How to Prepare Your Files for Printing

To help us process your order quickly and accurately, please organise your files clearly before uploading them.

This guide is suitable for both Apple/Mac and Windows/PC users.

1. Create one main folder for your order

Start by creating one folder that contains everything for your order.

Name the folder with your name or order reference, for example:

Jane Smith Print Order
or
Order 12345

Inside this folder, you can add smaller folders for each print type, paper type or size.

2. Use clear folder names

Please group your images in a way that makes your order easy to understand.

For example:

Jane Smith Print Order
→ Fine Art Prints
→ Canson Rag Photographique
→ A3 QTY 2

or

Jane Smith Print Order
→ Photo Prints
→ Lustre Paper
→ 6×4 QTY 10

If you have custom sizes, you can place them in a folder called:

Custom Sizes

3. Include the quantity in the folder name

If you need more than one copy of a file, please include the quantity clearly.

For example:

A4 QTY 1
A3 QTY 2
8×10 QTY 5

You can also include the quantity in the file name if needed, for example:

family_portrait_QTY2.jpg

4. Keep file names simple

Please use simple file names so they open correctly on both Mac and Windows computers.

Use only:

Letters
Numbers
Spaces
Underscores _

Good examples:

wedding_photo_01.jpg
Landscape Print 02.tif
portrait_A3_QTY1.jpg

Please avoid special characters such as:

/
\
:
*
?
“
<
>
|

Also avoid using quotation marks to show inches. For example, use 8×10 instead of 8″ x 10″.

5. Make sure your files show the file type

Your file should include the correct file extension at the end.

For example:

image.jpg
image.tif
image.png
image.pdf

This helps us identify the file type correctly.

6. Compress or zip your folder before uploading

Before uploading, please compress your main folder into a ZIP file.

This makes the upload easier and helps keep your files together.

On Apple/Mac

Right-click or Control-click the folder, then choose:

Compress “[folder name]”

This will create a ZIP file.

On Windows/PC

Right-click the folder, then choose:

Send to > Compressed zipped folder

This will create a ZIP file.

Zipping your folder will not reduce your print quality. It simply packages the files together for upload.

7. Include any special instructions

Please include any notes with your order, such as:

Paper choice
Print size
Quantity
Border requirements
Cropping instructions
Framing or mounting requirements
Deadline or collection details

You can include this information in your online order form or as a simple text document inside your upload folder.

Example Folder Structure

Jane Smith Print Order
→ Fine Art Prints
→ Canson Rag Photographique
→ A3 QTY 2

→ Photo Prints
→ Lustre Paper
→ 6×4 QTY 10

→ Custom Sizes
→ Image 01 420x600mm QTY 1

Quick Checklist Before Uploading

Before sending your files, please check that:

Your images are in one main folder
Your folders are clearly labelled
Quantities are included where needed
File names are simple and easy to read
Your files include .jpg, .tif, .png or .pdf at the end
Your folder has been compressed into a ZIP file
Any special instructions are included with the order

Need help?

If you are unsure how to prepare your files, don’t worry. Upload them as clearly as you can and include a short note with your order. Our team can review the files and contact you if anything needs clarification.