Print workflow
Print jobs fail at handoff, not in the design. This is the order of operations that avoids reprints, using each tab of the plugin at the right moment.
1. Ask the printer first
Before designing, get three answers from your print shop: the trim size, the bleed they require (usually 3 mm), and their preferred color profile (for example FOGRA39 in Europe, GRACoL in the US). See working with printers for the full question list.
2. Create the document
Use the Setup tab to create a frame at trim plus bleed with guides. Pick the preset or enter the size in mm, cm, or inches. Do not create frames at "300 DPI" pixel dimensions; Figma is 72 px per inch and the rescale tool exists because so many people learn this the hard way.
3. Design with the guides
- Backgrounds and full-bleed images extend to the frame edge.
- Nothing that matters crosses the blue trim line.
- Text and logos stay inside the green safe area.
4. Check image resolution
Run the DPI checker before you fall in love with a low-resolution hero image. Fix reds and ambers now: replace the source image, shrink its printed size, or use the upscaler as a last resort.
5. Proof the colors
Render the soft proof and switch between original and CMYK modes. If a brand color must hit an exact ink recipe, add a custom color mapping instead of eyeballing it.
6. Preflight
Run down the preflight checklist. Two minutes here saves a reprint bill.
7. Export
Open the PDF tab, pick the preset matching your printer's region, click Preview page 1 to see exactly what exports, then Export PDF. For booklets, set the imposition first.
8. Send and confirm
Send the PDF with one line: "PDF/X-1a, CMYK with the profile named in the output intent, trim and bleed boxes set, marks included." Ask for a proof (soft proof PDF or a printed one) before the full run when color matters.