Marketing

Get Our 2024 Summer Lookbook

2024 Summer Lookbook

This Summer, Find Direct Mail Solutions That Deliver.

Whether you want retail brands that support great causes, need products made with eco-friendly materials, want to support a small business… or all three—here’s a catalog of products that will help you create direct mail solutions that deliver.

Fill out our form to download a copy of the Lookbook.

How to Set Up and Submit Canva Print Files

How to Set Up Canva Files for Print, Export and Use Printing for Less Templates in Canva

Canva is a popular tool used by everyone from designers to marketers, and we’ve created a guide to help you seamlessly submit your design files. This comprehensive resource ensures that your creations transition smoothly from screen to print, maintaining the integrity of your vision every step of the way. Whether you’re fine-tuning a business card or crafting a full-scale marketing campaign, our guide is here to make your process as straightforward as possible. Start exploring today and elevate your Canva projects to professional-quality prints!

How to set up files to start designing in Canva:

After logging in to Canva, select ‘Create a design’ and choose the ‘Custom’ option.

Before entering your desired dimensions, ensure the measurement is set to inches. Add an additional 0.25 inches to both the width and height of your document. This extra 0.25 inches accounts for bleed, which will be trimmed off during printing, ensuring no white space remains around the edges of your printed piece.

For example, if you need a 5” x 7” postcard, enter 5.25” x 7.25” as the dimensions to include bleed.

*Please ensure that critical elements within your artwork, such as text or QR codes, do not extend to the edge of your artboard. We require a .125 bleed on all sides for trimming purposes. Additionally, we recommend maintaining a .125 ‘safe zone’ inward from each trim edge.

When you’ve finished designing, please follow these steps to export print-ready files:

When you’re in the download area change the settings to:

File type: PDF Print
Check: “Crop marks and bleed”
Select Pages: Select “All pages” (unless there are additional pages that you do not intend to be printed).
Color: Select “RGB (best for digital use)” unless you have Canva Pro, then select CMYK
- If you do not have Canva Pro, Printing for Less can convert the color space from RGB to CMYK for you. Please note that some colors may shift slightly during this conversion.

Finally, select to download your file, and now you’re ready to upload your file to your Printing for Less portal.

Tips for creating in Canva:

Use images that are 300 DPI or higher for optimal image quality.

Please be aware that when using images of text, low-resolution images can significantly impact legibility and may result in blurriness.

Using Printing for Less Templates for Document Design

Printing for Less offers templates for documents of any size to help you create print-ready files with precision. These templates clearly indicate two important areas:

Bleed Area (blue): This is the portion that gets trimmed off during printing.
Safe Zone (pink): Keep all critical elements (like text and logos) within this area to prevent accidental trimming.

Templates are especially helpful in ensuring your design doesn’t extend past the trim edge or sit too close to it. Some templates also include a designated mailing address area, which must remain completely clear of any artwork and must be 100% white to comply with USPS regulations.

Using Templates in Canva

To ensure the template functions correctly, your design file must be set to the proper size, including a bleed (an extra 0.25″ added to both the width and height). If the file is at the correct size the template will work how it should.

If you’re working in Canva and need a template, request a transparent PNG template. If we know you’re using Canva, we’ll typically send a PNG version by default. If not, please let us know you need one.

To use the template in Canva:

Go to the Uploads tab and click Upload Files.
Locate and upload the template file.
Once uploaded, drag the template onto your design.

Upload Files

4. Resize it to match your document using the corner handles only to maintain proportions. The blue bleed edge should align exactly with the document’s outer edge.

Drop File Over Art

Resize Template

Important: The template must be removed before final submission. It’s for your reference only; we apply mailing and folding templates on our end, optimized for our production system.

Common Issues

Bleed and Safe Zone Violations:
In the example below, text appears within both the blue (bleed) and pink (safe zone) areas. Text in the blue area will be cut off, and text in the pink area is at risk. Be sure to move any critical content out of these zones.

Bleed and Safe Zone Violations

Incorrect Document Size:
Another common issue is a mismatch between your file size and the template. For example, applying a 5″x7″ template to a 6″x9″ document won’t work. If your template doesn’t fit your design:

If you need a different size template, contact us and we’ll provide the correct one.
Double-check the dimensions of your file.
If your file is the wrong size, resize it to match the template.

