How to Prepare Your File for a Giclée Print
You've finished a piece you're proud of and you're ready to see it printed. A few minutes spent getting the file right means it prints beautifully the first time, with no back and forth and no reprints. Here is everything we need, and why each part matters.
Two of these come with a fuller explanation elsewhere: our guide to resolution covers how big your file can print, and our guide to colour explains why giclée stays in RGB. This page is the quick checklist that pulls it all together.
The checklist at a glance
| What | What we need |
|---|---|
| Size | Your chosen final print size |
| Resolution | 300 ppi minimum, at that size |
| Format | JPEG, TIFF, PSD, PSB or PDF |
| Bit depth | 8-bit or 16-bit |
| Colour mode | RGB (we convert any CMYK or Pantone colours) |
| ICC profile | Adobe RGB (1998), embedded |
| Fonts | Outlined or embedded |
| Border | An optional 1" blank border can be add all round for no extra cost |
Size
Set your document to the exact size you want the print to be. If the proportions of your file don't match the size you order, we scale it proportionally or crop it to fit, so setting it up correctly keeps you in control of the composition rather than leaving it to us. If you're not sure, tell us the size you have in mind and we'll advise.
Resolution
300 ppi at your final print size is the target (you may see it labelled dpi, which for our purposes means the same thing). That is enough detail for a print that stays crisp at a normal viewing distance. If your file falls short we will always tell you the largest size it will print well at. Our guide to resolution explains how to check yours and why it matters.
Format
We accept JPEG, TIFF, PSD, PSB and PDF. For the best quality, TIFF or a layered PSD is ideal, and PSB is the one to reach for with very large layered files. A high-quality JPEG saved with low compression is perfectly good for most work. PDF suits pieces built around text or vector elements.
Bit depth
8-bit or 16-bit are both fine. 16-bit holds up better if your image has had heavy tonal editing, since it resists banding in smooth gradients like skies, but 8-bit is more than enough for most files.
Colour and ICC profile
Keep your file in RGB, ideally Adobe RGB (1998), and embed the colour profile when you save. If you send CMYK or Pantone colours we will convert them, but you will get the truest, richest result by sending RGB with the profile embedded. A file with no embedded profile may not print as you expect, because we cannot be sure what your colours are meant to be. Our guide to colour explains why giclée works this way.
Fonts
If your file contains text, outline or embed the fonts before you send it. That way your type prints exactly as you designed it, with no risk of a font being substituted or the text reflowing.
Border
If you would like a margin around your image for framing or handling, we can add an optional blank border of 1 inch all round for no extra cost. It is worth knowing that this makes the overall sheet larger, so factor it into the size you choose.
Sending it to us
When your file is ready, email it along with your chosen print size to info@saxonprint.com. We will check the resolution, colour and profile before anything goes to print, and flag anything that needs a second look. If you already know your file meets the checklist, you can order straight through the website.
Not sure your file is right, or want to see the quality first? Order our giclée sample pack, or take our discounted A4 proof to check your own image on your chosen paper before committing to the full size.
We're a small studio in Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, and we would always rather spend two minutes checking a file than see a print fall short of your work.