Urgent Printing Artwork Checklist
For urgent jobs, basic artwork mistakes matter more because there is less time to correct and reapprove the file. Check the final size, bleed, safe margin, images and contact information before sending.
For current specifications, turnaround guidance and quotation details, see our print-ready artwork guide page.
Confirm final dimensions
Do not assume the printer will resize the artwork without affecting layout. Set the document to the intended finished size.
If timing is critical, check our same-day and express printing in Singapore options and prepare artwork using the artwork guide.
Add bleed and safe margin
Backgrounds should extend into bleed, while important text and QR codes should stay comfortably inside the trim.
Check image quality and colour
Use suitable resolution and CMYK where possible. Very small web images can become visibly soft in print.
Test every QR code
Scan the code from the final exported PDF, not only from the design software. Confirm the destination is correct and active.
Export one final PDF
Multiple versions create uncertainty. Clearly identify the final approved file.
How to improve the chance of meeting an urgent deadline
Urgent printing works best when the job is already fully defined before the quotation is requested. Use one final artwork file, state the exact finished size and material, and tell the printer the real delivery or collection deadline rather than only saying “urgent”. Keep the person who can approve the artwork and payment available, because a production slot can be lost while waiting for confirmation. Standard materials and common sizes are usually easier to schedule than special stocks, custom cutting or complex finishing. If the deadline is tomorrow rather than today, say so: next-day production can provide more flexibility and may avoid paying for unnecessary same-day priority. Finally, remember that printing completion and physical delivery are separate timings.
What to send when requesting a quotation
For a useful quotation, send the finished size, paper or material, printing sides, quantity, finishing requirements, print-ready artwork if available, required date and delivery location. If any item is still undecided, explain how the printed piece will be used so a suitable specification can be suggested. For an urgent job, include the exact time by which the completed item must be collected or delivered. This avoids quoting a specification that cannot realistically meet the deadline.
Use the full QPS artwork guide before sending an urgent job.
Useful next steps: Artwork Guide · All Printing Services
