designtoprint

Designtoprint is a term used to describe the process of preparing digital designs for printing. It encompasses the full workflow from design to print, including file preparation, color management, and delivery to printing services. It is also the name used by various platforms and services that streamline this workflow, connecting designers with print providers and production facilities.

Core concepts include color management (using ICC profiles and appropriate color spaces such as CMYK), ensuring sufficient resolution (typically 300 dpi for raster images and scalable vector formats for logos and type), and applying bleed, trim, and safe margins. Designers must manage fonts (embedding or outlining) and export to print-ready formats such as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4, EPS, TIFF, or high-resolution JPEG. Preflight checks, proofs (soft and hard), and license compliance are common features to reduce production errors. Asset management and templating help maintain consistency across campaigns.

In practice, designtoprint workflows may be implemented within design software, via standalone prepress tools, or through online platforms offering order management, proofing, and direct submission to printers. These systems are used across a range of applications, including marketing collateral, packaging, apparel, posters, business cards, and signage.

The term reflects the broader field of print production and prepress and has grown with the rise of digital printing and on-demand services since the late 20th and early 21st centuries. See also prepress, digital printing, and print-on-demand.