Artwork Guides
Get your files print-ready.
Everything you need to set up artwork correctly for Mediapoint, from the everyday essentials to product-specific requirements, templates and downloads.
The essentials.
The things every print-ready file needs before you upload.
PDF only
Print-ready PDF is the only format we accept. Nothing else will get through prepress.
Full size
Build artwork at the finished size. Banners are the one exception, where scaled artwork is expected.
CMYK
Supply in CMYK. RGB will shift on press and will not match what you see on screen.
Pantone
For the closest match to a Pantone, use a Pantone C spot colour and our profile does the rest.
Outline fonts
Convert all type to outlines. Unembedded fonts look fine in preview and print as something else entirely.
Resolution
Raster images at 300dpi, measured at 100% size.
No trim marks
Leave trim marks off rectangular artwork. The trim box already tells us where to cut.
Overprint
Anything set to overprint prints over the colours beneath it. Check it is only on where you meant it.
Maximum file size
The ceiling per file. Smaller is always better and moves through prepress faster.
File names
Put the finished size and quantity at the end of the filename.
Get your edges right.
Three boxes decide whether your artwork cuts cleanly. This is the part that causes the most reprints.
- 3mm
Bleed
Extend your background past the trim on all four sides so there is no white sliver if the cut moves. Double-sided boards need 5mm.
- 1:1
Trim box
Set it to the exact finished size. This is the line we cut to, and it is what prepress checks your file against.
- 5mm
Safe area
Keep text, logos and anything you cannot afford to lose at least 5mm inside the trim. There can be up to 2mm of movement during cutting.
Going custom?
Custom shapes need a little extra setup. Here is how to get your cut line right.
- Swatch name
- Thru-cutSpelled exactly like this
- Colour type
- Spot ColourNot process
- Colour value
- Any CMYKAnything except 0,0,0,0
- Path
- Vector strokeA stroke, never a fill
- Alignment
- CentreAlign stroke to centre
- Shape
- Closed pathNo open ends
- Bleed
- 3mmBeyond the Thru-cut line
- Per sheet
- One cutOne Thru-cut shape per sheet
Correct
- Closed path, centre-aligned stroke
- Spot colour named Thru-cut
- 3mm bleed past the cut line
- One outer cut shape per sheet
Incorrect
- Open or broken paths
- Cut line set as a fill, or as process colour
- Artwork stopping at the cut line with no bleed
- Several separate cut shapes on one sheet
Cut-out holes
Holes are marked the same way as any other cut: a Thru-cut spot colour showing their position and size.
Minimum diameter is 6mm. We route holes rather than drill them, and that is what sets the lower limit. Keep them far enough in from the edge that the stock cannot tear, and remember the outer shape still needs its own closed Thru-cut.
Working with white ink.
White is a real ink layer that you control, and the rules depend on the product. Start with the basics, then follow the rules for your product.
Name the spot colour White
Set up a spot colour named exactly White. Anything else will not be picked up as a white plate.
White is never added for you
White only prints where your file has the White spot colour. Areas with no artwork stay clear.
What overprint does
Normally an object on top knocks out, or removes, whatever is underneath it. Overprint tells the object on top to print over what is underneath instead, so both print. We print overprint exactly as your file sets it.
Check your separations
In Acrobat, open Print Production then Output Preview, tick Simulate Overprinting and step through each separation to confirm the white plate is where you expect.
Labels on Rolls
Labels on Roll, Labels on Roll 312mm Wide Core, Clear BOPP and Silver BOPP Labels on Roll.
White and colour both print
The white goes down first and the colour prints over it, so the colour stays solid.
The white is knocked out
No white prints under the colour, so the colour sits straight on the label stock.
White is optional
Choose Yes for White Ink when you quote. Choose No and only CMYK prints.
White always prints first
On the press the white goes down first and your CMYK prints over the top. You cannot change this order.
Set your colour to overprint
Put the White object underneath your artwork and select the CMYK object on top. Tick Overprint Fill (and Overprint Stroke if it has one). Illustrator: Window, Attributes. InDesign: Window, Output, Attributes.
If you forget the overprint
The CMYK knocks the white out. Where it does, the colour prints straight onto the label stock with no white behind it, and loses its solid look.
White on its own
White areas with nothing printed on top need no overprint. Leave them as they are.
Clear Window Stickers with White Ink
White always prints. Choose where it goes with the White Ink Position option.
Under CMYK
White prints first and the colour goes on top, so the artwork reads from the printed side.
Over CMYK
The colour prints first and white goes over it, so the artwork reads through the clear film.
White Ink Spot
White only, printed as a spot colour exactly where your file has it. No CMYK prints.
Outside or inside the glass
On the outside of the glass, read from outside: choose Under CMYK. On the inside of the glass, read from outside: choose Over CMYK.
Same file for Under and Over
Set your file up the same way for both. The White Ink Position you choose when quoting sets the print order, not your artwork.
Put the colour on top and overprint it
Where colour sits on white, place the CMYK object above the White object and set the CMYK to overprint. Without overprint the colour knocks the white out.
