Troubleshooting & FAQ•1 min read
Exporting to PDF, PNG, or JPG
Why exported output sometimes differs from the on-screen preview, and how to check before exporting.
My design looks different when exported
Why this happens
The most common reasons for a difference between on-screen and exported output are:
- Font substitution — a font not installed on the system is substituted with a fallback font
- Colour profile — RGB on screen vs CMYK in print produces different colours
- Resolution — low-DPI images look sharp on screen (which displays at 72-96 PPI) but blurry in print (which requires 300 PPI)
- Missing fonts — some fonts cannot be embedded in PDF exports
Check before exporting
Open File -> Export preview to see the actual output at print resolution. Zoom to 100% to check for blurry images or missing fonts.
Fix font substitution
Install the fonts used in your project on your computer before exporting. Print Studio embeds fonts in PDF exports when available.
Fix colour mismatch
Export in CMYK colour mode if your print shop requires it. See the export panel's colour profile option.
Fix blurry images
Replace any image with an effective DPI below 150. See the Print quality guide for the full DPI explanation.