Artwork set-up guidelines & templates for our custom printed games & accessories
Please choose one of the following links relevent to your artwork needs...
Custom Printed Game Boards - Artwork Guidelines
We'll do our best to work with whatever you provide us. However applying the following guidelines where possible will save time and ensure conistent & accurate results:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print in full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Pixel Size & Dimensions
For great looking results your artwork needs to be 300dpi or higher at the actual dimensions required., There's no upper limit.
If your artwork is vector based - you don't need to worry about dpi.
Bleed & Crop Marks
Please provide your artwork with 3mm of bleed.
For double sided 'Luxury' game boards - 3mm of bleed is required for for front and 25mm for the back.
Crop marks are optional.
For double sided 'Luxury' game boards - 3mm of bleed is required for for front and 25mm for the back.
Crop marks are optional.
File Type
Your game board needs to be in one of the following digital formats:
a PDF file or a high resolution & quality JPEG.
a PDF file or a high resolution & quality JPEG.
Example Game Board PDF File
This is an example of correctly formatted Game Board artwork. The game dimensions are 500mm x 500mm with 3mm of bleed giving a final outer dimension of 506mm x 506mm. Although crop marks are optional - in this example they have been left in to show the bleed more clearly.
Custom Printed Platinum Game Boards & Boxes - Artwork Guidelines
We'll do our best to work with whatever you provide us. However applying the following guidelines where possible will save time and ensure conistent & accurate results:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print in full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Pixel Size & Dimensions
For great looking results your artwork needs to be 300dpi or higher at the actual dimensions required., There's no upper limit.
If your artwork is vector based - you don't need to worry about dpi.
Bleed & Crop Marks
Please provide your artwork with 3mm of bleed.
Crop marks are optional, but are helpful.
Crop marks are optional, but are helpful.
File Type
Your game board needs to be in one of the following digital formats: a PDF file or a high resolution & quality JPEG.
Your game box needs to be one or more PDF files.
Your game box needs to be one or more PDF files.
Platinum Game Board - PDF Template
This is an example of correctly formatted Game Board artwork. The game dimensions are 500mm x 500mm with 3mm of bleed giving a final outer dimension of 506mm x 506mm. Although crop marks are optional - in this example they have been left in to show the bleed more clearly.
Platinum Game Box - PDF Template
Please download and follow the instructions & templates for our Platinum Game Box.
Custom Printed Game Boxes - Artwork Guidelines
Please follow the following guidelines:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print in full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Pixel Size & Dimensions
For great looking results your artwork needs to be 300dpi or higher at the actual dimensions required., There's no upper limit.
If your artwork is vector based - you don't need to worry about dpi.
Bleed & Crop Marks
We can apply graphics to the top, sides, inside flap and underside.
Irrespective of box size, we require 3mm of bleed and crop marks. (Please refer to the Bleed & Crop Mark guidelines below).
Irrespective of box size, we require 3mm of bleed and crop marks. (Please refer to the Bleed & Crop Mark guidelines below).
File Type
Please provide us your artwork as one or more PDF files
Size 5 Box - PDF Template
These PDF's show you how to set up your artwork to the correct size including bleed.
Size 6 Box - PDF Template
These PDF's show you how to set up your artwork to the correct size including bleed.
Size 8 Box - PDF Template
These PDF's show you how to set up your artwork to the correct size including bleed.
Custom Printed Sets of Playing Cards & Boxes - Artwork Guidelines
Please follow the following guidelines:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print in full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Pixel Size & Dimensions
For great looking results your artwork needs to be 300dpi or higher at the actual dimensions required., There's no upper limit.
If your artwork is vector based - you don't need to worry about dpi.
Playing Cards: Bleed & Crop Marks
Unless your cards have a white background - we require 3mm of bleed.
The artwork needs to be sized correctly, with bleed & crop marks (see instructions below), on a page size to match your playing card (not one or more cards in the middle of an A4 page for example).
The artwork needs to be sized correctly, with bleed & crop marks (see instructions below), on a page size to match your playing card (not one or more cards in the middle of an A4 page for example).
Playing Cards: File Type
Please provide us your artwork in a single (multi page) PDF file.
e.g. if you have 20 x single sided cards per set, we would require a 20 page PDF file.
e.g. if you have 20 x double sided cards per set, we would require a 40 page PDF file. The page order would be - front, back, front, back etc etc.
If you have both landscape and portrait cards - please provide a separate PDF for each kind. (You won't be charged any more for this).
e.g. if you have 20 x single sided cards per set, we would require a 20 page PDF file.
e.g. if you have 20 x double sided cards per set, we would require a 40 page PDF file. The page order would be - front, back, front, back etc etc.
If you have both landscape and portrait cards - please provide a separate PDF for each kind. (You won't be charged any more for this).
Playing Cards: Additional Notes:
Keep any text at least 4mm away from the sides.
Finally, try not to have thin printed borders around the edge of your cards or counters, (especially if double sided). Why?...due to the tollerencies of the printing, die cutting and trimming process, thin borders can end up being partially cut-off on one or more edges. This makes the design look less than ideal! Solutions: 1. have a really thick border, 2. bring the border at least 5mm inside of the edges, or 3. have no border at all.
