Print-Ready Sticker PDF: The 10-Point Checklist

2026-08-17

A final pre-flight checklist for sticker PDFs: size in mm, DPI, colour mode, magenta cut line, offset, closed paths and bleed.

The checklist

• Page size equals the final sticker or sheet size in millimetres.
• Artwork resolution is 300 DPI at that size.
• Colour mode matches what the printer asked for (CMYK or RGB).
• The cut line is pure magenta: M100, or R255 G0 B255.
• The cut line is stroke-only, around 0.3 mm, with no fill.
• Every contour is a single closed path.
• Offset between artwork and cut line is 2 mm unless you deliberately chose otherwise.
• No merged gaps, self-intersections or stray micro-contours.
• Bleed extends under the cut line — never end artwork exactly on it.
• No crop marks, guides or hidden layers unless requested.

How to verify quickly

Open the PDF, zoom to 400% and follow the contour once around the sticker. Then toggle it against the artwork: the border should be visually even, and the magenta path should never disappear behind the print.

Sending to the printer

• One PDF per product; sheets stay as one file with multiple contours.
• State the quantity, material (matte, gloss, transparent) and finish in the order notes.
• Mention that the cut path is M100 magenta so nobody has to guess.

If something comes back wrong

Reprints usually trace back to three causes: wrong physical size, missing bleed, or a cut line the RIP did not recognise. Re-run this checklist before blaming the machine.