Can you use Figma for print design?
Yes — if you handle print production correctly. This guide covers document setup, color limitations, DPI, bleed, and how to export a print-ready PDF from Figma with Printery.
1. Setting Up Your Document
Start with the correct dimensions. Always design at the final print size (in inches or millimeters), not in pixels. Add your bleed area around the design, or let Printery add bleed and crop marks at export time.
| Document Type | Size | With Bleed |
|---|---|---|
| Business Card | 3.5" × 2" | 3.75" × 2.25" |
| A4 Flyer | 210 × 297mm | 216 × 303mm |
| US Letter | 8.5" × 11" | 8.75" × 11.25" |
| Poster (A3) | 297 × 420mm | 303 × 426mm |
2. Color Considerations
Design in RGB in Figma (it's the only option), but keep CMYK limitations in mind. Avoid extremely vibrant neon colors that don't reproduce well in CMYK, then use CMYK export with ICC profiles when you generate the final PDF.
⚠️ Colors that shift most in CMYK: Bright blues, vivid greens, neon oranges, and electric purples. Keep brand-critical colors within the CMYK gamut. Printery shows you a preview of CMYK conversion before export.
3. Typography for Print
- Minimum body text: 8pt (9-11pt recommended)
- Headlines: 18pt or larger for impact
- Fine print: Never below 6pt
- Font weight: Avoid ultra-light weights — they disappear in print
- Black text: Use pure black (K100), not rich black, for body text to avoid registration issues
4. Image Resolution
All raster images must be at least 300 DPI at print size. This means a 4" × 6" photo needs to be at least 1200 × 1800 pixels. Printery's DPI check catches low-res images before export.
5. Bleed & Safe Area
Extend all background colors and images 3mm (0.125") beyond the trim line. Keep all text and important content at least 5mm from the trim line (safe area).
6. Export with Printery
Use Printery to handle the technical print production requirements that Figma doesn't natively support: CMYK conversion, ICC profiles, bleed marks, crop marks, and DPI verification.
Read the Full Tutorial →Print Design Checklist
- ☐ Document set to correct print dimensions
- ☐ 3mm bleed area added around design
- ☐ No important content within 5mm of trim line
- ☐ All images at 300 DPI or higher
- ☐ Body text at 8pt minimum
- ☐ No ultra-light font weights used
- ☐ Brand colors verified in CMYK preview
- ☐ Spelling and content proofread
- ☐ CMYK conversion enabled in Printery
- ☐ Correct ICC profile selected
- ☐ Crop marks enabled
- ☐ PDF exported and verified
Start Designing for Print
Use Figma for layouts and Printery for CMYK, bleed, crop marks, and print-ready PDF export.
Try Printery Free