Example Game Cards PDF File
This is an example of a correctly set-up PDF for a set of five double sided, (poker size, 89mm x 64mm), playing cards.
If your cards require rounded corners - please don't show this on your PDF, just ensure we know you require this option.
Tuck-Flap Boxes for Playing Cards: Artwork requirements
Firstly, once you have placed your order, we will provide you with a custom PDF template, to the size & dimensions required to hold your playing cards.
When creating your artwork, you need to make any background colours or images etc bleed off the box template by at leat 3mm.
You don't need to provide crop marks.
Then, as per the example PDF template below, you need to provide us with a PDF containing:
1. The first page of a PDF with your artwork and the template overlaid.
2. A second page with your artwork but without the template visible.
When creating your artwork, you need to make any background colours or images etc bleed off the box template by at leat 3mm.
You don't need to provide crop marks.
Then, as per the example PDF template below, you need to provide us with a PDF containing:
1. The first page of a PDF with your artwork and the template overlaid.
2. A second page with your artwork but without the template visible.
Example Tuck-Flap Box PDF File
This is an example of a Tuck-Flap Box for 50 unlaminated poker size playing cards. When you place an order with us, we will send you a bespoke box template to the dimensions of your cards. This template should only be used as a reference to how to set up and provide us with your artwork.
Custom Printed & Die-Cut Game Counters - Artwork Guidelines
Please follow the following guidelines:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print in full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Pixel Size & Dimensions
For great looking results your artwork needs to be 300dpi or higher at the actual dimensions required., There's no upper limit.
If your artwork is vector based - you don't need to worry about dpi.
Bleed & Crop Marks
Firstly - the tollerencies of the die-cutting process is + or - 1mm, so please factor this into your artwork.
Uness your counters have a white background - we require 3mm of bleed for each counter.
The artwork needs to be sized correctly, with bleed, on a page size to match your counter (not one or more counters in the middle of an A4 page for example).
Uness your counters have a white background - we require 3mm of bleed for each counter.
The artwork needs to be sized correctly, with bleed, on a page size to match your counter (not one or more counters in the middle of an A4 page for example).
File Type
Please provide us your artwork as a single (multi page) PDF file.
e.g. if you have 20 x single sided counters per set, we would require a 20 page PDF file.
e.g. if you have 20 x double sided counters per set, we would require a 40 page PDF file. The page order would be - front, back, front, back etc etc.
Remove any cutting guides and just provide us with one additional PDF, (of one counter), showing the cutting guide.
e.g. if you have 20 x single sided counters per set, we would require a 20 page PDF file.
e.g. if you have 20 x double sided counters per set, we would require a 40 page PDF file. The page order would be - front, back, front, back etc etc.
Remove any cutting guides and just provide us with one additional PDF, (of one counter), showing the cutting guide.
25mm Circular Counter PDF File
This PDF shows an example 25mm circle, with the cutting guide on page 1. The other pages show the correct layout for double sided counters, with 3mm of bleed and crop marks.
60mm Hexagonal Counter PDF File
This PDF shows an example 60mm wide hexagon, with the cutting guide on page 1. The other pages show the correct layout for both single & double sided counters, with 3mm of bleed and crop marks.
40mm Square Counter PDF File
This PDF shows an example 40mm wide hexagon. The pages show the correct layout for both single & double sided counters, with 3mm of bleed and crop marks. Note: no cutting guide is required.
Punch Boards
Please follow the following guidelines:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print in full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Pixel Size & Dimensions
For great looking results your artwork needs to be 300dpi or higher at the actual dimensions required., There's no upper limit.
If your artwork is vector based - you don't need to worry about dpi.
Technical Information & requirements
Please use these guidelines to both give you an understanding of what we can produce and the limitations of our traditional die-cutting process when making punch boards based on using rigid 1850 micron board:
1. Each item on the punch board needs to be spaced apart by at least 10mm.
2. Although we endeavour to die-cut accurately, the tolerances of our process is + or – 1.5mm in any direction, so avoid thin outlines & borders and allow plenty of bleed.
3. The minimum size of a punch board is about A5, the largest is A3.
Maximum amount of items per sheet: this is based on the following calculation:
Note: The cutting force required is based on the total length of the items you have on your board, if you laid them out in a straight line.
The maximum total length of all items must not exceed 4000mm.
Example 1: A sheet with 20 x 40mm squares:
Each square is 160mm in length, (4 sides x 40mm), So total length is 20 x 160mm = 3200mm. (so this would be suitable).
Example 2: A sheet with 40 x 25mm circles:
The circumference of each circle is 78.54mm, x 40 circles = 3141.6mm total length. (so this would be suitable).
1. Each item on the punch board needs to be spaced apart by at least 10mm.
2. Although we endeavour to die-cut accurately, the tolerances of our process is + or – 1.5mm in any direction, so avoid thin outlines & borders and allow plenty of bleed.
