here are the biggest reasons print ready artwork makes a difference:

• Quality: Low-resolution or incorrectly sized files often look blurry, pixelated, or stretched when printed. Print ready artwork guarantees sharp, professional results.

• Speed: When files are already prepared correctly, your order moves straight into production, cutting down turnaround times.

• Cost: Sending files that aren’t print ready often means extra design work or artwork charges to put them right.

A real story from our team

We had a client recently who was after some business cards. They selected that they had print read artwork on the site and placed the order.

Fortunately we had caught sight of the artwork before it was sent to production and we had a conversation with the client to explain how the artwork had come over and how it would be needed to proceed.

On this occasion the client did have the correct file, in a high resolution format with trim marks and had simply selected the wrong file.

Although the correct files had eventually been supplied we managed to lose a day on the print due to incorrect files which in other instances could have been a real crisis.

The result? Their business cards came out sharp, colour-accurate, and consistent with their branding and have since been back for signs and clothing.

What makes artwork “print ready”?

Generally, print ready artwork will be:

• Correct size and proportions (with bleed and trim marks if required)

• High resolution

• In the right colour space (CMYK, not RGB)

• Supplied as a PDF, AI, or EPS file

What if my artwork isn’t print-ready?

Don’t worry, most businesses don’t have this sorted at first. At Brand It Essex, we check every file before printing. If it isn’t print ready, we’ll let you know and can offer a design or redraw service so you end up with a master file you can use for everything moving forward.

Final thoughts

Print ready artwork isn’t just a technicality, it’s the foundation for quality branding. Get it right, and your logo, colours, and designs will look sharp across every medium. Get it wrong, and you risk dull, inconsistent, or blurry results that don’t do your brand justice.

If you’re unsure whether your artwork is print ready, drop us a message and we’ll check it for free. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.