Print-ready artwork is usually a PDF at the final size, in CMYK, with 3 mm bleed, images at around 300 dpi, logos in vector form and fonts converted to outlines. For Arabic, add one more check: open the final PDF and confirm that the letters are still joined and running right to left, because many errors appear only at export.

Set up the file correctly

  • Size: build at the actual finished size, or to a scale agreed with the printer for large items.
  • Bleed: extend backgrounds and images about 3 mm past the trim line, so no white edge appears if the cut shifts slightly.
  • Safe margin: keep text and logos at least 3 to 5 mm inside the trim. Business cards and small labels suffer most from text placed too close to the edge.
  • Crop marks: include them if the printer requests them, and do not place them inside the artwork.

Get colour and resolution right

Screens show colour in RGB, while most printing uses CMYK inks. Bright blues and greens on screen often look duller on paper. Convert to CMYK yourself and check the result, instead of being surprised by the proof.

If your brand colour must stay consistent across stationery, give the printer a Pantone reference if you have one. Offset and screen printing can use spot inks, while digital processes approximate them. Coated and uncoated paper also take the same ink differently, so a colour can shift between a glossy brochure and an uncoated letterhead.

For images, aim for about 300 dpi at final size for items held in the hand. Large banners viewed from a distance can use a lower resolution, so ask what suits the size. Enlarging a small web image does not add real detail. A logo taken from a website is usually a poor source, so look for the original AI, EPS or PDF file.

Small black text should use 100% black only. A mix of four inks looks richer on large areas, but small type can blur if the plates are not perfectly aligned.

Arabic text: where most files go wrong

Arabic needs software that shapes its letters properly. Pasting it into a program without proper support can produce separated letters written in reverse order. It can look fine on one computer and break on another if a font is missing.

Check these points before sending a file:

  • Joining: every word should connect correctly and read from right to left. In Adobe programs, use the Middle Eastern text settings if letters separate.
  • Do not track Arabic: adding letter spacing breaks the connections between letters. To fit a line, use kashida or adjust the size or wording.
  • Size: Arabic often looks smaller than Latin text at the same point size, so match them by eye, not by number.
  • Dots and diacritics: fine dots can fill in or disappear at small sizes, especially when reversed out of a dark background. Leave enough line spacing that marks do not collide.
  • Thin calligraphic strokes: decorative fonts may lose their fine strokes in small print, foil or laser marking. Use a sturdier weight for small text.
  • Numbers: decide between Western and Arabic-Indic numerals and use them consistently. Check phone numbers, dates and prices carefully, as digits and punctuation can swap places when mixed with right-to-left text.
  • Punctuation: use Arabic marks such as the Arabic comma and question mark in Arabic text.
  • Line breaks: avoid splitting a phrase awkwardly, as Arabic justified with stretched spaces looks uneven.
  • Bilingual layouts: Arabic usually starts from the right, and English from the left. Decide which language takes priority, and do not simply mirror the layout without checking it.
  • Binding: a booklet primarily in Arabic normally opens from the right, so tell the printer. Page order and fold direction depend on it.

Convert fonts to outlines in the final file to prevent substitution, and keep an editable version for later changes. Check that your font licence covers commercial use.

Allow for the finish

Finishes need their own artwork. Spot UV, foil, emboss and die-cut shapes are normally supplied as a separate layer or spot colour, clearly named. Very thin lines may not hold in these processes, so avoid strokes below about 0.25 pt and ask about the limit for your finish. Foil and embossing need simpler shapes than ink does.

The process matters too. Silicone screen printing works best with solid artwork and a limited number of colours, DTF handles more detailed colour on fabric, and UV printing suits rigid items. Laser marking needs clean, single-colour vector shapes. Tell the printer the product first, so the file is prepared for how it will be made.

Check the content and the proof

Have a native Arabic reader check the final text, not just the draft. Check names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, QR codes, and your commercial registration and VAT numbers against your documents if you print them. If your stationery includes invoice templates, e-invoicing rules may apply, so check the current requirements with ZATCA.

A final sign-off should cover spelling, numbers, size and finish, as the approved proof is what goes to print. If you are unsure about any of this, send what you have. Our free design consultation can review your file before production, and standard orders typically take 2 to 5 business days plus delivery once artwork is approved.