White Ink Spot is white only
Supply the White spot colour on its own. Files containing CMYK artwork will be rejected.
Some products play by their own rules.
These products need a little extra artwork setup. Choose your product to see exactly what it needs.
Kiss Cut Sticker SheetsCut lines, sheet safe zones and the five-shape limit.View guide
Cut setup
- Define kiss-cut lines with a stroke set as a spot colour named Kiss-cut.
- Allow 3mm bleed around every kiss-cut stroke.
- Keep shapes simple: a maximum of 5 anchor points or corners each.
Sheet setup
- The trim box must match your final sheet size. Artwork fails in prepress if it does not.
- Every sticker must sit at least 5mm inside the sheet edge. On a 110 x 210mm sheet that allows a 100 x 200mm sticker.
- Maximum of 5 stickers or shapes per sheet.
- One artwork kind per job. Do not combine different sheet designs in one file.
Gloss FLX PostersGloss highlights on a matt print, set up as a spot colour.View guide
Gloss needs ink underneath.
FLX layer
- Set every gloss area as a spot colour named exactly FLX.
- Use solid vector shapes as a 100% fill. No tints or gradients.
- Place the FLX shapes on top of your artwork and set them to overprint.
Where gloss works
- There must be CMYK ink under every FLX shape.
- FLX over white or unprinted areas prints nothing. No ink is laid there, so the bare stock shows with its finish unchanged.
- Solid dark colours give the strongest effect.
- Avoid fine lines and small text in the FLX layer.
- Everything without FLX prints matt. The whole poster cannot be gloss.
Before you upload
- Supply one PDF. Files with no FLX spot colour will be rejected.
- Check the FLX separation in Acrobat Output Preview with Simulate Overprinting on.
Double Sided Window StickersTwo files, front and back, both the right way round.View guide
Supply both sides the right way round.
Files
- Upload two CMYK PDFs, one for the front and one for the back, both at the same size.
- Supply both the right way round, as they should read. We reverse the back artwork in production.
- Same design on both sides? Upload the same file as the front and the back.
Ink
- Supply CMYK only and do not include a White spot colour. The white and block-out layers are built for you.
Custom shapes
- Include the Thru-cut spot colour stroke in both files.
Labels on RollsWhen you need a cut line, when you do not, and white ink.View guide
Squares and circles
- No cut line needed. Our system adds it for you.
- Trim box matches the quoted size, bleed box adds 3mm.
Custom shapes
- Supply the cut line as a spot colour named Thru-cut, set as a stroke and not a fill.
- The Thru-cut shape must match the quoted size.
- Extend 3mm of bleed past the Thru-cut stroke.
Safe area
- Keep important content 5mm inside the edge. There can be up to 2mm of movement during cutting.
White ink
- Spot colour named White, printing first with CMYK over the top.
- Check separations in Acrobat Output Preview with Simulate Overprinting on.
Reversed StickersOne rule, and it catches people out constantly.View guide
Do not mirror it.
Orientation
- Set artwork up in its normal orientation, exactly as you want it to read.
- Our production process mirrors it automatically, so the sticker reads correctly from outside the glass.
- If you mirror the file yourself it gets mirrored twice and prints backwards.
StandeesThe centre of the base has to stay flat.View guide
Keep the centre 350mm flat.
Base and centre clearance
- The centre 350mm of the base must be a straight, continuous edge. This is where the support strut sits.
- No cut-ins, cut-outs, holes or shaping anywhere within that centre 350mm.
- Shaping and curves are fine on the outer edges, outside the centre area.
- Keep contact points at both ends so the standee sits flat on the ground.
Boards & Rigid SignageThe general board rules, plus custom cuts and holes.View guide
Setup
- Trim box set to the finished size, with at least 3mm bleed.
- Double-sided boards need 5mm of bleed rather than 3mm.
- Artwork at 100% size, CMYK, fonts outlined, 300dpi raster.
Custom cuts
- Set the cut path as a centre-aligned stroke, spot colour named Thru-cut, as a closed shape.
- Always include an outer Thru-cut for the board shape, even when there are inner cuts.
- One Thru-cut per sheet. Multiple cuts or multiple items on one sheet are not accepted.
Holes
- Mark holes with the Thru-cut spot colour to show position and size.
- Minimum 6mm diameter. We route holes rather than drill them, which sets the lower limit.
- Leave enough space from the edge so the stock does not tear.
More product guides
Every other Mediapoint artwork guide, straight to the PDF.
Start with the right template.
Skip the guesswork. Download the correct Mediapoint artwork template before you start designing.
22 templates
Bollard Signs
DisplayCorflute A-Frames
Display- 600 × 900 mm Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template – No Handle
- 600 × 900 mm Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template – With Handle
- A1 Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template – No Handle
- A1 Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template – With Handle
- A2 Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template – No Handle
- A2 Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template – With Handle
- A3 Corflute® A-Frame Artwork Template - No Handle
Kiss Cut Sticker Sheet
StickersPremium Pull Up Banners
DisplayPull Up Banners
DisplaySilver BOPP Labels on Roll
LabelsStackable Display Cubes
DisplayToblerone Signs
Display