Prepare Your FIles

Preparing Your Files For Print


Printing your perfect photo couldn't be easier. We offer a how to guide on preparing your files for print and the important factors you need to consider.


Overview Of How To Prepare Your Files

In order to ensure that you receive the best quality prints possible you will need to make sure that your files are correctly formatted to our guidelines as specified on this page. It is important that these instructions are followed correctly to ensure that the crop and exposure of your images is as expected. We do not advise using the crop tool once you are in the basket as we do require files to be cropped to the correct ratio prior to uploading. If you haven't used SIMLAB before then we would always recommend ordering a smaller test order first to check your colour and exposure.

Prepare Your Files

sRGB

sRGB

Your images must be supplied in sRGB format to ensure the colours print as you are expecting. To change colour settings in Adobe Photoshop, go to Edit / Convert to Profile and select sRGB IEC61966-2.1 from the drop down. We advise converting your image to the correct profile, not assigning it. This will ensure that your images print as you expect them to look.

300dpi

300dpi

We recommend an image resolution of 300DPI at the size you have selected to print. This will ensure your image prints with professional quality and detail even under close inspection. Images to do not need to be any larger than this, but ensure your image is 300DPI relative to your chosen print size.

Correct Size & Crop

Correct Size & Crop

For optimum quality we recommend that your images be sized and cropped to your desired specifications prior to uploading. We do not recommend using the online crop tool to zoom in on images or to adjust the ratio of your images if it does not match your selected print size.

JPG Format

JPG Format

All images/files uploaded for print must be saved in a JPG format. This will not affect the quality of your print so long as you have saved your image to our recommended specifications of 300DPI at your selected print size. This will ensure your file is compatible with our website and our printers as we do not accept tiffs, PDF's or PNGS.

5mm Bleed / Safe Margin

5mm Bleed / Safe Margin

We require 5mm of bleed on every edge of you image that can be trimmed during printing. Please ensure all important elements in your image such as hands, heads, feet, text, logos etc are well within your safe margin and more than 5mm away from the edge of your picture.

Correction / Sharpening

Correction / Sharpening

We do not apply any sharpening or colour correction to files. The colour management of images is your responsibility, so please ensure files are in sRGB profile (sRGB IEC61966-2.1) and the correct size before uploading. We also do not offer any Photoshop adjustments on your prints. We advise working from a calibrated screen that is set to between 50% and 75% brightness.

Bespoke Sizes

For many of our products, if you cannot find the ideal size in our list of standard sizing, you may be able to order a custom size. Designing a bespoke size print is easy, you simply float your image on a background of the next available larger size that your desired print will fit onto. For example, if you are looking for a 6x5” print, as this is not a standard size that we would offer, you would need to select the 7x5” print option. Your overall file size should always match the print size being ordered. For some of our hand finished products such as fine art prints or mounted prints, we are able to trim (approximately) to your desired size before dispatching your order. For standard photographic prints, we do not offer any bespoke trimming, but you can still design a custom print to trim down at home once you receive your order if required. All sizes are trimmed to approximately and bespoke images will still require bleed when trimmed. Due to the hand finished nature of many of our products, all bespoke sizes will be approximate and cannot be guaranteed to the millimetre. See our video for further instructions & please ensure you place a note on your order when requesting an unusual size.

Standard Prints - Trim At Home

We do not offer custom trimming on our standard photo prints, however you can upload in a custom format to trim at home once you receive your order.

standard prints with blue border
Standard Photo Prints

Fine Art Prints - Bespoke Sizes Available

Our fine art prints are individually finished by hand, so we can accomodate custom & bespoke sizes to be trimmed before dispatch.

Fine art print full bleed
Fine Art Prints

Mounting & Laminating - Bespoke Available

Our mounted print service is created & finished by hand, meaning we can trim to the size you have requested on your image / instructions.

M&L image full bleed
Mounted Prints

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