Trim, bleed and safe area
- Missing bleed
- Background colour or images that stop at trim can leave an unintended white edge after cutting.
- Unsafe text
- Small movement in cutting means important text and borders need breathing room inside the finished edge.
- Unmarked holes and folds
- Artwork can appear balanced on screen but become obscured by string, an eyelet, perforation or fold.
Colour, images and fonts
- Prepare process artwork in CMYK unless a named spot colour is agreed.
- Use an appropriate output profile and do not judge print only from a bright screen.
- Supply placed images at sufficient effective resolution for their printed size.
- Embed or outline fonts while retaining an editable master file.
- Check fine reversed type and thin rules on dark or textured stocks.
Special-finishing artwork
Foil, Spot UV, embossing, debossing and cutting paths should be supplied as clearly named vector separations. Do not simulate the effect with gradients or photographic textures on the production layer. Confirm overprint, trapping and minimum-detail requirements for the chosen process.
Version and proof control
Use descriptive filenames, remove obsolete files and state which version is final. Check prices, SKUs, barcodes, URLs and spelling at the proof stage. A technical artwork check can identify production risks, but responsibility for factual copy and approved content remains with the customer.