Creating Artwork for Printing
Artwork/Print Guidelines
Welcome to Cardel's Artwork Guidelines page, your resource for ensuring your designs are print-ready and of the highest quality. In our comprehensive PDF guide, you'll find examples, instructions, and templates that illustrate how to format your design files.
While you're welcome to provide your own design, remember that our team will review it for compatibility and print readiness. Within 24 hours of submission, we'll send you a proof. Once you approve the design, it moves to production.
Accepted File Formats
For optimal printing, we accept vector files like Adobe Illustrator CS6 AI, EPS, or PDF. Your logo should also be in vector format. Don't worry if you lack vector files; we offer a Logo Tracing Service. Please note that formats like JPG, JPEG, BMP, PSD, PNG, and TIFF aren't suitable. Opting for vector graphics ensures top-notch print quality. Design templates should use the CMYK color model with rasterized fonts and strokes at 300 DPI.
Pantone Colors
To ensure that colors are reproduced exactly as intended in your design, we exclusively use Pantone colors.
Pantone Colors: Use Pantone colors in your design to ensure that the colors are precise and consistent in print. Pantone colors are especially useful for brand colors and special print jobs where color accuracy is crucial.
Color Profiles: Use the standardized Pantone color system for printing. This helps minimize color deviations and ensures that your design looks consistent across different printers.
Font Clarity
To accurately reproduce fonts, it's essential to outline all text in Illustrator. Convert your fonts and paths to outlines to prevent print-related issues (especially if we don't have the exact font on our systems). Maintain a clear contrast between font and background colors for optimal legibility.
File Naming and Organization
Clear file naming and good organization help avoid misunderstandings and make the design process more efficient.
Clarity: Name your files clearly and distinctly so they can be easily identified. Example: “BusinessCard_FirstName_LastName_final.ai”.
Versioning: If you have multiple versions of a design, use versioning in the file name, e.g., “BusinessCard_FirstName_LastName_v1.ai”, “BusinessCard_FirstName_LastName_v2.ai”, etc.
Folder Structure: Keep your design files organized by creating separate folders for different projects, versions, and resources. Example: A folder for the current project with subfolders for “Raw Data”, “Drafts”, and “Final Versions”.
Designer Assistance
For those seeking professional design solutions, Cardel offers a Designer Service. This covers everything from complete business card designs to logo enhancements and full branding packages. Elevate your brand with our expertise. To explore Cardel's design offerings further, visit our Design Services page.
For more specific information and templates, consult the documents provided below. If you have queries, our support team is here to help guide you through the process. We're committed to assisting you at every stage.
