Getting your artwork right before you submit it for printing is the most important step in the menu printing process. A well-prepared file produces a sharp, accurate print. A poorly prepared file produces blurry edges, cut-off text, and color surprises. Here is exactly what you need to know.
Accepted File Formats
We accept PDF and high-resolution JPEG files. PDF is strongly preferred because it preserves vector graphics, embedded fonts, and color profiles exactly as designed. JPEG files must be at least 300 DPI at the final print size.
We do not accept Word documents, PowerPoint files, PNG files, or low-resolution images. If your designer delivers your menu in one of these formats, ask them to export a print-ready PDF before you upload.
Resolution: 300 DPI Minimum
Resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI). For print, 300 DPI is the minimum for sharp, professional results. Images that look sharp on screen (which is typically 72–96 DPI) will appear blurry and pixelated when printed at 300 DPI.
If you are using photos in your menu, make sure they are sourced at 300 DPI or higher at the actual print size. Enlarging a low-resolution image does not increase its DPI — it only makes it larger and blurrier.
Bleed: 0.125" on All Sides
Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the edge of your menu's finished size. It is required because cutting is not perfectly precise — there is always a small variance of a fraction of an inch. Without bleed, that variance can result in a thin white border along one or more edges of your printed menu.
Add 0.125" (1/8 inch) of bleed on all four sides. If your menu is 8.5×11", your document should be set up at 8.75×11.25" with the bleed area filled with your background color or image.
Safe Area: Keep Text 0.125" Inside the Cut Line
Just as bleed extends outward, the safe area is a buffer zone inside the cut line where all important content — text, logos, key graphics — should be kept. Keep all text and critical design elements at least 0.125" inside the finished edge of your menu.
Our online proofing system shows you the bleed line, cut line, and safe area as color-coded guides so you can verify your artwork is correctly positioned before approving.
Color Mode: CMYK
Digital screens use RGB color (red, green, blue). Commercial printing uses CMYK color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). RGB colors can look more vibrant on screen than they will appear in print — especially bright blues, greens, and purples.
Set your document to CMYK color mode in your design software before you start designing. If you are working in RGB and converting to CMYK at the end, review the converted file carefully — some colors will shift.
Fonts: Embed or Outline Them
If you are submitting a PDF, make sure all fonts are embedded in the file. If you are using Adobe Illustrator or InDesign, you can also convert all text to outlines before exporting, which eliminates any font dependency entirely.
Missing fonts are one of the most common causes of print file problems. When a font is not embedded, the printer's system substitutes a different font — which can completely change the appearance of your menu.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Submitting a screen-resolution (72 DPI) image — it will print blurry.
- •No bleed — results in white edges after cutting.
- •Text too close to the edge — may be cut off.
- •RGB color mode — colors will shift when converted to CMYK.
- •Fonts not embedded — substituted fonts change your design.
- •Submitting a Word or PowerPoint file — these are not print-ready formats.
Our online proofing system shows bleed, trim, and safe area guides so you can verify your file before approving.