Export Settings - Printery | Print Production for Figma

Export Settings Overview

The Export Settings tab controls how your design is converted to PDF, including resolution, file size, and PDF format compliance.

Critical for quality: Export settings determine if your PDF will be accepted by professional printers.

Accessing Export Settings

Select Frame

Click the frame you want to export

Launch Plugin

Plugins → Printery

Export Tab

Click “Export” tab in plugin interface

Key Export Settings

1. DPI (Resolution)

Dots Per Inch - Image quality setting

300 DPI (Standard)
150 DPI (Draft)
600 DPI (High-End)
Custom DPI

Resolution: 300 pixels per inchQuality: Professional print qualityFile size: MediumWhen to use:

All professional printing
Business cards
Brochures
Magazines
Books
Marketing materials

✅ Industry standard - Use this!Why 300?:

Human eye threshold (~250-300 DPI)
Sharp text and images
Accepted by all printers

Effective DPI vs Output DPI

Important distinction: Output DPI (what you set): 300 DPI

How dense pixels are rendered

Effective DPI (actual image quality):

Depends on source image resolution
Can be lower if image is small

Example:

Source image: 600px × 600px
Printed size: 2" × 2"
Effective DPI: 600 ÷ 2 = 300 DPI ✓

Source image: 300px × 300px
Printed size: 2" × 2"
Effective DPI: 300 ÷ 2 = 150 DPI ✗ Too low!

Use DPI Checker (in plugin) to verify all images ≥ 300 DPI See DPI Guide

2. Compression

Balance between quality and file size

None (Maximum Quality)
Minimal (95%)
Standard (85%)
Medium (75%)
Low (60%)

Compression: 0%Quality: Perfect, losslessFile size: LargestWhen to use:

Color-critical work
Fine art
Photography portfolios
Maximum quality needed

Trade-offs:

Very large files (10-50+ MB)
Slow email/transfer
Longer processing

Best for: When quality is paramount

Recommendation: Use 85% (Standard) for balance of quality and size

3. PDF Format

PDF standard compliance

PDF (Standard)
PDF/X-1a
PDF/X-3
PDF/X-4

Format: Regular PDFCompatibility: UniversalFeatures: All PDF features availableWhen to use:

Digital distribution
Screen viewing
Desktop printing
When printer doesn’t specify

Pros:

Widely compatible
Flexible
Supports all features

Cons:

May not be optimized for print
No guaranteed print compliance

Recommendation:

PDF/X-1a for offset printing (most reliable)
PDF/X-3 for modern digital printing
PDF (Standard) when unsure

4. Font Embedding

Ensures text displays correctly

Embed All Fonts
Subset Fonts
Don't Embed

Action: Includes font data in PDFResult: Text appears exactly as designedFile size: Slightly larger (+100-500KB)When to use:

Always for professional printing
Ensures consistency
Prevents substitution

✅ Always enableWhy important:

Printer may not have your fonts
Substitution ruins layout
Professional standard

Action: Includes only used charactersResult: Smaller file sizeFile size: Minimal increaseWhen to use:

Default setting
Balances quality and size
Professional standard

How it works:

Font file: Full alphabet (26 letters) = 200KB
Your text: "Hello" (5 letters)
Subset: Only H, e, l, o = 40KB

✅ Recommended

Recommendation: Always Embed fonts (subset)

5. Image Handling

How raster images are processed

Embed Images
Downsample Images
Optimize Images

Action: Includes full image data in PDFResult: Self-contained PDFWhen to use:

Standard for print
Sending to printer
Archiving

Pros:

Single file
Complete package
No missing links

File size: Larger (all image data included)

Action: Reduces image resolution to match DPIResult: Smaller file, adequate qualityWhen to use:

Large high-res images
File size critical
Images exceed needed DPI

How it works:

Source image: 3000 × 3000 px
Print size: 2" × 2"
Required: 600 × 600 px (at 300 DPI)
Downsampled: 600 × 600 px
Size savings: 80%

Recommendation: Enable for efficiency

6. Transparency Handling

How transparent elements are processed

Flatten Transparency
Preserve Transparency

Action: Converts transparency to opaque layersResult: No transparency in PDFWhen to use:

PDF/X-1a required (mandatory)
Older print workflows
Maximum compatibility

Process:

Semi-transparent blue circle over red square
↓ (Flattening)
Purple circle (mixed) over red square

Pros:

Universal compatibility
Predictable output
No transparency errors

Cons:

Can’t edit transparency later
May create small artifacts

7. Overprint Settings

How overlapping colors print

Automatic Black Overprint
Manual Overprint Control

Action: Black elements overprint automaticallyResult: Prevents registration gapsWhen to use:

Enable for all professional printing

What it does:

Black text: Overprints ✓
Black lines: Overprint ✓
Other colors: Knockout (default)

✅ Industry standardSee Overprint Guide

Export Workflow

Recommended Export Process

Configure Document

Document Tab:

Bleed: 0.125” ✓
Crop marks: Enabled ✓
Safety zone: 0.25” ✓

Set Color Options

Color Tab:

Convert to CMYK: ✓
ICC Profile: ISO Coated v2 ✓
Black handling: Automatic ✓

Configure Export

Export Tab:

DPI: 300 ✓
Compression: 85% ✓
Format: PDF/X-1a ✓
Embed fonts: Yes ✓
Flatten transparency: Yes ✓
Auto black overprint: Yes ✓

Run DPI Check

DPI Checker Tab:

Verify all images ≥ 300 DPI
Replace low-res images if needed

Export PDF

Click “Export PDF” buttonChoose save locationWait for processing (a few seconds)

