Top Print Design Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

When it comes to printing, design can make or break your finished product. You could have the best idea, the right message, and high-quality paper - but if the design isn’t right, it won’t have the impact you hoped for. At Colour Print, we’ve seen just about every print design mistake you can imagine - and helped fix plenty of them too.

So, whether you’re creating flyers, business cards, brochures or banners, here are some of the most common print design mistakes (and how to avoid them).

1. Forgetting About Bleed and Margins

This one’s a classic. Bleed and margins are small, but they matter. If you don’t have enough space around your edges, your design might get trimmed off - or end up with a thin white border you didn’t plan for.

Tip: Always add a 3mm bleed around your artwork and keep any key text or logos at least 5mm inside the trim line. If you’re not sure how to set it up, we’ll happily guide you through it before you send your file.

2. Using Low Resolution Images

Using blurry images is one of the quickest ways to make your design look amateur. Your chosen image may look good on your desktop computer, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean it will always print well. Your computer screen only needs 72dpi to display, but for crisp and professional results you should always be aiming for 300dpi.

Tip: Always use a high resolution image and be sure to check your artwork at 100% zoom before sending it to print. We’ll double-check this on our end too - just to be safe.

3. Too Many Fonts or Colours

It’s easy to get carried away with fonts and colours, especially when you want your design to stand out. But too much variation can make it look messy and hard to read. Consistency is what gives your print that polished, professional feel.

Tip: Stick to 2-3 fonts and a simple colour palette. If you’re not sure which ones complement each other, our in-house design team can help you find a balance that works beautifully in print.

4. Not Considering Paper Type and Finish

Your design might look great digitally, but the paper you choose can change everything - from the colour tone to how the piece feels in someone’s hand. A glossy finish, for example, can make colours pop, while a matte stock gives a softer, more elegant look.

Tip: Before you print, spend some time thinking about what you want your final design to feel like. If you need some inspiration, we’ll happily show you some paper samples and finish so you can see the differences in person before making your final decision.

5. Ignoring Readability

It’s surprising how often readability gets overlooked. Tiny fonts, poor contrast, or text over busy backgrounds can make your message hard to read - and if people can’t read it easily, they’ll stop trying.

Tip: Always check your design from a normal viewing distance. If you have to squint or tilt your head, it’s time to make adjustments. We’ll help you tweak layouts or colours if something’s not working.

6. Not Proofing Before Printing

Typos, wrong phone numbers, or old logos - they happen more often than you’d think. Once your design goes to print, those mistakes can be costly to fix.

Tip: There is no such thing as too many proofreads. Ideally, get someone else to check it too. We offer a pre-print proof service so you can see exactly how your finished piece will look before we hit the print button.

7. Designing for Screen, Not for Print

Digital and print design aren’t the same thing. What looks bright and bold on a backlit screen might come out duller in ink. You will also find that colours shift between RGB (for screens) and CMYK (for print).

Tip: To ensure you end up with the most accurate colour match, design in CMYK from the outset. If you’re unsure, we can convert and colour-match your files so your prints come out just the way you expect.

Final Thoughts

Good print design is about balance - creativity that looks great and works technically. The best designs make a strong first impression without shouting, and they print exactly as intended.

If you’d like help perfecting your next project, give us a call. We’ll check your files, offer honest advice, and make sure your finished print looks exactly how you imagined - maybe even better.