How to Know If Your Image Is Print-Ready

Before uploading to a POD platform, verify your image meets all requirements. Here's a complete checklist.

The Print-Ready Checklist

1. Correct Pixel Dimensions

Check: Do your pixel dimensions match the product requirements exactly?

How to Verify:

• Find product print area (e.g., 15" × 18")
• Calculate required pixels: 15" × 300 DPI = 4,500 pixels
• Check your image dimensions match exactly

Common Issue: Close but not exact (e.g., 4,480 × 5,380 instead of 4,500 × 5,400)

2. Proper DPI Setting

Check: Is DPI metadata set to 300 (or platform requirement)?

How to Verify:

• Open image properties/metadata
• Check DPI/Resolution setting
• Should be 300 DPI (not 72, not 150)

Common Issue: Correct pixels but wrong DPI metadata

3. Appropriate File Format

Check: Is your file format correct for your design?

How to Verify:

• PNG for graphics with transparency
• JPG for photographs or designs without transparency
• RGB color mode (not CMYK)

Common Issue: Wrong format for design type

4. File Size Within Limits

Check: Is your file under the platform's size limit?

How to Verify:

• Check platform maximum (typically 15-25 MB)
• Verify your file is under limit
• Optimize if necessary (without quality loss)

Common Issue: File too large, causing upload issues

5. High-Quality Source

Check: Was your source file high resolution?

How to Verify:

• Original file should be larger than final requirements
• No signs of upscaling (blur, artifacts)
• Sharp details and text

Common Issue: Starting with low-resolution source

6. No Compression Artifacts

Check: Are there visible quality issues?

How to Verify:

• Zoom in and check for:
  • Blocky patterns
  • Banding in gradients
  • Blurry text edges
  • Artifacts around edges

Common Issue: Excessive compression or multiple save cycles

7. Correct Color Space

Check: Is color space set to RGB?

How to Verify:

• Check image color profile
• Should be sRGB or RGB (not CMYK)
• Color mode should be RGB

Common Issue: CMYK files print with incorrect colors

8. Aspect Ratio Matches Product

Check: Does your design's aspect ratio match the product?

How to Verify:

• Calculate aspect ratio: width ÷ height
• Compare to product print area aspect ratio
• Should match exactly

Common Issue: Wrong proportions cause cropping or stretching

Quick Validation Method

POD Prep automatically validates:

• Pixel dimensions
• DPI settings
• File format
• Color space
• Quality checks

Manual Validation Steps

1. Identify product requirements (dimensions, DPI, format)
2. Check your file properties (dimensions, DPI, format, color space)
3. Compare requirements to file (do they match?)
4. Visual inspection (zoom in, check quality)
5. File size check (under platform limit?)

Red Flags (Not Print-Ready)

Your image is NOT print-ready if:

• ❌ Dimensions don't match requirements exactly
• ❌ DPI is below 300 (or platform requirement)
• ❌ File format is wrong for your design
• ❌ Visible compression artifacts
• ❌ Source was upscaled from small image
• ❌ Color space is CMYK
• ❌ Aspect ratio doesn't match product
• ❌ Text is blurry when zoomed in
• ❌ File size exceeds platform limit

Green Flags (Print-Ready)

Your image IS print-ready if:

• ✅ Dimensions match requirements exactly
• ✅ DPI is set to 300 (or platform requirement)
• ✅ File format is appropriate
• ✅ No visible quality issues
• ✅ High-resolution source file
• ✅ RGB color space
• ✅ Correct aspect ratio
• ✅ Sharp details and text
• ✅ File size within limits

Testing Your File

Even if your file passes all checks:

1. Upload to platform and review any warnings
2. Check the preview carefully
3. Order a test print before large production
4. Compare print to digital file

Common Validation Mistakes

1. Assuming "close enough" is good enough — Exact dimensions matter
2. Trusting upload success — Upload ≠ print-ready
3. Skipping visual inspection — Zoom in and check quality
4. Not testing — Always order a sample first

Conclusion

A print-ready image meets all platform requirements exactly. Use this checklist to verify your files, or use an automated tool that validates everything automatically.

POD Prep prepares files based on published platform specifications. Final print results depend on the print provider.