File Too Large for Template

Direct Mail Marketing: An Idea Book for Realtors

Opening Doors to Real Estate Success

In the ultra-competitive world of real estate, standing out is crucial. Our Direct Mail Marketing Idea Book for Realtors might be just the key you need to unlock success. Did you know that direct mail boasts an impressive 90 percent open rate, compared with just 21 percent for email? This Idea Book is packed with innovative yet tried-and-true strategies to help you capture attention and grow your business. Download it now to discover how Printing for Less can provide everything you need to make a lasting impression on both current customers and potential clients. This is your door to real estate success.

Download the Idea Book Now.

Get Our 2024 Winter Lookbook

2024 Winter Lookbook

This Winter, Find Direct Mail Solutions That Deliver.

Fill out our form to download a copy of the Lookbook.

Get our Idea Book

Gain Attention and Affinity for Your Brand

Today’s digital world is a packed space, and cutting through it to get your customer’s attention is next to impossible. Download our Idea Book to learn new ways to cut through the digital noise and leverage connection in your marketing motions.

Get inspired and create authentic moments. We invite you to use the many examples and tips in this book as inspiration for your next campaign.

Fill out our form to download a copy of the Idea Book.

Corporate Printing Solutions

Today’s companies need convenient, fast and cost-effective solutions for their organizational print marketing needs. Save time and money while controlling your brand content with a web to print solution.

What is a web to print solution?

A web to print solution allows your organization to store a catalog of printed marketing materials and collateral online where employees, agents, distributors or franchisees can easily choose, customize and order the materials they need from the convenience of an online corporate print store or private print shop. Printing for Less offers a solution known as the Personal Marketing Center. Your organization controls the branded content through predesigned templates which determine what the end users can customize. Your users proof and order online instantly through the Personal Marketing Center and print only what is needed when it’s needed.

Who uses a web to print solution?

A web to print solution is ideal for a range of organizations that desire brand control and quality consistency while providing easy access to their business’ marketing collateral. This includes the following:

Franchisees
Sales representatives
Direct selling organizations
Real estate agents

Human resources
Office managers
Marketing departments
Distributors

Benefits of a web to print solution

Protects brand logos, trademarks, and messaging
Allows easy customization of predesigned, corporate-approved print templates
Promotes consistent quality of printing by using one corporate-approved printer with the same printing specs (size, paper, ink, coating, etc.)
Saves time with easy online proofing and ordering
Eliminates hassle of satellite offices, stores, or franchisees finding a local printer
Helps keep digital assets up-to-date; no more old logos in circulation.
Saves money due to reduced waste and inventory costs

What to look for in a web to print solution.

Consider these factors in selecting a web to print offering for your corporate printing solution.

Cost. Web to print solutions can range from expensive software packages and services to hosted services. For small to medium organizations, hosted services – where you pay only for printing or a small service fee per transaction – is usually the most cost-effective choice.
Ease of Use. Look for a web to print system that is easy and convenient to use and requires little to no training on the part of the users.
Features and Services. What other requirements and services do you need for your organization’s print marketing? Features such as instant pricing, credit card purchasing, head office billing, fast turnaround and direct mail and fulfillment services make print procurement painless.
Technical Support. Strong technical support is critical to ensuring consistently high quality and service for a print on demand solution, both for setting up and operating your corporate online print shop.

Why Use Printing for Less for your print on demand Corporate Printing?

Quick Setup. We create the customizable templates from your artwork. You decide what fields or images can be customized and we do the rest to have your Personal Marketing Center up and ready quickly.
Branded and User-Friendly Interface. Your users can select, instantly price, customize, proof and order their products in minutes, all on a site branded with your logo.
Choice of Payment. Several flexible payment options are available including corporate or individual, check, credit card, or purchase order.
Direct Mail Services. We offer a one-stop shop for printing and mailing. Your employees or network select and customize their print mailing pieces, upload their mailing list, and have it mailed within a few days with our expert mailing services.
Fulfillment Services. We can also print a large quantity of standardized brochures to hold for fulfillment of smaller orders to your retail stores, offices or franchises. You enjoy the savings from volume discounts on printing as well as inventory costs.
Layout Services. Our design professionals can help with creating or expanding your print marketing portfolio.
Free Technical and Customer Support. At, Printing for Less, a dedicated team of technical service experts supports each customer and handles all aspects of your account including template development, pre-press, quality control, order processing, and issue resolution.

For questions, Call 800-930-3938 or contact us via email.

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Need print marketing tips or advice? We have a variety of print marketing articles with everything you need for a successful marketing campaign. Learn more.