Print-ready menu files for Dubai print shops
ملفات جاهزة للطباعة بمقاسات دقيقة
Most menu reprints go wrong for the same three reasons: the file was the wrong size, nothing was left to trim into, or the fonts moved on someone else's machine. Here is exactly what to send, and what to ask for.
What the printer actually needs
| Requirement | What QaiMa exports |
|---|---|
| Trim size | Exact millimetres for the chosen format, declared as the PDF TrimBox — not a scaled approximation |
| Bleed | Optional 3 mm on all four sides, artwork extended into it and declared as the BleedBox |
| Crop marks | Corner marks offset from the trim so they do not print inside the card |
| Fold marks | Dashed marks outside the trim on multi-panel formats |
| Fonts | Converted to outlines in the press files, so nothing can substitute at the press; the RGB proofing PDF keeps live, searchable text |
| Colour | CMYK with a FOGRA39 output intent, as PDF/X-1a:2003 — see the note on colour below |
Sizes and what they are for
| Format | Trim | With 3 mm bleed | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 216 × 303 mm | Main dine-in menu |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | 154 × 216 mm | Café menu, bound booklet |
| DL | 99 × 210 mm | 105 × 216 mm | Drinks list, table talker |
| Square | 210 × 210 mm | 216 × 216 mm | Brunch, tasting menu |
| Trifold | 297 × 210 mm | 303 × 216 mm | Takeaway, delivery, room service |
Exporting the file
- Open the print view. From the editor, choose Export print PDF. The menu is laid out at true paper size, one sheet per page.
- Turn on bleed and crop marks if anything runs to the edge. The sheet grows by 3 mm on each side and the marks appear outside the trim.
- Add the allergen guide if you want it — a compliance page is generated from the dietary tags already on your dishes.
- Download the press file. Choose PDF/X-1a · CMYK. It is rendered on our server at true paper size, so there is no print dialog to get wrong. Beside it sit a plain CMYK PDF, an RGB PDF with live text for proofing, and 300 dpi PNG artwork for shops that ask for an image instead.
On colour. The press file is already CMYK, separated to the FOGRA39 coated condition and carrying that output intent inside the PDF. Deep greens, rich golds and near-blacks are exactly the colours that shift when a file is converted a second time, so ask the shop to print it as supplied rather than running their standard RGB-to-CMYK step. A printed proof is still worth asking for if the brand colour matters.
Briefing the print shop
Send the PDF and tell them, in one message:
- The finished flat size and, for the trifold, that it is a roll fold.
- Whether the file includes bleed and crop marks.
- That the file is already PDF/X-1a in CMYK with a FOGRA39 output intent, and needs no further colour conversion.
- Stock and finish — for example “350 gsm matt laminated both sides”.
- Quantity, and that you want a proof before the full run.
Printing questions
What file should I send the printer?
The PDF/X-1a download from the print view, with bleed and crop marks switched on if any artwork runs to the edge. It is rendered on our server rather than by your browser's print dialog, so the paper size, the margins and the background inks are fixed before the file exists — a dark template cannot come out as white paper.
Is the file CMYK?
Yes. The PDF/X-1a export is CMYK with a FOGRA39 output intent — the coated-stock condition Gulf print shops work to — so it should be printed as supplied rather than run through their own RGB conversion. Alongside it you can download a plain CMYK PDF with the same colour and boxes, an RGB PDF with live text for emailing a proof around, and 300 dpi PNG artwork. Ask for a printed proof before a long run all the same.
Do I need bleed?
If any colour, artwork or background runs to the edge of the card, yes — switch on the 3 mm bleed so the trim has something to cut into. If your design sits on white paper with a clear margin all round, you can print without it.
What paper should I ask for?
For dine-in menus handled all evening, a 300–350 gsm board with a matt or soft-touch lamination survives fingerprints and spills far better than uncoated stock. For takeaway trifolds, 170 gsm is usually enough. Ask for lamination on both sides if the menu will be wiped down.
How does the trifold need to be folded?
Roll fold, not concertina. The export imposes the panels for roll folding already: the outside sheet carries the tuck-in flap, back cover and front cover, and the inside sheet carries the three inside panels in reading order. Tell the printer it is a roll fold and hand them the file as-is.
Can I print it myself?
For a few counter cards, yes — the same PDF prints on an office machine, though colour will not match a press and heavy stock may not feed. For anything guests will hold every night, a print shop on proper board is worth the difference.
Related: designing the menu in the first place and getting the Arabic side right before it goes to press.
Build the menu, export it at exact size, and hand the PDF straight to your printer.