Prepare coaster artwork at final size in CMYK, extend edge-to-edge backgrounds into the required bleed, and keep small text, fine borders, QR codes, and critical logo details inside a safe area. Use vector logos where possible. Paper and white felt can take full-color artwork, while colored felt needs simpler files for laser engraving or cutting. Send the file with material, size, shape, quantity, and customization method so production can confirm exact tolerances before printing.
Match the artwork to the coaster material and production method
Paper and pure white felt support full-color artwork, while colored felt needs simpler artwork for laser engraving or laser cutting.
Choose the production route before polishing the layout. The same logo may need one file for print and a much simpler version for laser work. ZIVFY's current custom printed coasters range includes absorbent paper, pure white 3mm polyester felt, and colored 3mm polyester felt, so the material choice changes what the artwork has to do.
| Coaster route | Best artwork fit | Main file risk | Review needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper with full-color print | Logos, gradients, and detailed brand graphics | Small text, fine borders, edge detail, and QR codes may be too delicate at final size | Confirm size, shape, printed side or sides, CMYK setup, bleed, safe area, and proof route |
| Pure white 3mm polyester felt with full-color print | Full-color logos and graphics prepared for the actual felt surface | Very fine detail and small codes may lose clarity on the textured surface | Confirm final size, artwork detail, surface result, and proof or sample need |
| Colored 3mm polyester felt with laser engraving | Simple logos, outlines, and clear typography | Tonal shading and tiny details do not translate like full-color print | Confirm engraving feasibility, detail, placement, and finished size |
| Colored 3mm polyester felt with laser cutting | Simple outer shapes and sturdy internal cut paths | Fragile bridges, tiny cutouts, and unclear cut or engraving layers | Confirm cut paths, material, size, and structural feasibility |
The table is a routing aid, not a production specification. Paper and white felt can share a full-color direction, but they do not have the same surface. Colored felt is a different route again because the file must suit laser engraving or cutting.
Set up bleed, safe areas, small text and fine borders
Extend edge-to-edge backgrounds into the required bleed and keep critical details away from the cut edge, but do not publish one universal tolerance before the coaster type, size and production method are confirmed.
Bleed and safe area solve different problems. Bleed extends background color or an image beyond the finished edge so a slight cutting shift does not leave an unprinted strip. The safe area keeps logos, text, QR codes, and other details far enough inside the cut line to reduce the chance of clipping.
A fine border exposes cutting movement quickly. The narrower it is and the closer it sits to the edge, the more obvious a shift may look. If the border is part of the design, give it enough visual weight and space for the selected shape. ZIVFY should confirm the final treatment against the approved template.
Small text can look clean on a large monitor and still become weak on the finished coaster. Font weight, contrast, the printing or laser method, and the surface all matter. Prepare the layout at final size and submit it for review instead of relying on a universal minimum font size.
Can a QR code be printed on a custom coaster?
A QR code can be included in paper or suitable full-color coaster artwork, but scanability must be checked at final size and on the chosen surface before production.
Treat the QR code as a functional part of the layout. Keep its quiet area clear, use strong contrast, and judge it at the intended printed size rather than at a zoomed screen size. Decorative marks, text, or background patterns should not crowd the code.
A screen scan is not enough. Test a correctly sized proof or sample under the conditions in which the coaster will be used when the QR response matters to the campaign. White felt may reproduce full-color artwork, but its surface is not paper. Colored felt with laser work needs a separate feasibility check rather than the paper file being reused without review.
A file review alone cannot guarantee scanning. Final size, contrast, the chosen surface, the production result, and normal use conditions all affect performance.
Prepare files for paper and felt coaster review
Send a vector logo when available and separate any artwork needed for different sides or production methods.
AI, EPS, or PDF files are useful for production review when they contain clean vector artwork. Vector logos keep edges and curves clear when the artwork is resized. A JPG or PNG can still show the intended design, but ZIVFY may need a vector file before the job is ready for production.
Mark the front and back clearly if the paper coaster will be printed on both sides. Keep full-color print artwork separate from engraving artwork and cut paths. If one project uses more than one route, name the files so the intended material and method are obvious.
Set full-color artwork in CMYK and prepare it at the intended finished size. Where a file format, bleed setup, safe area, or vector layer is still unclear, use artwork support for custom printing before treating the upload as production-ready.
Use one artwork review checklist before requesting a quote
The review needs the file and the project specifications that determine how the file can be produced.
- Coaster type and material: absorbent paper, pure white 3mm polyester felt, or colored 3mm polyester felt
- Finished size and shape
- Quantity, plus single-sided or double-sided printing where applicable
- Full-color print, laser engraving, or laser-cut method
- Artwork file or reference, with front, back, engraving, and cut paths identified where needed
- Packing requirement and required timing
- Delivery country and contact details for the quote review
If one detail is undecided, label it as undecided. That is more useful than filling the brief with a guess that sends the artwork down the wrong production route.
Send the coaster artwork for production and quote review
Send the artwork together with the selected coaster specifications so ZIVFY can confirm the feasible route and quote.
Send coaster specifications for artwork and quote review. Include the artwork and the coaster type, material, size, shape, quantity, and customization method. Packing needs, delivery country, and required timing belong in the same request. ZIVFY can then review the file against the actual project instead of applying a generic tolerance.
If the file layers are not ready, start with artwork support for custom printing. It covers general file preparation, while the coaster quote review confirms the material and production route.
Frequently asked questions
Do paper coaster backgrounds need bleed?
Yes. An edge-to-edge background should extend into the bleed required by the approved coaster template. Keep text, logos, QR codes, and other critical details inside the safe area. The exact bleed and safe-area dimensions depend on the selected format and production review.
How small can text be on a printed coaster?
There is no reliable universal minimum for every coaster. Readability depends on the font, weight, contrast, finished size, surface, and production method. Submit the layout at final size so small text can be checked before production.
Can the same artwork be used for paper and felt coasters?
The same basic logo or layout may be adapted, but the production files may need to change. Paper and pure white felt can use full-color artwork after review. Colored felt usually needs a simpler file for laser engraving or cutting.
Should a QR code be tested before production?
Yes. Test it at final size on a suitable proof or sample, especially when scanning is central to the campaign. A successful scan from a monitor does not guarantee the same result on the selected coaster surface.