Pre-Press & Artwork Guidelines for Print-Ready Files in India

Every printing professional in India has experienced the frustration of receiving artwork files that simply aren't print-ready. Incorrect colour modes, missing bleeds, low-resolution images, and un-embedded fonts are just a few of the issues that lead to costly reprints, production delays, and dissatisfied clients. At Hira Print Solutions, our dedicated pre-press department processes thousands of files each month—and we estimate that over 60% of artwork files received require corrections before they can go to press.

This comprehensive pre-press guidelines article will walk you through every aspect of artwork preparation for printing, ensuring your files are production-ready from day one. Whether you're a graphic designer, brand manager, or procurement officer, these specifications will save you time, money, and headaches.

Why Pre-Press Matters: The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Pre-press is the critical bridge between design and production. When artwork files don't meet print specifications, the consequences ripple through the entire supply chain. A single colour mode error on a 50,000-unit mono carton run can result in ₹3–5 lakh in wasted material, not to mention the 7–10 days lost in reprinting.

Common costly mistakes include RGB images on offset jobs, missing bleed areas causing white edges, font substitution errors altering brand identity, and incorrect dieline dimensions for packaging. Each of these is entirely preventable with proper print file preparation and a reliable pre-press checklist.

Colour Management: RGB vs CMYK & Beyond

Understanding CMYK Colour Settings

All commercial printing—whether offset or digital—uses the CMYK colour model (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black). Designing in RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and converting at the last minute causes unpredictable colour shifts, particularly in vibrant greens, blues, and oranges that fall outside the CMYK gamut.

Best practice: Set your document colour mode to CMYK from the very start of the design process. In Adobe InDesign, go to File > Document Setup > Intent: Print. In Illustrator, choose File > Document Color Mode > CMYK. In Photoshop, use Image > Mode > CMYK Color.

Pantone & Spot Colours

For brand-critical colours—such as corporate logos—specify Pantone (PMS) spot colours. Spot colours deliver consistency across print runs and materials. If your job is printed in CMYK only, ensure all Pantone swatches are converted to their CMYK equivalents before submission. Unintentional spot colours add extra printing plates and increase costs significantly.

ICC Profiles & Colour Proofing

Use industry-standard ICC profiles such as ISO Coated v2 (FOGRA39) for coated stock or ISO Uncoated (FOGRA29) for uncoated paper. These profiles simulate how inks will appear on specific substrates. Always request a digital colour proof (soft proof) or a wet proof / contract proof before approving high-volume runs. At Hira Print Solutions, we use GMG colour management systems to deliver Delta-E < 2 accuracy between proof and production.

Resolution & DPI: How Sharp Is Sharp Enough?

Resolution determines the clarity and sharpness of images in print. Using low-resolution graphics is one of the most common artwork preparation errors we encounter.

Pro tip: Never upscale a 72 DPI web image to 300 DPI—this doesn't add detail; it only increases file size. Always source original high-resolution photography or use vector artwork wherever possible.

Bleed, Trim & Safe Area Explained

Understanding bleed margin printing specifications is essential for clean, professional output:

• Bleed area (3mm standard): Extend all background colours, images, and design elements 3mm beyond the trim line on all sides. This compensates for slight shifts during cutting. For packaging, use 5mm bleed.
• Trim line: The final cut line where the printed sheet is trimmed to the finished size. This is your actual product dimension.
• Safe area / safety margin (5mm inside trim): Keep all critical content—text, logos, barcodes—at least 5mm inside the trim line. This prevents important elements from being accidentally cut off.

For example, a standard A4 brochure (210 × 297mm finished) should have a document size of 216 × 303mm (with 3mm bleed on all sides) and a safe zone starting at 215 × 302mm inward.

File Formats for Print: What to Supply

Choosing the correct file format eliminates compatibility issues and preserves design integrity. Here's a comparison of the most common print-ready file formats:

Our recommendation: Supply final artwork as PDF/X-1a for standard offset printing or PDF/X-4 for jobs with transparency effects. Always include a packaged native file (InDesign or Illustrator) as a backup.

Typography in Print: Fonts That Don't Fail

Font-related errors are among the most frustrating pre-press issues because they can go unnoticed until the job is on press. Follow these guidelines:

• Embed all fonts when exporting to PDF. In InDesign's PDF export, ensure "Subset fonts when percent of characters used is less than 100%" is checked.
• Convert text to outlines/curves for logo files and single-page artwork in Illustrator. This eliminates font dependency entirely.
• Minimum font sizes: Body text should be no smaller than 6pt for readability. Fine print and legal text minimum is 5pt. Reversed-out (white on dark) text should be at least 7pt and in a bold weight.
• Avoid thin/hairline fonts for small sizes—they may not reproduce clearly, especially on uncoated stock.
• Kerning & tracking: Review letter spacing, especially in headlines and packaging copy. Automated kerning (Metrics or Optical in InDesign) works for most cases, but manual adjustments improve premium work.

