NEPS print resources

Print-ready file specifications

Prepare artwork that prints cleanly. Start with your product template, then check PDF export, image quality, colour, fonts and finishing layers.

Three lines. Three different jobs.

Bleed, trim and inner type safety are different parts of the layout. A small shift during cutting can expose a white edge or cut into a phone number. Plan all three before you export your artwork.

Diagram is enlarged for clarity. Coloured lines are setup guides, not printed artwork. Exact clearances come from your product template.

1. Bleed — outside the cut

Extend every background colour, photograph and edge-to-edge graphic past the trim line. Bleed is sacrificial artwork that gets cut off; it prevents unwanted white slivers when the cut shifts slightly.

2. Trim line — the finished edge

This is where the piece is intended to be cut. It defines the finished size. Keep decorative borders away from it: a tiny cutting variation can make a narrow border look uneven.

3. Inner type safety — inside the cut

Keep names, logos, phone numbers, QR codes and other essential information inside the safety boundary. This clearance protects important content from cutting variation. It is not a printed border.

A worked example: a 3.5 × 2 inch flat card

With 0.125 inch bleed on each side, the artwork area is 3.75 × 2.25 inches. A 0.25 inch inner safety margin leaves a 3 × 1.5 inch area for essential text. These are example settings, not a universal specification for every NEPS product.

See what remains after trimming

The outer bleed is removed. The background reaches the finished edge, while the important text stays comfortably inside it. No coloured guide lines appear on the finished piece.

Avoid these common file problems

Do not add a white frame and call it bleed. Extend the actual background artwork.
Do not put a phone number or QR code on the trim line.
Do not enlarge the whole design to create bleed; this can push essential text toward the cut.
Do not assume folds, die-cut openings, pockets or binding use the same safety margin as a flat card.
Use the job instructions for crop marks. Ask NEPS if you have not been given a template.

Adobe guide to bleed and trim

Download editable layout starters

These new SVG starters include bleed, trim and safety guide layers. They are blank setup layouts, separate from our finished business card design templates. Open them in a vector design application, confirm your selected product specifications and preserve the physical document size.

Each starter uses 0.125 inch bleed and 0.25 inch inner safety on every side. These are conservative example settings for a flat layout, not approval for a particular stock, format or finishing treatment. Remove the guide layers and placeholder wording from your final artwork; export your print PDF according to the confirmed job instructions.

Need a folder, fold, die cut or a different size?

Request the template for your exact product before designing. Tell us the finished size, stock, fold or structure and all finishing treatments. A generic rectangle does not include die lines, scores, handle holes, pockets or binding allowances.

Request a product-specific template Browse free business card designs

Start with the product template

Confirm your finished size, printing sides, stock and finishing options.
Use the template or setup instructions for that exact product.
Keep important text and logos inside the safety area. Extend backgrounds into the bleed area.
Check spelling, contact details, page order and orientation before sending artwork.

PDF export and supported artwork

A print-ready PDF is our preferred format. Export a PDF intended for commercial printing from your design application, embed fonts and include the bleed required for your product. You do not need to create a PostScript file and run Acrobat Distiller first.

Our existing guide also accepts EPS, TIFF, AI, PSD and JPG files for suitable jobs. Include linked images and fonts when sending editable files, or embed images and outline fonts in an EPS file. Raster artwork should be at least 300 dpi at its final printed size and in CMYK.

Use your job instructions for crop marks: our general EPS guidance says no crop marks, while some booklet jobs request them. If no template or job instructions are supplied, ask NEPS before exporting.

Bleed and safety margins

Bleed is artwork extended beyond the final trim edge; safety is the space inside that edge reserved for important content. They serve different purposes.

Our postcard terms specify 1/8 inch bleed on all sides and at least 1/4 inch clearance for critical text and images. Booklets, banners, die-cut items and other products can have different requirements. Follow the supplied product template and confirm exceptions with NEPS rather than applying one bleed amount to every job.

Images and fonts

Use sharp, original images at a minimum of 300 dpi at final size. Enlarging a small image does not restore missing detail. Check image quality at the actual printed size, including photos from a phone or online source.

Embed fonts in your PDF or convert them to outlines when appropriate. In Acrobat, check the Fonts section of Document Properties for embedded fonts. For editable artwork, supply the linked images and required fonts where licensing permits.

CMYK, spot colours and black

Prepare full-colour artwork in CMYK. Keep a spot colour only when the job specifically includes that ink or uses a named finishing mask. Screen colours are not a press proof; paper and finishing can change their appearance.

Existing NEPS colour setup recommendations
Use	CMYK setup	Note
Large rich-black areas	C40 M30 Y0 K100	Confirm suitability for your stock and process.
Small black text	C0 M0 Y0 K100	Helps avoid registration blur.
Blue starting point	C100 M60 Y0; K up to 40	Request a proof if colour is critical.
Purple starting point	C60 M100 Y0; K up to 40	Request a proof if colour is critical.

These are preparation recommendations, not an exact colour-match guarantee. Discuss brand-critical colour with NEPS before printing.

Specialty finishing layers

Supply a separate, aligned vector layer or mask for each finishing treatment. Use solid artwork for the finishing area and keep it in the same position as the printed design.

Traditional foil stamping: label the solid spot-colour artwork “FOIL STAMP” and confirm overprint and minimum detail with NEPS.
Embossing: label the vector area “EMBOSS”; avoid screens and gradients in the embossing mask.
Spot UV: use a separate aligned solid mask labelled “SPOT UV”.
Die cutting: supply a separate vector PDF showing the cutting outline.

Raised gloss and raised foil require their own artwork review. Compare specialty finishing treatments and ask us to confirm the setup for your stock and design.

Booklets, banners and door hangers

Booklets and catalogues: supply one PDF containing individual pages in reading order, rather than imposed printer spreads. Our existing FAQ requests 1/4 inch bleed for these jobs; confirm this and crop marks with your job instructions.
Retractable banners: our existing setup example is 33.5 × 83 inches, including 1 inch at the top and 3 inches at the bottom, leaving a 33.5 × 79 inch viewable area. Confirm the template for the stand you order.
Door hangers: continue backgrounds through the hole area. Use the product template to position the hole and keep important content clear of it.