Why AI-Generated Artwork Isn't Always Ready for Professional Printing
AI artwork can look great on screen and still fail in print. Resolution, CMYK colour, bleed and PDF checks from SW19 Design and Print, Wimbledon.
Overview
AI has made designing artwork much easier. With tools such as ChatGPT, Canva AI and Adobe Firefly, almost anyone can create a poster, flyer, business card or promotional graphic in a matter of minutes.
It's a great way to get creative, develop ideas and produce something that looks impressive on screen.
But there's something worth knowing before sending your design to a printer: just because artwork looks good on your computer or phone doesn't mean it's ready for professional printing.
At SW19 Design and Print in Wimbledon, we receive artwork created using all sorts of design tools, including AI. Some files are perfectly suitable for printing, while others need a little attention before they can produce the result the customer is expecting.
The good news is that most problems can be avoided with a few simple checks.
Here are some of the things to look out for when preparing AI-generated artwork for print.
1. Your images might not be high enough quality
One of the most common problems is image resolution.
AI design tools often create images intended for websites, social media and digital use. These can look perfectly sharp on a screen but may not have enough detail for professional printing.
You might not notice anything wrong until your artwork is printed. Suddenly, photographs look blurry, edges appear rough and smaller details lose their definition.
For most standard commercial printing, images should ideally be around 300 DPI at their final printed size. Large-format printing can work with lower resolutions, depending on the size of the finished item and how far away it will be viewed.
It's also worth remembering that simply increasing the resolution of an existing image doesn't necessarily improve its quality. If the original image doesn't contain enough detail, that information cannot always be recovered.
A useful tip: If you're creating a design for an A3 poster, don't assume an image that looks good on a small social media graphic will work equally well at the larger size.
2. Colours can look different when printed
Have you ever looked at something on your computer screen, printed it and wondered why the colours look different?
You're not alone.
Computer screens use RGB colours (red, green and blue), whereas most professional printing uses CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black).
Screens can display some very bright and vibrant colours that ordinary printing inks and toners simply cannot reproduce.
This means that certain colours may look different once printed. Bright blues, greens and oranges are particularly worth checking, as are strong neon-style colours.
AI-generated designs often use bold colours, dramatic backgrounds and vibrant gradients, which can make these differences more noticeable.
At SW19 Design and Print, we take colour conversion into account when preparing artwork for printing. Although an exact match isn't always possible, checking the colours beforehand helps avoid unexpected results.
3. AI doesn't always get text right
AI image generators have come a long way, but text is still something to watch out for.
You may have seen AI-generated images where signs, labels or words look almost correct but contain strange letters, spelling mistakes or completely made-up wording.
This might not matter too much in a decorative image, but it becomes a real problem when you're producing something for your business.
Imagine printing 1,000 flyers only to discover that your telephone number is wrong or your website address contains a spelling mistake.
It's also worth checking:
- Business names and company details.
- Telephone numbers and email addresses.
- Website addresses.
- Prices and promotional offers.
- Headings and smaller paragraphs.
Don't rely on a quick glance. Read everything carefully before approving your artwork.
Another thing to consider is that AI-generated text is sometimes part of the image itself rather than editable text. This can make even a small correction more difficult.
4. Missing bleed and incorrect page sizes
This is a particularly common issue with artwork created using online design tools.
When something is professionally printed, the paper is usually trimmed to its finished size. Because cutting machines can have very small variations, artwork needs to extend slightly beyond the final cutting line.
This extra area is called bleed.
For most standard commercial print jobs, we generally recommend 3mm bleed around all four edges, although the exact requirements depend on the job.
For example, an A4 flyer has a finished size of 210mm × 297mm. With 3mm bleed on every edge, the artwork needs to measure 216mm × 303mm.
Without bleed, you can sometimes end up with an unwanted white line along the edge of your finished print.
It's equally important to keep text, logos and other important information a safe distance from the edges so they don't get trimmed.
A properly prepared PDF should include the correct page size and bleed, with crop marks where required.
5. The PDF might not be quite right
Many AI and online design tools allow you to download your finished artwork as a PDF. That's usually a good starting point, but not every PDF is suitable for professional printing.
Depending on how the file has been created and exported, there may be problems with:
- Fonts not being embedded correctly.
- Images losing quality during export.
- Text becoming part of a low-resolution image.
- Transparency and shadows displaying differently.
- Incorrect page dimensions.
- Missing bleed.
A PDF can open perfectly well on your computer and still have problems when it reaches the printing stage.
Where possible, use a high-quality print PDF setting and check the finished file before sending it to your printer.
6. Some AI-generated details don't look quite right
AI can produce some impressive images, but it isn't always perfect.
Hands, fingers, faces, products, logos and smaller background details can sometimes look slightly unusual. These imperfections may be difficult to notice when viewing a small image on screen.
However, once printed on a large poster, roller banner or display graphic, they can become much more obvious.
This is particularly important if you're using AI to create images of products that your business actually sells.
Take a moment to look closely at the whole image before deciding it's ready to print.
7. Special effects don't always print as expected
AI-generated designs often include shadows, glowing effects, transparent backgrounds and smooth colour gradients.
These can look fantastic on screen, but some effects need careful handling before printing.
For example, gradients can sometimes show unwanted bands rather than a smooth transition. Transparent elements may display differently, and fine details can disappear when printed.
It doesn't mean you shouldn't use these effects. It simply means the artwork needs to be checked to make sure everything will reproduce as intended.
So, can you print artwork created using AI?
Absolutely.
AI is a useful tool and there's no reason why artwork created with it can't be used for professional printing.
In fact, it can be a great starting point for creating backgrounds, illustrations, promotional ideas and eye-catching designs.
The important thing is to understand the difference between creating artwork and preparing it for print.
A design might look finished, but it still needs to meet the technical requirements of the printing process.
Whether you're producing business cards, flyers, posters, brochures, booklets, roller banners or large-format signage, getting the artwork right beforehand makes a big difference to the finished result.
Need a hand with your artwork?
At SW19 Design and Print, based in Wimbledon, we understand that not everyone has access to professional design software or knows exactly how artwork needs to be prepared for printing.
If you've created something using AI, Canva or another design tool, we're happy to take a look and let you know whether it's suitable for printing.
We can help identify common issues such as low-resolution images, incorrect colours, missing bleed, page size problems and PDF export settings.
If anything needs changing, we can discuss the options before your job goes to print.
We provide professional printing services in Wimbledon, with customers across London and throughout the UK.
From a small batch of business cards to promotional flyers, brochures, posters and large-format display graphics, we're here to help you get the best from your artwork.
Our advice is simple: don't assume your artwork is print ready just because it looks good on screen. A few checks beforehand can save time, money and disappointment.
If you're unsure about a file you've created, get in touch with SW19 Design and Print before placing your order. We'd be happy to help.
SW19 Design and Print. Wimbletech Zone 2, Marlborough Hall, Compton Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 7QA. Telephone: 0800 599 9597. Email: design@sw19designandprint.co.uk
Professional printing in Wimbledon, with friendly advice and quality you can rely on.
Need Printing in Wimbledon?
Tell us what you need printed, the quantity and your deadline. We'll recommend the most suitable materials, finishing and turnaround for your job.
More from the catalogue
