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Artwork preparation is where most print orders go wrong in Singapore. Wrong colour mode, missing bleed, insufficient resolution — these are the three most common reasons a print file gets rejected. This guide explains each requirement clearly so your job prints exactly as intended.
Colour mode — CMYK not RGB
This is the single most common artwork error in Singapore print jobs.
Digital screens (monitors, phones, laptops) display colour using RGB — Red, Green, Blue light. Commercial printing uses CMYK — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black ink. RGB produces colours that are impossible to reproduce exactly in CMYK — particularly vivid blues, electric greens and neon colours.
If you submit an RGB file, the printer must convert it to CMYK before printing. This conversion can shift colours significantly — particularly blues (which can shift towards purple), greens (which can shift towards yellow) and bright reds. Converting to CMYK yourself, in advance, gives you control over how the colours shift. See ExpressPrint’s CMYK guide for step-by-step instructions in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Exception: sublimation printing (mugs, mouse pads, t-shirts) uses RGB — for these products, submit your file in RGB.
Bleed — 3mm beyond the trim edge
Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the final trim size of your print. It exists because cutting machines are mechanical and have a small margin of error — typically 1–2mm. If your background colour or image stops exactly at the trim edge, a slight cut variation will produce a thin white strip along one or more edges.
By extending your background and any edge-to-edge elements 3mm beyond the trim edge, you ensure that even if the cut lands slightly off, there’s no white strip visible on the finished piece.
If your design has a white background and no elements bleeding to the edge, bleed is less critical — but should still be included as standard practice.
Safe zone — 3mm inside the trim edge
The safe zone (also called the live area) is the inverse of bleed. Keep all important content — text, logos, key imagery — at least 3mm inside the final trim edge. This ensures that even if the cut lands slightly inward, nothing important gets cut off.
A common mistake is placing text or logos close to the edge of a business card or flyer. Even 1mm of variation in the cut can make text appear uncomfortably close to the edge — or partially cut off.
Resolution — 300 DPI minimum
DPI stands for dots per inch — the density of pixels in your image. Screens typically display at 72–96 DPI. Commercial printing requires 300 DPI at the actual print size for sharp, clear reproduction.
A common mistake is taking a screen-resolution image (72 DPI, 800 × 600 pixels) and using it at print size. The image will appear blurry or pixelated in the final print even if it looks sharp on screen.
Check your image resolution in Photoshop: Image → Image Size, ensure resolution is set to 300 pixels/inch and the image dimensions match your intended print size. For large format printing (posters, banners), 150 DPI at actual size is typically acceptable.
File format — PDF preferred
PDF (PDF/X-1a standard) is the preferred file format for all print jobs in Singapore. PDF embeds all fonts and images within the file, preventing missing font errors and ensuring the file looks the same on the printer’s system as on yours.
Also accepted at ExpressPrint: AI (Adobe Illustrator), PSD (Photoshop), TIFF, JPG and PNG at 300 DPI minimum. See how to prepare your PDF for step-by-step settings.
Free artwork check at ExpressPrint
Every order at ExpressPrint includes a free artwork check before production begins. The team reviews your file for colour mode, resolution, bleed and safe zone. If there’s an issue, you’ll be notified before the job is printed. This prevents wasted print runs and eliminates the most common cause of dissatisfaction with print results in Singapore. See how to send your files for the submission process.
Browse all products — free artwork check on every order →
Frequently asked questions
What colour mode should I use for printing in Singapore?
CMYK (4C) for all standard print jobs — flyers, business cards, posters, booklets. RGB for sublimation printing only (mugs, mouse pads, t-shirts). See ExpressPrint’s CMYK guide.
What is bleed in printing?
Bleed is extra artwork extending 3mm beyond the final trim size of your print. It ensures background colours and edge-to-edge elements don’t show a white strip if the cut lands slightly off.
What is the minimum resolution for printing in Singapore?
300 DPI (dots per inch) at actual print size for standard printing. 150 DPI at actual print size for large format printing (posters, banners, rollup stands).
What file format should I use for printing?
PDF (PDF/X-1a standard) is preferred — embeds all fonts and images. Also accepted: AI, PSD, TIFF, JPG or PNG at 300 DPI minimum. See how to prepare your PDF.
What is a safe zone in printing?
The safe zone is the area 3mm inside the final trim edge. Keep all important content — text, logos, key imagery — within the safe zone to prevent it being cut off by normal variations in the cutting process.
