Common Design Mistakes

To ensure your custom labels, stickers, and business cards are printed to the highest industrial standards, your artwork must be set up correctly. Please review our factory guidelines before uploading your files. We print files as they are submitted and cannot be held responsible for errors caused by incorrect file setup.

1. COLOR SETUP (CMYK vs. RGB)

Convert to CMYK:
Commercial digital presses use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) toners. Computer screens display colors in RGB (Light). You must design and submit your files in CMYK mode. If you submit an RGB file, our system will automatically convert it, which may result in bright, neon-like colors looking duller or darker. We do not offer Pantone (PMS) color matching.

The "Blue vs. Purple" Rule:
In CMYK printing, blue and purple are very close. To ensure your blue doesn't print purple, your Cyan (C) value must be at least 30% higher than your Magenta (M) value.

Black Ink Rules:

  • Small Text & Barcodes: Always use 100% K Black (C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100) to ensure sharp, crisp edges.

  • Solid Backgrounds: For large, solid black backgrounds, use a Rich Black mix (e.g., C:60 M:40 Y:40 K:100) for a deeper, darker finish. Do not use Rich Black for thin text.

2. CLEAR MATERIALS & WHITE INK LIMITATIONS ⚠️

Our advanced digital presses utilize CMYK toners and DO NOT print white ink.

  • Any area of your design that is colored "white" will not print.

  • If you order ANY Clear Material (including Clear BOPP Roll Labels or Clear Vinyl Stickers), the "white" areas in your file will be completely transparent (see-through) on the final product.

  • If you order standard White Vinyl or Paper, the "white" areas will simply show the white material underneath.

3. CUTTING TOLERANCE (1mm Margin of Error) ⚠️

While we utilize high-precision digital cutting equipment, all commercial printing has a mechanical margin of error.

  • The 1mm Rule: A mechanical shift of up to 1mm during the die-cutting process is considered within acceptable industrial manufacturing standards. We do not issue reprints or refunds for cut shifts within this 1mm tolerance.

  • To protect your artwork against this shift, you must follow the Bleed and Safety Zone rules below.

4. BLEED, SAFETY ZONES & BORDERS

To avoid white edges or chopped-off text due to the 1mm mechanical shift, you must build "buffer zones" into your file:

  • The Bleed (0.125"): Extend your background color or image 0.125" (1/8") past the final cut line on all sides. (Example: A 2" x 2" sticker needs a file size of 2.25" x 2.25").

  • The Safety Zone (0.125"): Keep all important text and logos at least 0.125" inside the cut line.

The Border Trap (Avoid Thin Borders):
Because of the natural 1mm cutting shift, we strongly advise against using thin borders along the edge of your design. A slight shift will make a thin border look noticeably uneven. If you must have a border, it must be at least 0.18" thick so the shift is not visible to the naked eye.

5. RESOLUTION & FILE FORMATS

Vector is King (Highly Recommended):
For the sharpest text and cleanest cut lines, please provide Vector files (.AI, .EPS, or Vector .PDF). You must Create Outlines (convert text to curves) for all fonts before saving.

Raster Images (Acceptable):
If you must upload a flattened image (.JPG or .PNG), it must be exactly 300 DPI at the actual print size. Taking a small web image and scaling it up will result in a blurry print. We are not responsible for low-resolution uploads.

6. TEXT SIZE, REVERSE TYPE & QR CODES ⚠️

Minimum Font Sizes:

  • Standard Labels & Stickers: Minimum 6pt font.

  • Business Cards: Minimum 7pt font.

The "Reverse Type" Rule (White Text on Dark Backgrounds):
When printing dark backgrounds, ink naturally spreads a fraction of a millimeter (dot gain). If you use white text on a solid black background, the ink will bleed into the letters.

  • Requirement: For white text on a dark background, you MUST use at least an 8pt font and choose a Bold, Sans-Serif font (like Arial or Helvetica). Extremely thin or script fonts will disappear.

QR Codes & Barcodes:
QR codes must have high contrast and be at least 0.75" x 0.75" in size. We do not test QR codes before printing. Please test your design with your phone camera before ordering.

7. CUSTOM SHAPES & DIELINES (For Die-Cut / Kiss-Cut)

If you are ordering a custom shape, our machines need to know exactly where to cut.

  • Vector Dieline Required: Please provide your artwork as a PDF or AI file with a dedicated cut line.

  • Setup: The cut line should be on a separate layer named "Dieline", using a 100% Magenta spot color stroke (0.25pt thick), and set to Overprint.

  • Note: Avoid highly complex, jagged "hedgehog" shapes, as these can tear the backing liner during production. Use smooth, continuous curves.

8. EDGE CHIPPING (Heavy Ink on Unlaminated Cards)

If your business card or unlaminated paper label has heavy, dark ink coverage extending all the way to the bleed edge:

  • When the guillotine blade trims the paper, the pressure may cause microscopic chipping of the toner along the very edge, revealing the white paper fibers underneath.

  • Prevention: Use lighter colors near the edges. For dark designs, we highly recommend upgrading to our Laminated products, as the plastic film completely prevents edge chipping.

9. DOUBLE-SIDED ROTATION (Business Cards)

If you are ordering Double-Sided Business Cards, file orientation is critical.

  • Head-to-Head Printing: We print files "Head to Head." This means the top edge of the front side aligns directly with the top edge of the back side.

  • If your front is Portrait (Vertical) and your back is Landscape (Horizontal), please rotate one of the designs 90 degrees in your PDF so both pages face the exact same way.