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Sofia Ramirez, 4OVER4 design and templates voice (illustration)
Sofia Ramirez Design & Templates Editor at 4OVER4.COM

Sofia is our design and templates voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.

Question

Do I need professional design software for homemade print projects?

Answer

No. You do not need Photoshop or Illustrator to create print-ready files. Browser-based and everyday tools handle most designs, such as business cards, flyers and postcards, as long as you set the file up for print rather than for the screen.

  • Free design tools: online editors like Canva, and even PowerPoint, let you add images and text, adjust colors and export usable print files.
  • Blank templates: many printers offer free blank templates with the correct size and bleed built in, which work in any editor you already have.
  • Color mode: work in CMYK so printed colors match your expectations.
  • Resolution: keep images at 300 DPI or higher at final size.
  • Bleed: add about 0.125 inch on each side so nothing important gets trimmed off.
  • Export: save the finished design as a 300 DPI PDF and preview the layout before you order.

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