How to save a print-ready PDF

CorelDRAW

1. Flatten effects. Select any lens, transparency, drop shadow or glow effects, then go to Bitmaps > Convert to Bitmap. Choose CMYK and 300 dpi, and leave "Transparent background" unticked.
2. Convert text to curves. Select all, then go to Object > Convert to Curves (Ctrl+Q).
3. Go to File > Publish to PDF (not Export) and choose the PDF/X-1a preset.
4. Click Settings, then:
   • Prepress tab: tick Bleed limit and set it to 2.5 mm. Only add crop marks if we ask for them.
   • Color tab: choose Output colors as CMYK.
   • Objects tab: embed fonts, and set JPEG compression to high quality or no compression.
5. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader and check that the effects look right before you send it.

Official help: CorelDRAW Help

Adobe Illustrator

1. Set the bleed. Go to File > Document Setup and set Bleed to 2.5 mm on all sides.
2. Set CMYK. Go to File > Document Color Mode > CMYK Color.
3. Outline the text. Select all, then go to Type > Create Outlines. Keep a copy of the file with live text.
4. Go to File > Save As > Adobe PDF and choose the preset [PDF/X-1a:2001].
5. Under Marks and Bleeds, set Bleed to 2.5 mm, or tick "Use Document Bleed Settings". PDF/X-1a flattens transparency automatically.
6. Click Save PDF and check the result in Acrobat Reader.

Adobe InDesign

1. Set the bleed. Go to File > Document Setup > Bleed and Slug and set it to 2.5 mm on all sides.
2. Make sure placed images are CMYK at 300 ppi. You can check this in Window > Output > Preflight and the Links panel.
3. Go to File > Export, choose Adobe PDF (Print), then choose the preset [PDF/X-1a:2001].
4. Under Marks and Bleeds, tick Use Document Bleed Settings. Only add crop marks if we ask for them.
5. Under Output, set Color Conversion to Convert to Destination with a CMYK destination. Fonts are embedded by the preset.
6. Click Export and check the result in Acrobat Reader.

Adobe Photoshop

1. Go to Image > Image Size and set Resolution to 300 pixels/inch. Add 2.5 mm to each side of the finished size, so the new width is the finished width + 5 mm and the new height is the finished height + 5 mm.
2. Go to Image > Mode > CMYK Color.
3. Flatten. Go to Layer > Flatten Image and save a layered copy first. Text is rasterised by this step.
4. Go to File > Save As (or Save a Copy) > Photoshop PDF and choose the preset [PDF/X-1a:2001].
5. Check the result in Acrobat Reader.

Affinity Publisher / Designer

1. Set the bleed. Go to File > Document Setup > Bleed and set it to 2.5 mm.
2. Set the document to CMYK, 300 dpi, in Document Setup under Colour.
3. Go to File > Export > PDF, open More, and choose the preset PDF/X-1a:2003. Tick Include bleed.
4. Fonts are embedded by the preset, and transparency is flattened by PDF/X-1a.
5. Check the result in Acrobat Reader.

Menu and option names may differ slightly between Affinity versions. If you can't find one, look for the closest match.

Canva

Canva designs are in RGB, so colours may shift slightly in print.

1. Go to File > Settings > Show print bleed, and make sure your backgrounds reach the outer bleed line. Canva adds about 3 mm of bleed, which is fine for our 2.5 mm.
2. Go to Share > Download and choose File type: PDF Print.
3. Tick Crop marks and bleed, and choose Color profile: CMYK if it's offered (Canva Pro).
4. Check the result in Acrobat Reader.

Any other program

Export or print to PDF with a PDF/X-1a (or "press quality") setting, and include 2.5 mm bleed. Make sure the PDF is CMYK, has fonts embedded or outlined, has effects flattened, and has 300 dpi images.

If your program can't do this, send the PDF anyway, and our designers will check it and contact you.