When you’re creating designs for print—whether it’s a business card, a product box, a restaurant menu, or a full marketing brochure—your final result is only as good as your file preparation. Many people spend hours designing the perfect layout only to face unexpected problems at the printing stage: blurry images, weird colours, cut-off text, or delays due to incompatible file formats.
To avoid these costly and frustrating mistakes, it’s important to understand the prepress setup—the steps you should follow before sending your file to the printer. In this long-form guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about designing for print in Malaysia, with practical, beginner-friendly tips and real-world examples.
Whether you’re a business owner, designer, or startup, this guide will help you get flawless results every time.
Why Prepress Setup Matters
“Prepress” is the stage before printing, where your file is checked for technical and visual accuracy. The goal is to ensure everything is ready for production: colours, alignment, resolution, fonts, and file type.
If your file isn’t properly prepared, it may:
Print with incorrect or dull colours
Appear blurry or pixelated
Get cut off at the edges
Be rejected by the print company, causing delays
At Touchprint Malaysia, we receive hundreds of print files every month. A large number of errors come from basic prepress issues—most of which are completely avoidable with a few simple checks.
Essential Prepress Tips for Flawless Printing
1. Use the Correct Color Mode: CMYK, Not RGB
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is used for screens—like monitors and phones. But CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is what printers use. If you send an RGB file for printing, the colours may look different or “washed out” once printed.
✅ Always design in CMYK mode if your goal is to print.
In Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign, you can set CMYK at the beginning of your project. If you’ve already designed in RGB, convert your file before exporting. This is especially important for product packaging and brand colours, where colour accuracy matters.
2. Set the Right Resolution: 300 DPI for Print
DPI (dots per inch) measures image clarity. For high-quality print, your images need to be at least 300 DPI. If you’re using 72 DPI (common for web images), they will look blurry or pixelated when printed.
✅ Use high-resolution logos and images (minimum 300 DPI).
❌ Avoid screenshots or images downloaded from WhatsApp or websites—they’re usually compressed.
This is important for:
Business cards
Brochures
Packaging
Labels
Catalogues
If you’re not sure how to check DPI, tools like Adobe Photoshop can help you check and adjust resolution before exporting.
3. Include Bleed and Safe Zones
Bleed refers to the extra 3mm space around your design that extends beyond the trim line. It ensures there are no white edges when the final product is cut.
Safe Zone refers to the margin inside your trim line where you should keep all important text or logos—so nothing gets accidentally cut off.
✅ Add 3mm bleed on all sides.
✅ Keep all text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line.
Bleed is critical for:
Packaging box printing
Flyers and brochures
Posters
Labels and tags
If you don’t include bleed, your print job may be delayed or trimmed incorrectly.
4. Convert Text to Outlines or Embed Fonts
Missing fonts are a common printing issue. If the printer doesn’t have your specific font installed, the system will substitute it—possibly ruining your layout.
✅ Convert all text to outlines (curves) in Illustrator or CorelDRAW.
✅ In InDesign or Photoshop, you can also embed fonts in your PDF export.
This guarantees your typography prints exactly as you designed it.
5. Choose the Right File Format: PDF/X is Best
Both offset and digital printing are widely used in Malaysia, but they have different requirements and use cases.
| Feature | Offset Printing | Digital Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Large-volume jobs | Small runs, quick delivery |
| Setup Time | Higher | Minimal |
| Color Consistency | Excellent | Good |
| Cost | More cost-effective for bulk | Cheaper for short runs |
| Customization | Less flexible | Highly customizable |
If you’re printing:
1,000+ packaging boxes → go with offset
50 menus for an event → choose digital
Learn more about our Offset Printing Services
Or explore Digital Printing Options
Special Case: Preparing Files for Packaging Printing
Packaging design has a few extra layers of complexity:
Fold lines and die cuts
Spot UV or metallic finishes
Barcode placement
Mockups and flat layouts
We provide dieline templates for your specific box type (lunch box, tuck-end box, sleeve, etc.) to help you design accurately.
See our Packaging Box Printing Services for more info.
Final Thoughts
Designing for print is about precision and preparation. By following these essential steps—setting the right color mode, using high-res images, adding bleed, embedding fonts, and saving in the correct format—you’ll avoid the most common printing mistakes.
At Touchprint Malaysia, we’re more than just printers. We work closely with businesses, designers, and marketers to make sure every project looks professional, sharp, and on brand.
Whether you’re printing packaging boxes, business flyers, or event materials, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
✅ Ready to print? Get in touch for a free file review, or browse our printing services here.
