File Guidelines for Sending Your Logo or Artwork for Label Production
When you’re ready to have your labels printed, ensuring your logo and artwork are truly print-ready can make all the difference between a smooth production run and costly delays or re-prints. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to prepare your files correctly for label production. As you go through each step, you can explore our offerings at Our Products, request a Sample, dig into more design & printing tips on our Blog, learn about the company on About Us and get in touch through our Contact page.
1. Understand Your Printer’s Requirements
Before you begin designing or packaging your artwork, start by reaching out to your label production partner and asking for their specific guidelines. Many printers supply a spec sheet or template. Key items to ask: label size/shape, substrate/material, finishing (e.g., gloss, matte, foil), cutting/die-cut method. InTouch Labels & Packaging+2Outshinery+2
Having this info up-front avoids surprises later — e.g., using RGB mode when the printer works in CMYK, or missing a required bleed.
2. Set Correct Dimensions, Bleed & Safe-Zones
Your artwork file should match the final label size exactly (or follow the printer’s structural template) and include extra areas for bleed & safe-zones:
- Bleed: This is extra artwork beyond the cut line so that if the cutter shifts slightly, you don’t end up with unwanted white edges. A common bleed is ~1/8 inch (0.125”) or ~3 mm around each edge. InTouch Labels & Packaging+1
- Trim / dieline: Indicate clearly where the label will be cut.
- Safe-zone: Keep all vital elements (logos, text) inside this margin so they’re not accidentally cut off or too close to the edge. Consolidated Label+1
Example: If your final label is 100 mm wide by 50 mm high, you might setup your file at 106 mm by 56 mm (3 mm bleed each side), with key info kept at least ~2-3 mm inside the trim line.
3. Use the Right File Format, Resolution & Colour Mode
File format & resolution
- Use vector-based artwork whenever possible (e.g., Adobe Illustrator .AI/.EPS or high quality layered PDF) because vectors scale without losing clarity. Outshinery+1
- If you’re using raster images (photos, backgrounds), they should be at 300 DPI or higher at the final print size. Lower resolution will look blurry or pixelated in print. Accu-Label+1
Colour mode
- Use CMYK mode (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black): this is the standard for commercial printing. RGB colours (used for screens) often shift when converted to print. Consolidated Label+1
- If you have specific spot colours (e.g., Pantone® colours for brand identity), specify them clearly and relate them to your printer’s requirements. bluelabelpackaging.com
4. Fonts, Text and Embedded Elements
- Ensure fonts are embedded in your file, or better yet, convert all text to outlines/curves. This ensures your text displays exactly as intended, even if the printer doesn’t have the specific font installed. Consolidated Label+1
- Check that any images, linked graphics or assets used in your design are included or packaged (i.e., no missing links). A printer may not be able to open or resolve missing components. Outshinery+1
- Proofread all text — once fonts are converted to outlines you cannot edit them easily. Double-check spelling, punctuation, layout. Blog des Imprimeurs d’Étiquettes
5. Avoid Common Mistakes
Some typical errors we see (and you should avoid):
- Artwork submitted in RGB instead of CMYK, causing colour shifts. Consolidated Label+1
- Using low-resolution images (e.g., 72 DPI) which look fine on screen but print poorly. Accu-Label
- Missing bleed or safe-zone, resulting in unwanted white edges or trimmed off text/logo. bluelabelpackaging.com
- Fonts not embedded or not converted to outlines, leading to font substitutions. Consolidated Label
- Submitting unsupported file types (e.g., simple JPG or PNG without proper print readiness) when the printer expects vector or layered files. Outshinery+1
6. Final Pre-Submission Checklist
Before sending your file to the printer, run through this checklist:
- ✅ Document size matches label dimension + required bleed.
- ✅ Colour mode set to CMYK (and spot colours clearly specified if needed).
- ✅ Resolution for raster images ≥ 300 DPI or artwork is vector.
- ✅ Fonts embedded or converted to outlines.
- ✅ All images/assets linked or embedded; no missing files.
- ✅ Bleed and safe-zones properly defined; no important elements too close to trim.
- ✅ File format follows printer’s requirements (PDF/X, AI, EPS etc).
- ✅ One final proof of spelling, alignment, cropping.
- ✅ Filename clearly identifies the job (e.g., product name, version).
- ✅ Contact your printer if you have any special finishing (foil, embossing, varnish) and ensure artwork is marked accordingly.
Many printers will run a file check (“pre-press check”) and will flag issues before print—this saves time and cost. Accu-Label
7. How We Can Help You
At our label production service (see Our Products), we welcome your ready-artwork files and also provide guidance if needed. If you’re not sure whether your file meets all the requirements, you can request a Sample and we can help you check your artwork or even suggest tips to improve it. Our blog › Blog contains more in-depth articles about design, materials and printing finishes. And if you want to learn more about our company, visit About Us or drop us a line via Contact.
8. Why it All Matters
Good label production is more than just looking nice — it affects your brand perception, cost efficiency and time-to-market. When you submit properly prepared artwork:
- Your labels will look crisp, professional and as you intended.
- Production delays are reduced because the printer doesn’t need to send your file back for corrections.
- You avoid extra costs from re-printing due to poor artwork quality.
- You maintain colour accuracy and brand consistency throughout your run.
In short: investing a little time in preparing your logo or artwork correctly now can save you big headaches later.
Final Thoughts
Sending your logo or artwork for label production doesn’t need to be intimidating. With the right file formats, correct dimensions, colour mode, font setup and pre-submission check you’re well on your way to getting high-quality printed labels that reflect your brand the way you envisioned. If you’re ready to proceed, check out Our Products or request a Sample. And if you ever need advice or support, our Blog and Contact pages are here for you.