Exporting a PSD for Flex Print, Offset and WhatsApp
A perfect design can still go wrong at the last step: a file too large to send, a printer opening the wrong version, or a WhatsApp invitation that looks blurry. These are the export settings we use every day, organised by where the design is going.
Always keep the master PSD
Save your edited, layered PSD first with a clear name, for example 2026-10-12_Arun-Priya_wedding_10x5_v2.psd. Everything else is exported from it. Never overwrite the original template; you will want it again.
For flex printing
- Size: set pixels for the final size and viewing distance (usually 72–100 DPI; see our size table).
- Colour: convert a copy to CMYK unless your printer asks for RGB.
- Format: File → Save a Copy as JPEG at quality 10–12 or as TIFF with LZW compression. JPEG at high quality is accepted by nearly every flex shop and is much smaller.
- Flatten: a saved JPEG/TIFF copy is automatically flattened, so missing fonts and effects cannot change at the printer.
For offset printing (invitations, notices, visiting cards)
- Resolution: 300 DPI at the final size.
- Bleed: extend the background 3 mm beyond the trim on every side and keep text 3–5 mm inside it.
- Colour: CMYK with the profile your press uses.
- Format: PDF (Save a Copy → Photoshop PDF, preset “High Quality Print” or “PDF/X-1a”) is preferred by most presses. Small black text stays sharpest when it is kept as live type in the PDF.
For WhatsApp and social media
- Keep RGB. Screens show RGB; CMYK copies look dull on phones.
- Size: 1080 × 1080 (square post), 1080 × 1350 (portrait post) or 1080 × 1920 (status and stories). For a banner preview, 1600–2000 px on the long side is enough.
- Export: File → Export → Export As, JPG, quality around 80%, with “Convert to sRGB” ticked. This keeps the file under 1 MB so WhatsApp does not compress it heavily.
- Send as document if quality must be perfect; WhatsApp compresses images sent as photos.
Approval copies
Before printing, send the customer a small JPG with a light “PROOF” watermark. Ask them to check names, dates and phone numbers and reply in writing. It protects both of you.
File naming and delivery
- Include date, customer, size and version in the name.
- Send large files by Google Drive or a similar link rather than chat apps, which may compress or reject them.
- Send a small preview JPG with every print file so the printer can confirm it is the right version.
Summary
| Destination | Colour | Resolution | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flex | CMYK | 72–150 DPI at final size | JPEG (10–12) or TIFF |
| Offset | CMYK + 3 mm bleed | 300 DPI | PDF/X-1a |
| WhatsApp / social | RGB (sRGB) | 1080 px wide | JPG ~80% |