10 steps
to create the
perfect
artwork
ready to
print!

When you start designing your
beautiful label you need to have
clear in your mind the dimensions of
it. If you want to print a 50 x 50 mm
(2" x 2") you need to create the
canvas size or artboard with the
final label size with bleed added (54
x 54 mm or 2.1" x 2.1").
1.
Artwork
size

label
size
label size+
bleed added
(4mm)
FILEPRODUCT1.
Artwork
size

Bleed is the extention of the
background color, image, or design
on each side of your label. Is should
be about 2 mm or 0.1" on each side.
Bleed ensures that your entire
background is printed and does not
get cut off during the printing
process, where labels are cut out
from the printed material.
2.
Bleed

label
size
label size+
bleed added
(4mm)
FILEPRODUCT
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2.
Bleed

All the text and design elements
should remain within a safe zone to
prevent these informations to be
cut off during the printing process.
You should consider at least 1 mm
or 0.0625" of margin on each side of
the label.
3.
Safe zone

label
size
label size -
safe zone
(2mm)
FILEPRODUCT
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3.
Safe zone

4.
Image
resolution
When you embed an image in your
artwork or you're working in
Photoshop you need to be sure that
all the images re at least 300 dpi. If
you don't check it you may see your
images blurry and pixelated. If
you're working with TIFF images,
black lines should be 1200 dpi.

minimum
resolution
(300dpi)
TIFF
images,
black lines
(1200 dpi)
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4.
Image
resolution

If you’re working in Illustrator, any
images in your design should be
embedded. To embed your images
in Illustrator, simply select each one
on your artboard and click Embed on
your top toolbar.
5.
Embedded
images

The images must be in TIFF, PSD
(Photoshop) or JPG format in any
colour mode – although CMYK is
recommended. The RGB method is
not compatible with the web and
does not guarantee a great quality
print.
6.
Image
Format

Always remember to create you
design in CMYK color mode.
However color and format-shifting
are common when switching
between color modes. To avoid
surprises, design your label in
CMYK color mode from the start.
7.
Color

Typography is a fundamental part of
custom label design. When you
outline your fonts, it locks them
down or flattens them, so that they
are safe for transport and will
display correctly when printed.
8.
Outline
font

Text needs to
be converted
to outlines
8.
Outline
font

9.
File type
PDF is a widespread and universal
cross-platform file format which
means that you can save your file
PDF from preatty much any platform
or software (Adobe Illustrator, Adobe
Indesign, Adobe Photoshop or any
software which is capable of printing
a file) making it very accessible for
anyone using a computer.

10.
Spotwhite If you choose to print on a clear or
metallic material, you’ll need to
include a spotwhite layer in your
artwork file. The spotwhite layer
communicates to us what areas you
want to be opaque or white, and
which areas you want to be
transparent or metallic.

All the
color
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layer
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10.
Spotwhite

Thank you
for reading.