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How to prepare promotional products artwork for rapid approval

Time is money, or so the old saying goes…

One of the aspects of an order which can be time challenged is preparing artwork. Obviously, you want rapid approval on the artwork so that the order can be produced quickly.

When the text and images have been provided in a usable format artwork production can be a breeze but when a customer has provided these in an improper format it can really hold up the production.

If your customer is informed enough to give you text and images in the correct format and you can get it right first time you can speed along through the order freeing up your time to work on other orders.

Artwork file types and formats

The recommended files for artwork are always pdf or eps, and vector formats.

It is best not to use jpg or png images as they don’t render as well in print. Tiff, PDF, and PSD are best for print as they allow for the full details of the design to be held, meaning they can be compressed without much loss in quality and don’t have the same colour space limitations.

Jpg and png images have issues with compression and colour detail, which cab result in the printed version looking quite different to the original image on a screen. If your customer is expecting to see their design in a certain way and the incorrect file or format has been provided, the design may well look quite different to them when they receive the end result.

In some cases, providing the wrong files and format means that the production team may reject the files or provide a warning that the product would be of an inferior quality. In these instances you would need to resubmit which would obviously hold up the order production.

Artwork Size, bleed, and positioning

If you place logos or text too close to the edge of the design, they might be cut or the desired edge gets lost. Bleed space needs to be allowed for to ensure the finished design is as you were expecting, its an area around the artwork that should be left blank or solid colour to allow for edge to edge printing.

With images, the printed image or background colour should be extended over the edge of the design (into the bleed area), but the details of the image itself should be included within the frame. If your final artwork doesn’t extend into a bleed area, you’ll likely be left with unprinted edges or a white border.

If you are creating a design for a circular product, the design should be centrally aligned otherwise it will not sit well on the product and may become distorted.

When submitting an order for a promotional product online, you may find some products have an artwork template. This ideal for making your design sits properly on the product. Use the template to position the elements of your design properly for best results.

Top tips for faster artwork approval

  1. Prepare all your artwork to the final specification before submitting. Ensure everything provided is in the proper format.
  2. Double check the size of the product and printable area. It may even be worth triple checking this!
  3. Ask for a visual proof. Keep an eye out for the proof and check and approve the proof or respond quickly.
  4. Assign one responsible person to approve the proof instead of agreement by committee. This will minimise delays in communication.

Getting the design right first time by checking your artwork and submitting it properly will save you time and therefore money.

Express promotional products

Receiving your promotional products in just 1 day is a huge advantage to you and your customers. The time gained can be used in a variety of ways including promoting your turnaround time to your customers, charging extra for an express service, or even spending more time on the design if it is a bespoke or complicated order.

Our range of express promotional products offer dispatch is as little as 1 working day and includes a variety of options ready to printed with unique branding.