Image Handling: Embedded, Linked & Transparency

Proper image handling prevents the dreaded "missing link" errors and ensures images print at full quality:

• Embedded vs linked images: When packaging InDesign files, include all linked images. For PDF export, images are automatically embedded. Verify all links show "OK" status in the Links panel.
• Clipping paths: Use clean, smooth clipping paths for image cutouts. Overly complex paths with thousands of anchor points can cause RIP errors. Simplify paths using Illustrator's Object > Path > Simplify command.
• Transparency & effects: Drop shadows, feathering, and opacity effects must be flattened for PDF/X-1a output. PDF/X-4 handles live transparency natively. Always preview transparency flattening before final export.
• Overprint settings: Black text should overprint by default. Check overprint preview (View > Overprint Preview in InDesign) to catch unintended knockouts, especially with 100% black elements.

Dieline Preparation for Packaging

Packaging artwork requires precise dieline specifications that go beyond standard print layouts. Whether you're producing mono cartons, corrugated boxes, or flexible pouches, dieline accuracy is non-negotiable.

• Box & carton dielines: Supply dielines as a separate layer in Illustrator. Use distinct colours—typically Magenta for cut lines, Green for crease/fold lines, and Blue for perforation. All lines should be set to overprint and placed on a non-printing layer.
• Folding marks & crease lines: Clearly differentiate between mountain folds and valley folds. Include grain direction indicators for paperboard cartons, as grain direction affects folding quality.
• Glue tabs & flap areas: Mark glue application areas clearly. Keep artwork 2mm away from glue tabs to prevent visible adhesive bleed-through. Ensure text reads correctly when the carton is assembled—always mock up a 3D prototype.
• Pouch & flexible packaging: Include seal areas, tear notches, zipper placement, and hang-hole positions. Account for shrinkage in shrink-sleeve applications (typically 5–7% in the circumferential direction).

Pre-Flight Checks: Catch Errors Before They Cost You

Pre-flight is the final quality gate before artwork goes to plate-making or digital press. Use these tools and checks:

• Adobe InDesign Preflight: Configure a custom preflight profile matching your printer's specifications. Check for RGB images, missing fonts, overset text, and low-resolution links.
• Adobe Acrobat Preflight: Run PDF/X compliance checks. Use "Convert to PDF/X-1a" or "Convert to PDF/X-4" fixups to auto-correct common issues.
• Enfocus PitStop: Industry-standard PDF pre-flight tool used by professional pre-press departments for automated error detection and correction.
• Esko ArtPro+ / DeskPack: Specialised packaging pre-press software for barcode verification, dieline validation, and step-and-repeat imposition. Hira Print Solutions uses the Esko workflow for all packaging pre-press.

Complete Pre-Press Checklist

Before submitting your artwork, run through this pre-press checklist to ensure your files are truly print-ready:

1. Document colour mode is set to CMYK (not RGB or LAB).
2. All images are 300 DPI minimum at actual print size.
3. Bleed of 3mm (or 5mm for packaging) is included on all sides.
4. Critical content is within the 5mm safe zone inside the trim line.
5. All fonts are embedded or converted to outlines.
6. Spot colours are intentional; unintended spots are converted to CMYK process.
7. Black text is set to overprint; rich black (C40 M30 Y30 K100) is used for large black areas only.
8. File is exported as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 with trim marks and bleed marks.
9. All linked images are embedded or packaged with the native file.
10. Barcodes are verified for readability and correct encoding.
11. Dielines (if applicable) are on a separate non-printing layer.
12. A physical or digital mockup has been reviewed for folding, assembly, and readability.

Product-Wise Artwork Specifications

Different print products have different artwork specifications. Use this quick-reference table:

Why Hira Print Solutions for Pre-Press Excellence

Since 1996, Hira Print Solutions has been Navi Mumbai's trusted B2B printing and packaging partner, operating from a 50,000 sq.ft. facility with ISO 9001, FSC-C224680, and GMP certifications. Our dedicated pre-press department is equipped with industry-leading tools:

• Heidelberg Prinect workflow for automated pre-press processing, imposition, and plate output.
• GMG colour management for precise colour matching between proof and production across our Manroland 700 offset press and HP Indigo digital press.
• Esko ArtPro+ for packaging-specific pre-press, dieline validation, and step-and-repeat.
• Scodix 3D sense pre-press integration for specialty finishes like raised UV, foil, and textured effects.
• Experienced pre-press operators who review every file manually in addition to automated checks.

We offer complimentary pre-press file checks for all B2B clients, catching issues before they become costly production errors. Our team provides detailed feedback and correction guides to help your design team improve artwork quality over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard bleed requirement for printing in India?

The standard bleed requirement for commercial printing in India is 3mm on all sides. For packaging applications such as mono cartons and rigid boxes, a 5mm bleed is recommended. Bleed ensures that colours and images extend to the edge of the finished product without leaving white borders after trimming. Always confirm bleed requirements with your printer, as specialty applications may vary.

What is the ideal DPI resolution for print-ready files?

The ideal resolution for most commercial printing is 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the actual print size. For large format printing such as banners and hoardings that are viewed from a distance, 150 DPI or even 72 DPI may be sufficient. Line art and logos should be supplied at 1200 DPI or as vector files (AI/EPS/SVG) for maximum sharpness and scalability.

What are the most common artwork mistakes that cause printing issues?

The most common artwork mistakes include: using RGB colour mode instead of CMYK, supplying low-resolution images below 300 DPI, missing bleed margins, not converting fonts to outlines or embedding them, using spot colours unintentionally, incorrect dieline specifications for packaging, and not accounting for safe zones near trim edges. Following a structured pre-press checklist eliminates these issues before production.