A designer’s checklist for making sure your work looks as good on paper as it does on screen.

Getting Started

Print design still matters. Whether it’s a wine label, a catalog, or a poster, physical design carries weight, literally. Unlike digital, you can touch it, hold it, and even smell it fresh off the press. But print also has its own traps. The smallest mistake (a missing bleed, a misplaced cut line, or a forgotten font) can turn a brilliant design into an expensive headache.

At 63design Milan, we’ve learned the hard way that print has rules you can’t bend. Here’s the checklist that separates professional print design from “student excersize” vibes.

Work in Proportion

Nothing screams amateur more than designing a label at A4 size because it “looked right.” If the final print is supposed to be 13 cm tall, start at 13 cm tall. Otherwise:

• Fonts may be illegible once resized
• Printers might even output this out of proportion size

Number one rule: design at actual size, always.

Respect the Bleed (3–5 mm)

Printers don’t cut with surgical precision. In fact many times they will cut a whole stack at the same time. A 3–5 mm bleed ensures you won’t get ugly white borders where ink should be. On large formats, even more margin may be necessary as the cuts are even less precise.

Die Cut Lines & Safe Areas

Special formats often require custom die cut lines (at times defined by the printer, at times crafted by the designer). At the same time, it is fundamental to keep all critical text and logos inside a safe area: 3–5 mm for most pieces, up to 1 cm on larger formats. This avoids accidental cropping. Furthermore, always mark your cut line with special spot colors that are properly labeled to assure they are cut and not printed (see Proper Color Labeling).

Print Quality & Resolution

• Standard: 300 dpi
• Large scale (billboards, posters): Sometimes acceptable at 150 dpi

Never assume. Always check with the printer. Nothing kills a design faster than pixelated images.

Outline Text

Printers don’t have your font licenses, and they don’t want your free downloads either. If you don’t outline text, you risk:

• Font substitution
• Kerning variations
• Incorrect sizing

For labels and text-heavy formats, that’s catastrophic.

Proper Color Labeling

This isn’t just Pantone vs. CMYK. Complex print jobs often involve:

• Cut lines
• Foils (hot/cold)
• UV spot finishes
• Embossing / debossing
• Raised braille details

To achieve these effects, your file must clearly label each print layer. No labels, no magic.

Embed Your Images

There’s nothing worse than opening a print file and realizing the hero image is missing. Best case: the print shop sends it back. Worst case: they print the low-res preview. Embed everything. Always.

Paper Selection Matters

Paper is more than a surface. It’s a design choice:

• Cream paper: warms colors, antique look (great for heritage projects)
• Pearl paper: adds brightness and depth to inks
• Heavier stock: instantly feels premium

Keep in mind that ink in inherently transparent. Therefore any colors on specialty colored paper need to be backed with a spot white color to help with legibility and avoid unwanted transparencies. The right paper can elevate an average design, and the wrong handling can cheapen a masterpiece.

Color Coordination

• Screens lie. There is less contrast in printing. Push contrast higher than you think you need.
• Always design in CMYK (not RGB).
• Pantones can be beautiful, but not every print shop supports them — so they’ll end up converted anyway.

Behind the File: More Than Meets the Eye

A good print file isn’t just a pretty flat graphic. Behind the scenes, printers read extra layers that guide production: cut lines, foil masks, embossing zones. These invisible instructions are what make a project truly special.

Case Study: Paterico vs. Ingham

Two projects, two very different approaches:

• Paterico: simple design, standard stock, limited effects. Clear, minimal, functional.
• Ingham: complex layers, specialty foils, rich paper choice, color depth. The kind of print that feels luxurious in your hand before you even read the text.

Both are valid, but each shows how attention to print details shapes perception.

Let’s Leave it at This

Print isn’t just about ink on paper. It’s about respect for the process, the hidden rules that make design look professional in the real world. When you get it right, you elevate the product, the brand, and the experience.

At the end of the day: anyone can design on screen. Only pros can make it print-ready.