How to prepare artwork for UV printing
File formats
- Logos, text and line art: PDF, SVG, AI or EPS, with fonts converted to outlines
- Cut shapes and panels: a vector outline (PDF, SVG or DXF) as a separate layer
- Photos: the original JPG, PNG or TIFF straight from the camera or phone
- Avoid: screenshots, photos forwarded on WhatsApp, and images copied from websites
Resolution: how big can a photo go?
Most pieces are seen from arm’s length or further, so a photo does not need the 300 dpi that a magazine needs. As a rough guide, a 12-megapixel phone photo prints well up to around A2 (16.5 × 23.4 inch) on wall art viewed from across a room. Small items need fewer pixels. When a photo is too small for the size you want, we tell you before printing, not after.
White ink and varnish layers
If your design needs white ink only in some places (white text on clear acrylic, or a logo that must stay see-through around the edges), give us a separate layer or spot colour named “White”, filled solid where white should print. The same goes for “Varnish” if you want spot gloss. If you do not supply these layers, we will make them from your artwork and show you on the proof.
Back-printing on clear acrylic and glass
For back-printing, send the artwork the right way round, as it should be read. We mirror it ourselves on our side. Please do not mirror it yourself, or it will be printed reversed twice and read backwards.
Colours
Send brand colours as CMYK values or Pantone references if you have them. Screens show colour differently from ink, so a bright on-screen RGB green or neon may print a little duller: that is a limit of ink, not of the printer. For important brand colours on a large order, ask for a physical sample first.
Bleed and safe area
If the print runs to the edge of a cut piece, extend the background 2–3 mm past the cut line (bleed), and keep text at least 3 mm inside it (safe area), so nothing important is trimmed.
Frequently asked questions
What artwork file should I send?
A PDF or SVG with fonts converted to outlines is best for logos and text. For photos, send the original JPG or PNG at full size, not a screenshot or a WhatsApp-compressed copy. See our artwork guide for details.
Can you design the artwork for us?
For simple jobs such as name plates, award text and adding a logo, we can lay out the artwork from your text and logo files. Tell us when you enquire.
Related UV printing services and guides
What is UV printing?
How UV printing works, what it can print on and where it is not the right choice.
UV printing on acrylic
Clear, frosted, coloured and mirror acrylic: photo frames, signage, wall art and display stands.
Industrial nameplates, panels and labels
Machine nameplates, rating plates, control-panel overlays and labels.
UV printing on paper, board and packaging
Rigid boxes, kraft board, invitation cards and packaging prototypes.