5 Common Print Design Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Introduction

You've spent hours perfecting your design in Figma. Colors are perfect, typography is on point, and your client loves it. Then the printed samples arrive—and something's wrong.

Print failures are expensive, frustrating, and often preventable. After helping thousands of designers export print-ready files, we've identified the top 5 mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Forgetting to Add Bleed

The Problem

Bleed is the extra area around your design that gets trimmed off after printing. Without it, you'll see thin white borders where the paper wasn't cut exactly on your design edge.

Why It Happens

Digital design tools like Figma don't require bleed. You design to exact dimensions, and everything fits perfectly on screen. But commercial printers can't cut with pixel-perfect precision.

The Fix

Always extend background colors, images, and design elements 3mm (0.125 inches) beyond your trim line.

In Print for Figma:

1. Open your design
2. Launch Print for Figma
3. Toggle "Add Bleed"
4. Set to 3mm (or your printer's specification)
5. The plugin automatically extends your design

Pro Tip

Don't just add a border—extend actual design elements. The bleed area will be cut off, so never put important content there.

2. Using Low-Resolution Images

The Problem

Images that look sharp on screen appear pixelated and blurry when printed, especially at larger sizes.

Why It Happens

Screens display at 72-96 DPI (dots per inch). Print requires 300 DPI minimum for crisp output. That Instagram image might be 1080px wide, but at 300 DPI, it only prints 3.6 inches wide.

The Fix

Before you start:

• Source high-resolution images (300 DPI at final size)
• Use vector graphics when possible
• Avoid scaling images above 100%

In Print for Figma:

1. Run the DPI checker
2. Review flagged images
3. Replace low-res assets
4. Re-export when everything passes

Quick Math

To calculate required pixel dimensions:

Width in inches × 300 DPI = Pixel width needed
Example: 8" × 300 = 2400 pixels

3. Ignoring Color Space (RGB vs CMYK)

The Problem

Your beautiful cyan blue becomes a muddy purple. Your vibrant lime green looks yellow-ish. Brand colors don't match.

Why It Happens

Figma uses RGB color space (for screens). Printers use CMYK (ink on paper). Some RGB colors simply can't be reproduced with ink.

The Fix

Method 1: Design in CMYK-safe colors from the start

• Create a color palette using CMYK values
• Test colors with Print for Figma's preview
• Build a Figma library of print-safe swatches

Method 2: Convert at export

1. Complete your design in RGB
2. Use Print for Figma to convert
3. Select the appropriate ICC profile
4. Preview the color shift
5. Adjust if needed, then export

Which Colors Cause Problems?

• Bright, saturated blues
• Neon greens and yellows
• Pure RGB reds
• Fluorescent colors

For critical brand colors, consider Pantone spot colors instead.

4. Placing Text Too Close to Trim Edge

The Problem

After cutting, your text is partially cut off or uncomfortably close to the edge.

Why It Happens

Cutting isn't perfect. There's always slight variation (±1-2mm). What looks fine in Figma might be too close to the edge after trimming.

The Fix

Keep all important content (text, logos, QR codes) inside the safety zone:

• Minimum: 3mm from trim edge
• Recommended: 5mm from trim edge
• Critical elements: 8mm+ from trim edge

In Print for Figma:

• Toggle "Show safety zones"
• Visible guides show safe area
• Move content inside before exporting

Real-World Example

Business cards:

• Actual size: 90mm × 50mm
• Bleed area: 96mm × 56mm (3mm each side)
• Safe zone: 84mm × 44mm (3mm inside)
• Text should stay in: 80mm × 40mm (5mm inside)

5. Exporting in Wrong Format

The Problem

Your printer rejects your files or produces unexpected results. Colors shift, fonts change, or elements move.

Why It Happens

Not all file formats are created equal. PNG and JPG don't embed color profiles. PDF without proper settings can cause font issues. Regular PDFs might not include bleed.

The Fix

Always export as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-3 for professional printing:

PDF/X-1a:

• CMYK only
• All fonts embedded
• No transparency
• Bleed included
• Universally accepted

PDF/X-3:

• Allows RGB and CMYK
• All fonts embedded
• Supports ICC profiles
• Good for digital printers

In Print for Figma:

1. Select your frames
2. Choose "PDF/X-1a" export format
3. Configure bleed and marks
4. Export—everything is handled automatically

Format Comparison

Bonus Mistake: Not Doing a Test Print

The Problem

You send files to print 10,000 brochures and discover an error too late.

The Fix

Always order a proof print:

1. Digital proof: Quick and cheap, shows overall layout
2. Press proof: Printed on actual press, exact colors
3. Test quantity: Order 10-50 pieces first

Yes, it costs more upfront. But it's far cheaper than reprinting thousands of incorrect pieces.

Your Pre-Flight Checklist

Before sending files to print, verify:

• Bleed added (3mm)
• All images 300+ DPI
• Colors converted to CMYK
• Text inside safety zone (5mm from edge)
• Exported as PDF/X-1a
• Crop marks and registration marks included
• All fonts embedded
• Test print reviewed and approved

Tools That Help

Print for Figma prevents these mistakes automatically:

• Adds accurate bleed
• Checks image DPI
• Converts to CMYK with ICC profiles
• Shows safety zones
• Exports press-ready PDF/X-1a files

Next Steps

1. Install Print for Figma
2. Review your current designs for these issues
3. Create a Figma template with bleed and safety zones
4. Build a library of print-safe colors
5. Develop a pre-flight checklist

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