How do I export a print-ready PDF from Canva, Adobe or Word?

Whatever you design in, the aim is the same: a PDF in CMYK, with 3mm bleed on all sides, crop marks, 300dpi images and fonts embedded. Here is how to get there in the most common tools.

Menus vary between versions of each program, so treat these steps as a guide and contact us if you get stuck.

For a double-sided item, export one PDF with two pages: the front as page 1 and the back as page 2. For a booklet, export single pages in reading order. See what order booklet pages go in.

Canva

1. Go to File > Settings and turn on Show print bleed. Stretch backgrounds out to the new outer edge.
2. Click Share > Download.
3. Choose PDF Print as the file type.
4. Tick Crop marks and bleed.
5. Under Colour profile, choose CMYK. This needs a paid Canva plan. On the free plan, export in RGB and we convert it - bright colours may shift.
6. Download.

Adobe InDesign and Illustrator

1. Check the document has 3mm bleed: File > Document Setup.
2. InDesign: File > Export > Adobe PDF (Print). Illustrator: File > Save As > Adobe PDF.
3. Choose the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset. It converts to CMYK and embeds fonts.
4. In Marks and Bleeds, tick Crop Marks and Use Document Bleed Settings.
5. Export.

Microsoft Word

Word is not built for print, so it needs a workaround. It cannot add bleed or crop marks, and it cannot export CMYK. Our artwork check decides whether a PDF made in Word can be printed as supplied. If it needs fixing first, we agree that with you by email before doing anything - see How much does it cost to have my artwork fixed or set up?

1. Go to Layout > Size > More Paper Sizes. Set the page 6mm wider and 6mm taller than the finished size. For A5, that is 154 x 216mm.
2. Stretch backgrounds to the edge of the page. Keep text at least 8mm from the edge: 3mm of bleed plus a 5mm safe zone.
3. Go to File > Options > Advanced and tick Do not compress images in file.
4. Go to File > Save As and choose PDF. Select Standard, then open Options and tick the PDF/A option to embed fonts.

The file will be RGB and is converted for print, so bright colours may shift.

Check before you upload

Open the PDF and check the page size, that every page is there, and that images look sharp at 300% zoom.

If you cannot get a file to export correctly, we can set it up for you. See what an artwork fix costs.