"Printing: Pixels, DPI, PDF and CMYK"

Templated templates are designed in pixels. To print, you choose a pixel size that matches your paper size at the print resolution (DPI), then render a PDF (or a high-resolution image).

Convert print size to pixels

Pixels = inches x DPI

For print, use 300 DPI (standard print quality). 150 DPI can be enough for large posters seen from a distance.

From centimeters or millimeters:

• Pixels = cm / 2.54 x DPI
• Pixels = mm / 25.4 x DPI

Example: 85 x 55 mm business card at 300 DPI = 1004 x 650 px.

When you click Create Template, the size presets include A4 Document, US Letter and US Legal at 300 DPI. You can also enter a custom size (100 to 13,000 px per side).

Option: design smaller and render bigger with scale

You can design at a smaller pixel size and multiply the output when rendering with the scale parameter (0.1 to 2.0). For example, design A4 at 150 DPI (1240 x 1754 px) and render with "scale": 2 to get 2480 x 3508 px (300 DPI).

{
  "template": "YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID",
  "format": "pdf",
  "scale": 2
}

Render a print-ready PDF

Render with "format": "pdf", or choose PDF in the editor's Download menu.

• Text and shapes stay vector in the PDF, so they are sharp at any size.
• Images keep their own resolution. Use images that are large enough for the printed size (see "Why is my image blurry?"). Very large images (more than about 4000 px on the longest side) can make renders fail, so do not use images much larger than needed.
• Page size: the PDF page is created from the template's pixel size. It is not tagged as a paper size like "A4". When printing, choose your paper size and Fit to page (or "Scale to fit") in the print dialog, or tell your print shop the final size.
• Multi-page documents: use a multi-page template and "merge": true to get one PDF with all pages. See "Multi-Page Templates".
• Clickable links only work in PDF renders (layer link property).

PDF options for print

Both are recommended for print-ready documents. See Create a render.

{
  "template": "YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID",
  "format": "pdf",
  "cmyk": true,
  "flatten": true
}

CMYK

• The editor and image renders use RGB colors (screen colors).
• With cmyk: true, the PDF is converted to CMYK using a standard CMYK conversion.
• Bright RGB colors (vivid blues, greens, oranges, neon colors) cannot always be reproduced in CMYK ink, so they can print darker or duller. This is normal for print, not an error.
• Uploading your print shop's own color profile (ICC profile) is not supported. If exact colors matter, ask your print shop for a test print or proof.
• CMYK is only available for PDF. JPG, PNG and WebP are always RGB.

Bleed and safe zone

• Templated does not add bleed automatically. If your print shop needs bleed (for example 3 mm on each side), make the template larger by that amount: 3 mm at 300 DPI is about 35 px per side. Extend backgrounds to the edge.
• Turn on File > Print Safe Zone in the editor to see the area near the edges where content may be cut off. Keep text and logos inside it. The safe zone is only a guide and does not appear in renders.

FAQ

Q: How do I set my template to A4 / Letter / inches / centimeters?
A: Templates use pixels. Use pixels = inches x 300 (or cm / 2.54 x 300). A4 at 300 DPI is 2480 x 3508 px. The A4 and US Letter presets are in Create Template.

Q: What DPI does Templated use?
A: Templated works in pixels, not DPI. Choose the pixel size for your print size at 300 DPI, or render with scale to increase resolution.

Q: Is the PDF vector?
A: Yes. Text and shapes are vector in PDF renders. Images keep their original resolution.

Q: My PDF opens at a strange size in Acrobat / prints at the wrong size.
A: The PDF page size comes from the pixel size, not a paper size. Choose your paper size and "Fit to page" when printing, or tell your print shop the final size.

Q: Can I export in CMYK?
A: Yes, for PDF. Use "cmyk": true in the API or tick "CMYK Color Mode" when downloading a PDF in the editor.

Q: Why are my colors darker after CMYK conversion?
A: Some RGB colors are outside what CMYK inks can print. They are converted to the closest printable color. Ask your print shop for a proof if exact colors matter.

Q: Can I use my print shop's ICC color profile?
A: Not at the moment. The CMYK conversion uses a standard profile.

Q: Can I add bleed or crop marks?
A: There is no automatic bleed or crop marks. Make the template larger to include bleed, and use the Print Safe Zone guide.

Updated on: 01/10/2026