Three things cause nearly every reprint: no bleed, text too close to the edge, and low-resolution images. Here's how to get all three right in any design program.
Bleed
Extend any background colour or image 1/8" (0.125") past the final trim size on all four sides. Trimming is accurate to about a hair's width, and bleed is what prevents a thin white line along the edge. A 4" × 6" postcard should be set up as 4.25" × 6.25".
Safe area
Keep text and logos at least 1/8" inside the trim. Anything closer risks being clipped or looking cramped. For folded pieces, keep important elements 1/4" from the fold.
Resolution
Images should be 300 dpi at the size they'll print. A photo that looks fine on a phone screen is usually 72 dpi and will print soft. If you're unsure, zoom to 300% on screen: if it looks blocky, it will print blocky.
Colour and export
Set your document to CMYK, convert fonts to outlines or embed them, and export a PDF using the "Press Quality" or "PDF/X-1a" preset with crop marks and bleed turned on.
Our online designer handles bleed and safe area automatically with on-screen guides, and every upload gets a proof you approve before we print.