3. The minimum size of a punch board is about A5, the largest is A3.
Maximum amount of items per sheet: this is based on the following calculation:
Note: The cutting force required is based on the total length of the items you have on your board, if you laid them out in a straight line.
The maximum total length of all items must not exceed 4000mm.
Example 1: A sheet with 20 x 40mm squares:
Each square is 160mm in length, (4 sides x 40mm), So total length is 20 x 160mm = 3200mm. (so this would be suitable).
Example 2: A sheet with 40 x 25mm circles:
The circumference of each circle is 78.54mm, x 40 circles = 3141.6mm total length. (so this would be suitable).
File Type
Please provide us your artwork as a PDF.
For each punch board, we require:
1. A PDF of the artwork to use for the printing (with no cutting guides on it).
2. A PDF showing the artwork with the cutting template overlaid.
3. A PDF with only the cutting template. (Note: this must be vector based artwork).
They can be provided separately or all together as a three page PDF.
For each punch board, we require:
1. A PDF of the artwork to use for the printing (with no cutting guides on it).
2. A PDF showing the artwork with the cutting template overlaid.
3. A PDF with only the cutting template. (Note: this must be vector based artwork).
They can be provided separately or all together as a three page PDF.
Monopoly & custom money - Artwork Guidelines & templates
Please follow the following guidelines:
Note: unless we are making agreed changes to your artwork - we won't send you a proof prior to printing, (as we'll just be sending you back the PDF you've sent us!). If there are technical issues with your artwork, such as not setting up bleed correctly, we will get back in touch with you before printing to give you the opportunity to resolve any issues.
Colours
We print the money in either black only or full colour 'CMYK'. If you can provide a CMYK file - your colour values wll be accurately reproduced. If you can only work in RGB - we will do our best to get the best colour match possible.
Dimensions
The dimensions of our standard money are 100mm x 50mm. If you are designing your own money (and not using our template), please stick to these dimensions unless we have provided you with a bespoke quotation.
Custom Printed Money - Bleed & Crop Marks:
For money printed on the multi-colour 'Monopoly' paper:
we don't need any bleed or crop marks, we just need you to adhere to the template & guidelines provided.
If you are designing your own money, for full colour printing on our 150gsm white paper:
If your border contains a colour around the edge, it needs to be a a flat colour/tint and not patterned. We then need a multi-page PDF with 3mm of bleed.
If your border is white - then we don't need any bleed and you can submit a PDF without bleed.
we don't need any bleed or crop marks, we just need you to adhere to the template & guidelines provided.
If you are designing your own money, for full colour printing on our 150gsm white paper:
If your border contains a colour around the edge, it needs to be a a flat colour/tint and not patterned. We then need a multi-page PDF with 3mm of bleed.
If your border is white - then we don't need any bleed and you can submit a PDF without bleed.
Custom Money: File Type
Please provide your artwork in a single, (multi page), PDF file.
e.g. if you have 7 x notes of different designs, we would require a 7 page PDF file, one note design per page. (We will repeat the design on both sides of each note).
The PDF page size needs to be the size of the note, I.e. 100mm x 50mm, not a 100mm x 50mm note in the middle of an A4 page.
e.g. if you have 7 x notes of different designs, we would require a 7 page PDF file, one note design per page. (We will repeat the design on both sides of each note).
The PDF page size needs to be the size of the note, I.e. 100mm x 50mm, not a 100mm x 50mm note in the middle of an A4 page.
Unless you have chosen Option 3, (full colour designs printed on white paper), you need to remember that we are printing on different colour paper - so please don't try and simulate a coloured paper on your designs when you send them back to us. Just tell us which paper colour you prefer for each design.
Fore reference, the colours from left to right in the picture above are: Pink, Gold, White, Green, Blue, Gray, Yellow.
Monopoly or custom designed money: PDF template
This is a PDF template for the multi-coloured Monopoly style money. You can use it as start point to create your own designs.
Bleed and Crop Marks - Guidelines
Please see the following examples of how to provide a PDF file with Bleed and Crop Marks correctly...
This PDF would not be correct - as it has no crop marks and no bleed.
Note: If your artwork has nothing that goes to the very edge - then it would be OK to provide a PDF like this!
This PDF would not be correct - as it has no bleed and the crop marks are right up against the corners of the artwork
This PDF would not be correct - the crop marks are now correctly offset from the artwork, but there is still no bleed.
This PDF would not be correct - bleed has been correctly added, but the crop marks are not offset.
This PDF is now correct - the crop marks are now correctly offset from the artwork and bleed has been added.
Generally, unless you have been instructed otherwise - please add 3mm of bleed and offset the crop marks by the same amount.
Note: not all software gives you the option to specify how much to offset the crop marks. In this instance just ensure they look 'visually' correct.
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Contact Us
Tel: 0115 8440122
Hayman Creative Limited
Fineprint House,
Hooton Street,
Nottingham NG3 2NJ
Fineprint House,
Hooton Street,
Nottingham NG3 2NJ
Opening Times
Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm
9am to 5pm
We Accept
all major debit and credit card payments
