How to Design Artwork for Print Using AI

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AI design tools have made it much easier for people to create their own artwork. Whether you are using ChatGPT, Gemini, Dola, Canva AI or another design tool, it is now possible to create leaflets, posters, menus, invitations, business cards and other printed items without needing professional design software.  We think this is great. It means more people can create designs themselves, even if they have never designed for print before or do not have the budget for a designer.  However, artwork that looks good on screen does not always print correctly. We often receive AI-generated designs where the text is too close to the edge, the image is too low resolution, or the file has not been set up with bleed. These issues are common, but they are usually easy to avoid.

Here are our main tips for creating AI artwork that is suitable for print.

1. Start with the correct size

Before creating your design, decide what finished size you need. For example:

  • A6 flyer
  • A5 leaflet
  • A4 poster
  • A3 poster
  • Business card
  • Menu
  • Invitation
  • Order of Service booklet

AI tools often create designs at screen sizes rather than proper print sizes. This can cause problems if the artwork needs to be enlarged, cropped or trimmed.  A useful prompt would be:  “Create a print-ready A5 flyer design in portrait format. Keep all important text at least 5mm away from the edge. Allow 3mm bleed on all sides. The design should be suitable for commercial printing.”  For a business card, you could use:  “Create a UK business card design, 85mm x 55mm finished size, with 3mm bleed on all sides. Keep text and logos at least 5mm inside the finished edge.”

2. Keep text away from the edge

One of the most common problems with AI artwork is text being placed too close to the edge.  When we print and trim your order, there can be a small amount of movement during cutting. This is normal in print production. If text, logos, QR codes or important details are too close to the edge, they may look uneven or could be trimmed off.

As a guide:

  • Keep important text at least 5mm from the edge
  • Keep logos and QR codes away from the trim line
  • Do not place phone numbers, prices or dates right at the edge
  • Leave some breathing space around the design

A helpful AI prompt is:  “Make sure no text, logos, QR codes or important details are close to the edge. Keep everything important inside a safe margin of at least 5mm.”

3. Add 3mm bleed where possible

Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the finished size of the page. It allows us to trim the print neatly without leaving unwanted white edges.  For most printed items, we recommend 3mm bleed on each side.  For example, an A5 flyer finishes at 148mm x 210mm. With 3mm bleed, the artwork should be 154mm x 216mm.  A useful prompt would be:  “Add 3mm bleed on all sides. Extend the background colour or image into the bleed area, but keep all text and important details inside the safe area.”

This is especially important for designs with coloured backgrounds, full-page images, patterns or edge-to-edge print.

4. Avoid borders

We do not recommend using borders around printed artwork.  Even when artwork is supplied correctly, print and trimming can shift by a few millimetres. This is normal, but it means borders can easily look uneven once trimmed. A border that looks perfectly straight on screen can look slightly off-centre in print.  For the best result, avoid borders altogether and use a full background colour, image or open space instead.  A helpful prompt would be:  “Do not include a border around the edge. Use a clean design with the background extending into the bleed area, and keep all important text safely away from the edge.”

5. Export as a PDF

For most print jobs, a PDF is the best file type to send us. A good PDF helps preserve the size, layout, fonts and image quality.  If you are using Canva, Adobe Express or similar software, choose PDF Print or a high-quality PDF export option if available. Ideally, your PDF should include:

  • Correct finished size
  • 3mm bleed
  • Crop marks, if available
  • High-resolution images
  • Embedded fonts

If crop marks are not possible, do not worry. We can usually work without them, but bleed is very helpful for edge-to-edge designs.

6. Use high-resolution images

AI images can look sharp on screen but still be too low resolution for print, especially when printed at A4, A3 or larger.  If you are uploading an image rather than a PDF, please send the highest-resolution version available. Avoid screenshots wherever possible, as they are usually too low quality for print.  A good AI prompt is:  “Create this design at very high resolution, suitable for professional printing. Do not create a small web image. The design should be sharp enough to print clearly.”

For posters or signs, you could add:  “Create this at poster quality, with clear readable text and high-resolution graphics suitable for printing.”

7. Check the wording carefully

AI tools are improving, but they still make mistakes. Text in AI-generated images can be misspelled, distorted or slightly wrong.  Before sending your artwork, please check:

  • Spelling
  • Phone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Website addresses
  • Dates and times
  • Prices
  • QR codes
  • Names and addresses

We check files for obvious print issues, but we do not proofread every word or verify the content of your design. Please check the details carefully before printing.

8. Ask AI for a print-ready design

When using AI, the wording of your prompt makes a big difference. If you only ask for a “poster” or “flyer”, the tool may create something that looks good online but is not ideal for printing.  Try to include print instructions in your prompt.  Example prompt for a flyer:  “Design a professional A5 flyer for print. Use a portrait layout. Include 3mm bleed on all sides. Keep all important text at least 5mm from the edge. Use clear readable fonts. Make the design high resolution and suitable for commercial printing. Do not include a border.”

Example prompt for a poster:  “Create an A3 poster design for print. The design should be high resolution, with large readable text. Keep all important information away from the edge. Add 3mm bleed on all sides. Avoid placing small text over busy images. Do not use a border.”

Example prompt for an invitation:  “Create a print-ready invitation design. Keep the text clear and easy to read. Leave a safe margin around the edge. Add 3mm bleed for trimming. Use high-resolution artwork and make sure the final design can be exported as a PDF.”

9. Send us the best file you have

The best file to send us is usually: A print-ready PDF with 3mm bleed and crop marks, if available.

If you cannot create that, please send the highest-quality version you have. We will check your file before printing and let you know if there is an obvious issue.  Please avoid sending:

  • Screenshots
  • Small web images
  • Low-resolution downloads
  • Files with text close to the edge
  • Designs with borders around the edge
  • Designs where important details are outside the safe area

Need help printing your AI artwork?

If you have created a design using ChatGPT, Gemini, Dola, Canva or another AI tool, we can help turn it into professional printed items.  Send us your PDF or high-resolution artwork and we will check it before printing. If anything looks unsuitable, we will let you know before we go ahead.  For the best result, please supply a print-ready PDF with 3mm bleed, crop marks if possible, and all important text kept safely away from the edge.  Ready to order?  Please see our list of print products here.

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