Verify PDF

Open in PDF viewerCheck:

Crop marks visible
Text sharp
Images clear
Colors look correct

File Size Optimization

Reducing File Size

If PDF is too large:

1. Increase Compression

Change: 85% → 75%Savings: 20-40% smallerQuality impact: Slight, usually acceptableWhen: File > 10MB and email/upload needed

2. Enable Downsampling

Action: Reduce image resolution to needed DPISavings: 30-60% smallerQuality impact: None if images are oversizedExample:

Image at 600 DPI → Downsample to 300 DPI
File size: 50% smaller
Quality: Identical (300 DPI sufficient)

3. Optimize Images Before Import

Process:

Resize images to actual print dimensions
Remove unnecessary pixels
Compress before adding to Figma

Tools: Photoshop, TinyPNG, ImageOptimResult: Much smaller source = smaller PDF

4. Remove Unused Assets

Check design for:

Hidden layers
Off-canvas elements
Duplicate images
Unnecessary effects

Clean up before exporting

File Size Guidelines

Project Type	Target Size	Maximum
Business Card	< 2MB	5MB
Flyer (single page)	< 5MB	10MB
Brochure (multi-page)	< 10MB	25MB
Booklet (10+ pages)	< 20MB	50MB
Catalog (50+ pages)	< 50MB	100MB

If exceeding maximums: Optimize using above methods

Multi-Page Export

Exporting Multiple Pages

Multiple Frames → Single PDF
One Frame Per PDF
Spreads

Action: Select multiple framesResult: One PDF with multiple pagesPage order: Top-to-bottom, left-to-right in FigmaUse for:

Brochures
Booklets
Catalogs
Multi-page documents

Output Filename

Naming Your PDF

Good naming conventions:

✓ BusinessCard_Front_FINAL.pdf
✓ Brochure_8Pages_CMYK_300dpi.pdf
✓ Poster_18x24_ISOCoatedv2.pdf
✓ Flyer_v3_2025-01-15.pdf

Include:

Project name
Version (if multiple)
Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
Specs (optional but helpful)

Avoid:

✗ untitled.pdf
✗ design.pdf
✗ final final FINAL v2 (1).pdf

Export Presets (Pro)

Saving Export Settings

Pro Feature: Save commonly-used configurations

Configure All Settings

Set Document, Color, and Export tabs as desired

Save as Preset

Click “Save Preset”Name it: “Business Cards - CMYK 300DPI”

Reuse Anytime

For future projects:

Select frame
Choose preset from dropdown
All settings applied instantly

Popular presets:

“Standard CMYK Print” (300 DPI, PDF/X-1a, ISO Coated v2)
“US Offset Printing” (300 DPI, PDF/X-1a, SWOP)
“High-Res Photography” (600 DPI, no compression, PDF/X-3)
“Quick Proof” (150 DPI, 75% compression, standard PDF)

Troubleshooting Export

PDF file size too large

Solutions:

Increase compression (85% → 75%)
Enable image downsampling
Optimize source images
Remove hidden/unused elements

See “File Size Optimization” above

Export fails or hangs

Causes:

Very large file
Complex design
Memory limit

Solutions:

Close other Figma files
Restart Figma
Simplify design (fewer effects)
Export in smaller batches

Text looks blurry in PDF

Causes:

DPI too low
Too much compression
Fonts not embedded

Solutions:

Set DPI to 300
Reduce compression (75% → 85%)
Enable font embedding

Colors different in PDF

Causes:

Wrong ICC profile
CMYK conversion
Uncalibrated monitor

Solutions:

Verify correct ICC profile
Order physical proof
Remember: screen ≠ print

Printer rejects PDF

Common reasons:

Wrong PDF format
RGB instead of CMYK
Fonts not embedded
No bleed

Solutions:

Use PDF/X-1a format
Enable CMYK conversion
Embed all fonts
Add 0.125” bleed
Ask printer for specifications

Export Checklist

Before final export:

Learn More

DPI & Resolution

Understanding print resolution

Color Conversion

RGB to CMYK settings

Document Setup

Bleed and crop marks

File Size Issues

Optimize large PDFs

Pro Tip: Save your settings as a preset! Consistent export settings = consistent quality across all projects.

Color Conversion Advanced Options

Documentation Index

​Export Settings Overview

​Accessing Export Settings

​Key Export Settings

​1. DPI (Resolution)

​Effective DPI vs Output DPI

​2. Compression

​3. PDF Format

​4. Font Embedding

​5. Image Handling

​6. Transparency Handling

​7. Overprint Settings

​Export Workflow

​Recommended Export Process

​File Size Optimization

​Reducing File Size

​File Size Guidelines

​Multi-Page Export

​Exporting Multiple Pages

​Output Filename

​Naming Your PDF

​Export Presets (Pro)

​Saving Export Settings

​Troubleshooting Export

​Export Checklist

​Learn More

DPI & Resolution

Color Conversion

Document Setup

File Size Issues

Export Settings Overview

Accessing Export Settings

Key Export Settings

1. DPI (Resolution)

Effective DPI vs Output DPI

2. Compression

3. PDF Format

4. Font Embedding

5. Image Handling

6. Transparency Handling

7. Overprint Settings

Export Workflow

Recommended Export Process

File Size Optimization

Reducing File Size

File Size Guidelines

Multi-Page Export

Exporting Multiple Pages

Output Filename

Naming Your PDF

Export Presets (Pro)

Saving Export Settings

Troubleshooting Export

Export Checklist

Learn More