File Setup Guide
File Setup,
by app.
Exact export settings for Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate — so your file arrives print-ready the first time.
Four numbers to remember.
| Spec | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 300 DPI at print size | Screens hide softness; presses don't |
| Bleed | 1/8″ (0.125″) | Color runs past the cut line — no white slivers |
| Safe zone | 1/8″ inside cut | Text and logos survive blade drift |
| Min line width | 1/8″ | Thinner tears during weeding |
Export settings that work.
Canva: Share → Download → PNG, check “Transparent background” (Pro), size multiplier 2× or higher. For print-exact color, download as PDF Print with CMYK.
Illustrator: keep it vector — File → Save As → PDF. Convert text to outlines (Type → Create Outlines). Name any custom cut path as a spot color “CutContour”.
Photoshop: set canvas at final size + 1/4″ (bleed both sides) at 300 DPI. Export → PNG with transparency for die-cut, or flattened JPG at maximum quality for full-bleed prints.
Procreate: create the canvas at print size and 300 DPI from the start — upscaling later adds pixels, not detail. Export as PNG with the background layer hidden.
The 60-second preflight.
- Zoom to 200% — still crisp? It prints clean
- Transparent background on PNGs for contour cuts
- Text converted to outlines in vector files
- Nothing important within 1/8″ of the edge
- Background extends 1/8″ past the cut line
Deeper dive on bleed, color, and cut lines: the full Printing Guide. And remember — a real person reviews every file before production.