Tools like Canva, Adobe Express, and other free-to-use design platforms have revolutionised how many people approach design. With drag-and-drop interfaces and a library of templates, they are undeniably convenient for creating graphics and designing professional-looking documents... at least on screen. However, when it comes to producing print-ready artwork, these platforms can lead to a host of issues – often to the surprise and cost of naive users.

lack of proper print specifications

One of the biggest drawbacks of using Canva and other free tools for print design is the lack of robust control over print specifications. Print-ready artwork requires specific settings: CMYK colour profiles (not RGB), correct DPI (typically 300dpi to ensure high-resolution printing), and precise bleed and crop marks.

Unfortunately, this is often the first hurdle we encounter when we receive artwork created in good faith using a seemingly professional tool, but without a good understanding of print design.

The free version of Canva defaults to RGB colour profiles, which, while appearing great on screen, do not necessarily translate into print. Although we will always convert colours from RGB to CMYK during our pre-press review, this can result in unexpected colour shifts, sometimes muted tones, or a final product that looks substantially different from the screen version you signed off on. Unfortunately, unlike Creative Suite apps, Canva does not allow you to preview colours in CMYK, so the first time you'll see the colours as they will print is when we provide a press-checked PDF or printed proof for approval before printing.

limited file format support

Like most commercial printers, we require print-ready artwork to be supplied as a high-resolution PDF with embedded fonts or outlined text. While Canva does offer PDF downloads, it doesn’t always embed fonts correctly or allow you to outline text. This can result in layout shifts and lead to major inconsistencies in the final printed product. It also flattens the PDF, meaning there is little that our pre-press department can do to adjust these PDFs to correct any unwanted misalignments, glitches, or effects.

poor control over bleeds and margins

Another critical component of creating print-ready artwork is the inclusion of bleeds and safety margins. Bleed refers to artwork extending beyond the trim edge and avoids white edges when printed sheets are cut to size. Safety margins ensure no important content is cut off during trimming.

Many free design tools offer only basic bleed guides, and some provide none at all, putting your printed materials at risk of uneven trimming or lost content.

Some commercial printers will reject files without proper bleeds. We will always do our best to resolve the issue, for example, by scaling artwork up a fraction to create bleed. However, this may compromise the design and is not always possible if it would draw important content into the safety margin.

Of course, any alterations we need to make pre-press can result in delays and potentially add to the cost of your job.

risks to brand consistency

Using the templates within online design platforms can offer an undeniable advantage in terms of time and creative juices. But while they may seem a good starting point, many are overused, not tailored to your brand, and can inadvertently dilute your visual identity and authenticity.

An over-reliance on templated designs can undermine your organisation’s credibility – especially when used in professionally printed materials such as business cards, brochures, or packaging. Your materials risk looking ‘samey’ and will likely not stand out from the crowd.

limited typography and design control

Free design tools are built for simplicity, not precision. They often lack advanced typographic controls like kerning, tracking, leading, and baseline alignment – leading to amateur-looking layouts that don’t translate well to print.

Conversely, professional design software, such as Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, is highly geared for complex layout tasks, vector handling, and image optimisation. But they are expensive to licence and require training and experience to master effectively, putting them out of the reach of many small businesses and individuals.

While Canva and similar free design platforms are great for quick, web-based tasks, they fall short when it comes to creating professional print-ready artwork. If you’re outsourcing design for print, it’s always worth checking what software your designer is using. If it’s not InDesign, or if your designer does primarily web-based work, be prepared for potential hiccups.

 

My earlier blog post 5 Tips For Print-Ready Artwork outlines a few more common pitfalls when sending artwork files to print – including notes on PDF settings for MS Word files and Adobe Creative Suite. Holywell’s creative team is equipped with a suite of sophisticated print design software, and we are happy to get involved at any stage to ensure your print-ready files deliver fantastic results. If you need design help or want to discuss the best way to create artwork for your next print project, call us on  01865 242098 or leave a message using the button below.