Stop! Read This Before You Upload Your NCR Design
You have designed your custom invoice or work order, and you are ready to print. But there is nothing worse than receiving your forms only to find that your logo is pixelated or your text has been chopped off at the edge.
At NCR Print Canada, we check every file before it hits the press. However, setting up your file correctly from the start saves time and ensures your carbonless forms look sharp and professional.
Here is the ultimate checklist for preparing print-ready files.
1. Understanding "Bleed" (Crucial for Edge-to-Edge Printing)
Does your design have a colored header bar or lines that go all the way to the edge of the paper? If yes, you need Bleed.
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What is it? Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the trim line.
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The Rule: Please add 0.125” (1/8 inch) of bleed on all sides.
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Without bleed, you might end up with a thin, ugly white line on the edge of your forms.
2. The "Safe Zone" (Don't Cut Off Your Text)
Printers and cutting machines have a tiny margin of error. If you place your text or phone number right on the edge of the paper, it might get trimmed off.
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The Rule: Keep all critical text, logos, and numbering at least 0.25” (1/4 inch) away from the edge of the page.
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Tip: This also makes your form look cleaner and easier to read.
3. High-Resolution Images (No Blurry Logos)
Images that look good on your phone screen often look terrible in print. This is because screens use 72 DPI (dots per inch), but professional printing requires 300 DPI.
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The Fix: Always use high-quality logos. If possible, use Vector files (PDF, EPS, or AI) instead of JPEGs. Vector text stays crisp no matter how much you zoom in.
4. Convert Fonts to Outlines
Have you ever opened a file and found the font changed to something completely different? This happens when we don't have the specific font you used on your computer.
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The Fix: Before saving your PDF, select your text and choose "Create Outlines" (or "Convert to Curves"). This turns your text into shapes so it prints exactly how you designed it.
5. Files We Accept
To speed up your order, we recommend uploading:
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Preferred: PDF (High Quality Print)
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Accepted: JPG, TIFF (300 DPI), AI, EPS.
