What File Formats Print Vendors Need From Custom Orders (and How to Generate Them Automatically)

Four files cover most custom-product print jobs: the production artwork with bleed, a vector cut line, the proof the customer approved, and a spec sheet for whoever makes the thing. Hand a vendor those four and the order runs. Miss one and somebody emails somebody.

This guide explains what each file is for, what goes wrong without it, and how Appify Custom Product Options generates the whole set automatically every time a customer saves a design.

File 1: Production artwork, full resolution, with bleed

The core file is the customer's design at production resolution. Screen images are built for pixels; print is built for physical size, which is why resolution is measured in DPI, dots per inch. 300 DPI is the common target for sharp print, and it is the default export resolution in Appify Custom Product Options.

Bleed is the second half of the file. It extends the artwork past the trim edge so that tiny shifts in cutting never leave an unprinted white sliver on the product. The app's print-ready export includes the bleed margin you configured on the artboard.

File 2: The cut line, as a vector

Die-cut stickers, kiss-cut sheets, and laser jobs are cut by a machine that follows a path. A picture of the shape is useless to it; the path has to be vector data, which is why the app exports the cut line as an SVG, a vector format.

In Appify Custom Product Options, the cut shape is a canvas binding: bind it to a shape option for rectangles, circles, ovals, rounded corners, or stars. Or set it to auto, and the editor traces the customer's uploaded artwork into a die-cut path by itself.

Enable the cut-line SVG export and the path is saved with every order. The die-cut export guide covers the setup.

File 3: The proof

The proof is the picture of what the customer approved, at the moment they approved it. It verifies the order and settles disputes before they start, and production gets a visual reference for free.

Appify Custom Product Options generates a proof image on every save, automatically. There is nothing to enable, and every saved design arrives with one.

File 4: The production spec

The quiet time-sink in custom orders is retyping: reading options off an order screen and re-entering them into production software. A production spec removes that step.

The app's production manifest is a placement document generated with each saved design: layer positions and sizes, every calculator choice the customer made, links to the cut files, and any production notes left in the designer. Fulfillment reads one document instead of reverse-engineering the order.

Where the files land: one link on the order

All four outputs, plus the editable design file, attach to the Shopify order through a single Design Files link. Staff open it from the order or from the app's Orders tab, and download the proof, print-ready artwork, cut-line SVG, and manifest from one page.

For two-sided products, front and back each get their own file set on the same page. The production output documentation lists every export.

A sticker order, end to end

1. The customer picks a size and quantity, uploads artwork, and chooses Die-cut. The auto-trace draws the cut path around their design while they watch.
2. They save. The app generates the proof, the print-ready PNG with bleed at 300 DPI, the cut-line SVG, and the manifest.
3. The order arrives with one Design Files link. Production downloads the print file and the cut path, and the job runs.

Nobody rebuilt the artwork, nobody drew a cut path by hand, and nobody asked the customer what they meant. The files the vendor needs existed the moment the customer clicked save.

Setup checklist

• Set your export DPI under the designer's export settings (300 is the default and the common print target).
• Turn on the print-ready PNG, cut-line SVG, and production manifest exports for products that need them. The proof is always on.
• Configure bleed and safe-zone guides on the artboard so customers design inside the lines.
• Enable low-resolution warnings, and set the recommended resolution to match your quality bar.
• Place one test order and open the Design Files link on it, so you see exactly what your vendor will see.

FAQ

What resolution should custom-product artwork be?

300 DPI at the printed size is the common target, and the default export in Appify Custom Product Options. You can set a different export DPI, and warn customers earlier than you export, for example warning at 200 DPI while exporting at 300.

What file does a die-cut or laser job need?

A vector cut path. Raster images cannot drive a cutter. The app exports the cut line as an SVG with each order, including auto-traced die-cut shapes.

Do customers see any of this complexity?

No. They design, they save, they buy. The proof, print file, cut line, and manifest are generated behind the scenes and attached to the order.

Can my team open the files without digging through line properties?

Yes. One Design Files link on the order opens everything, and the app's Orders tab lists customized orders with their files, searchable by order number, email, or name.

Is any of this a paid add-on?

No. The Product Designer and its production output are included in every plan, like every other feature.

If your products end up printed, cut, or engraved, the buying flow should end in files, not in follow-up emails. For the design side of the same flow, see why personalized sticker and apparel stores choose Appify Custom Product Options, and for the pricing side, how to price complex custom products on Shopify. If you are still choosing the tool for this job, the best Shopify apps for print-ready files, proofs, and production automation compares the field.