When should you choose black-and-white leaflet printing?
Black-and-white leaflets are a practical, low-cost option when the main purpose is to distribute clear information to a large number of people. They are particularly suitable for letterbox drops, local advertising, notices, price lists and simple promotional messages.
When black-and-white works well
Choose black-and-white leaflet printing when:
- You need a large quantity at a low cost
- The design mainly contains text and simple graphics
- Colour is not essential to your branding
- The leaflet will be used for short-term distribution
- The message needs to be clear rather than highly visual
Black-and-white leaflets are often used by tradespeople, gardeners, cleaners, maintenance companies and other local services carrying out large letterbox drops.
When colour is the better choice
Choose full-colour leaflet printing if the design relies on:
- Product or food photographs
- Coloured logos or brand colours
- Maps, charts or diagrams
- Colour-coded information
- A more premium paper or presentation
Photographs can lose detail when converted to greyscale, particularly if they contain similar colours or low contrast.
Preparing black-and-white artwork
Use strong contrast between the text and background, with clear headings and an easy-to-read typeface. Avoid pale grey text, very fine lines and dark photographs that may lose detail when printed. Before supplying the file:
- Convert colour images to greyscale and check the result
- Make sure important text is solid black
- Keep the layout simple and uncluttered
- Include 3mm bleed for edge-to-edge designs
- Keep text and logos safely away from the trimmed edge
A press-quality PDF is the preferred file format. Our Artwork Guide explains how to prepare files using Canva, Adobe and Microsoft Office.
View all colour and black-and-white leaflet printing options