Submitting artwork for color prints online seems simple, but small mistakes can lead to costly errors, wasted materials, and frustrating delays. If your design isn’t set up correctly, your printed materials—whether they’re brochures, business cards, or booklets—might not turn out as expected.
At Color Copies USA, we’ve seen it all. Our online printing company has been helping businesses and individuals get high-quality, cheap color prints since 2004. To help you avoid common pitfalls, we’re breaking down the top four mistakes people make when submitting files and how to fix them.
The final print of this image is 8.5″x11″. The printed image size is 8.75″x11″. The sheet of paper is at least 9″x12″
1. Ignoring Bleed and Safe Area: A Costly Overlook
The Mistake: No Bleed or Placing Content Too Close to the Edge
Bleed is an essential part of print design that many overlook. Creating a bleed extends your background or design beyond the final trim size, ensuring there are no unintended white borders after trimming. The safe area is equally important—it keeps text and critical elements from getting too close to the edges, where they might be trimmed off.
The Result: Unwanted White Borders or Cut-Off Text
Without bleed, your printed materials might end up with thin white lines along the edges, making them look unfinished. If content is placed outside the safe area, crucial text or images can get trimmed, leading to a design that looks sloppy or incomplete.
How to Prevent It
- Always extend your background at least 0.125 inches beyond the trim line. This means your document will need to be .25 inches larger than the finished size.
- Keep text and important elements at least 0.125 inches inside the trim line.
- Most professional design programs allow you to set up bleed margins before you start.
| “Bleed and safe margins are basic printing principles, yet they’re often ignored. It’s one of the most common errors we see, and it’s easy to avoid with proper file setup.” |
| – Gustavo Baner, owner/operator of Color Copies USA |
2. Low-Resolution Images: The Blurry Print Problem
The Mistake: Using Low-Quality Images
Resolution plays a massive role in how sharp your color prints online turn out. Many people submit files using images pulled from websites, which are typically 72 DPI (dots per inch)—far too low for professional printing. Printing requires 300 DPI images to produce crisp, high-quality results. Anything lower can lead to a noticeable drop in clarity.
The Result: Blurry, Pixelated, or Jagged Prints
When a low-resolution image is stretched or enlarged for print, the pixels become visible, making the final product look blurry or distorted. Even when buying our cheap color prints, high resolution is key to making your designs look crisp.
How to Prevent It
- Always use 300 DPI images for printing.
- Avoid copying images directly from websites—they’re optimized for screens, not print.
- If your image looks blurry when zoomed in, it won’t print clearly.
- Use vector files for any logos.
| If your images aren’t high-resolution, the final print will suffer. It’s always worth taking the extra time to find or create high-quality graphics. |
3. Color Mismanagement: The RGB vs. CMYK Issue
The Mistake: Designing in RGB Instead of CMYK
Many people create their designs in RGB (Red, Green, Blue)—the default color mode for screens. However, color printing relies on CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black), which is specifically formulated for ink on paper.
The Result: Unexpected Color Shifts
A vibrant blue on your screen might turn into a dull purple once printed. That’s because RGB colors use light to create brightness, while CMYK uses ink, which naturally has a different range of colors.
How to Prevent It
- Always design in CMYK mode for print.
- If you’re unsure how colors will translate, request a printed proof before placing a large order.
- Monitor calibration can also affect how colors appear, so don’t rely on your screen alone.
| “We always advise clients to work in CMYK from the start,” says Gustavo Baner. “It saves time and prevents surprises when the prints come out.” |
| – Gustavo Baner |
4. Font Issues: Missing or Altered Text
The Mistake: Not Embedding or Converting Fonts to Outlines
If you use custom fonts in your design but don’t embed them or convert them to outlines, they may not appear correctly when printed. If the printer doesn’t have the same font installed, it may be substituted with a default font, completely altering your layout.
The Result: Incorrect or Missing Text
Your carefully chosen typography might get replaced with a generic font, throwing off alignment, spacing, and design aesthetics. In some cases, text can even disappear entirely.
How to Prevent It
- Convert text to outlines (vector shapes) before submitting.
- When creating a PDF file, make sure to embed fonts to retain your formatting.
- Always check your proof carefully before finalizing your print order.
| Typography is a huge part of good design. One missing font can make a design look unprofessional and ruin a print job. |
Need Help? Let Color Copies USA Handle It for You!
If all of this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry—we have solutions to make the process easier.
Professional Design Services
Not sure how to set up your file correctly? Our talented online printing design team can take your ideas and create a professional layout that’s print-ready. We make sure your files meet the right specifications, so you don’t have to worry about errors.
Online Design Tool
Prefer to design it yourself but want to avoid mistakes? Use our online design tools when placing your order. You can create your design directly on our website with pre-set templates that eliminate common issues.
Customizable Templates
We provide a huge selection of templates that you can personalize. Whether you need color prints online for business cards, postcards, or banners, our templates simplify the process.
| “At Color Copies USA, we don’t just print—we help businesses create the perfect printed materials. We make it easy, whether you need full design services or just a little guidance.” |
| – Gustavo Baner |
Why Choose Color Copies USA?
Color Copies USA has been a trusted online printing company since 2004, providing cheap color prints with high quality and fast turnaround. We offer color printing solutions for businesses of all sizes, making it easy to get professional materials without breaking your budget.
What Sets Us Apart?
- Experience: Over 15 years of expertise in high-quality printing.
- Affordable Pricing: Get premium results at cheap color print prices.
- Customer Support: Our team is here to help with every step, from design to production.
Get It Right the First Time with Color Copies USA
Avoiding these common mistakes saves you time, money, and frustration. Whether it’s setting up bleed, using the correct resolution, selecting CMYK, or embedding fonts, small details make a big difference.
If you’re unsure about your file setup, Color Copies USA can help. Our online printing company offers easy-to-use templates, professional design services, and high-quality color printing to ensure your project turns out exactly as you envision.
Reach out today, and let’s create something extraordinary together. To get your order started, click here or give us a call at 877-421-0668.
