A print-ready file saves a day of back-and-forth. Before you upload, check four things: bleed, safe zone, resolution and colour.
Bleed is the part of the background that runs past the trim line. Add 1/8 in (3 mm) on every side, so a tiny shift on the cutter never leaves a white edge.
Keep text and logos at least 1/8 in inside the trim line. That is the safe zone, and the online designer shows it as a dashed line.
Photos should be 300 dpi at the printed size. A picture that looks sharp on screen can print soft if it was taken from a website.
Finally, set your file up in CMYK. If you design in the online designer, all of this is set for you: pick a template, type your text and order.
