866-580-5261Congratulations! You have just placed your first order for custom labels. Our goal is to produce a label that exceeds your expectations on every level. This includes providing you with all the information you will need to provide us with print ready artwork. Please read through this guide of tips and tricks that can help save you time and money.
Tip #1 Start with the Right Software.
We suggest that you build your artwork in vector format. This can be achieved using programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign.
Tip #2 Use the Correct Size Template or Artboard.
We can supply you with templates for most of our stock sizes. If you don't see the template you are looking for please contact us and we can supply you with one!
Tip #3 Understanding your Template
Our templates have layers for both our dielines and your artwork. The Dielines are Cyan, Black, and Magenta.
- The Cyan line or Bleed is extra artwork that gets cut off. We use this to make sure your labels don't have white space during the die cutting process.
- The Black line is the actual edge of your sticker when it's die cut.
- The Magenta line is a recommended safe area. This area is guaranteed to not get cut off during the die cut process. If it needs to be seen on the label you should keep it inside the safe area.
- All artwork should go in the Artwork Layer. The Dieline layer is set up so that anything on it will not print.
Tip #4 Design in CMYK color format
Printing is always done in the CMYK format. All other color formats have different gamuts which may be larger than CMYK and may be able to go outside of what is possible for CMYK printing. Even Pantone colors will look off once converted to CMYK.
Tip #5 Artwork Resolution
- Vector artwork will always remain vector in a PDF. This format will always provide clean crisp images.
- Actual images inside of your PDF should have a resolution of at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). Images on your artwork need to be embedded into the file or emailed along with the file.
Tip #6 Font Handling
When using text within your artwork you should always outline the fonts. This is done because some software may not recognize a font and will substitute it with a font of its choosing. You should also outline fonts because any effects or treatments applied to them could be altered unknowingly during the final layout process of making your file press ready.
Tip #7 Proofreading
This step is absolutely crucial to ensuring perfect artwork. We will proof every design before we print but it is vital to make sure there are no typos. We look over the entire graphic but there is no way for us to check addresses, phone numbers, or other numbers. Check for typos before you submit artwork, after you submit the artwork, and when we send you the proof before we print. Triple checking allows us to be confident in the artwork we are printing.
Tip #8 Save The File
When saving the file, we prefer pdf or AI. As long as the artwork is workable, we can work with it. Saving the file correctly is one of the most crucial steps in this whole process. If we are supplied the most high quality artwork but it was saved as an image, the quality of the print is going to go down drastically or it might take twice (maybe three) times as long to print. That is why it is so important to know how to save the file.
Tip #9 Ask Questions
We encourage everyone to ask as many questions as they need. We are more than happy to help with every step along the way. If you need us to design a label for you, we can do that here.
Those tips and tricks will ensure the best label possible. Supplying quality artwork is the first step to taking your brand to the next level using custom stickers and labels. Place your order TODAY!