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Out of Scope

is a print version out of scope?

Yes — print and digital are different production targets with different technical requirements, so a print-ready version of a digital deliverable is new work. The exception is a contract that named both formats or sold a deliverable implying both.

Why this answer

Print and digital look similar on screen but are built for different physical realities. A digital file lives in RGB at screen resolution, sized in pixels, with no concern for ink, paper, or trimming. A print-ready file demands CMYK conversion (which shifts colors and often requires manual correction), high-resolution assets, bleed and trim marks, safe margins, and sometimes a specific format your printer requires. Converting cleanly between them isn't a checkbox — RGB colors don't always survive the move to CMYK, low-res images that looked fine on screen fall apart at print size, and the layout often needs adjustment for physical margins. A contract that scoped a digital deliverable covered the digital production target. Asking for print is asking you to re-engineer the file for a different medium, with its own technical work and its own risk of a costly bad print run if it's done carelessly.

When the answer flips

It flips to In Scope when your contract named both print and digital outputs, or sold a deliverable like 'brand collateral' or 'a flyer' that inherently implies print. It also flips if you designed in a print-ready setup from the start — CMYK, high resolution, with bleed — in which case exporting for print is close to trivial and reasonable to include. A digital asset already built at high resolution that the client wants for a simple home-printer document is sometimes a quick courtesy rather than full print prep. The real work, and the real Out-of-Scope case, is professional print production: color-managed CMYK, press-ready files, bleed and crop marks, and coordination with a commercial printer's specs.

What to do next

Distinguish a casual print from press-ready production: 'The project delivered digital files; preparing a true print-ready version — CMYK, high-res, with bleed and crop marks — is a separate deliverable.' Quote it as its own line item, factoring in color correction and a test proof if it's headed to a commercial printer. Ask which printer and what specs, because press requirements drive the work and prevent an expensive misprint. If the client only needs to print something casually at the office, a quick high-res PDF export may be a fair courtesy. In your next contract, state the output formats the project includes and note that print preparation is priced separately.

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Frequently asked questions

Why can't you just export the digital file for print?+

Because print and digital are built for different mediums. Digital files are RGB at screen resolution; print needs CMYK color, high-resolution assets, bleed, and trim marks. Converting isn't a one-click export — colors shift between RGB and CMYK, screen-resolution images can pixelate at print size, and the layout often needs margin adjustments. It's re-engineering the file for a different output, not just saving it differently.

How should I price a print-ready version?+

Price it as a separate deliverable, accounting for CMYK conversion, color correction, high-resolution asset prep, and bleed and trim setup. If it's going to a commercial printer, factor in a test proof and time to match the printer's specs. The fee reflects real production work plus the risk that a careless print file ruins an expensive print run.

What's the difference between a casual print and a press-ready file?+

A casual print is something run on an office or home printer from a standard PDF — often a reasonable quick courtesy. A press-ready file meets a commercial printer's requirements: color-managed CMYK, high resolution, bleed, crop marks, and the exact format the press needs. The second is real production work; the first usually isn't, and it's worth clarifying which the client actually needs.

The client thought print was obviously included. How do I respond?+

Acknowledge the assumption, then explain the technical reality: the project targeted digital output, and print is a different production process with its own requirements. Tell them you're glad to prepare a print-ready version as a separate deliverable, and ask which printer and specs. Framing it as a real, additional production task usually lands better than just citing the contract.

What if I already designed the file in CMYK at high resolution?+

Then exporting for print may be close to trivial, and it's reasonable to include or charge only a small amount. If you built with print in mind from the start — CMYK, high res, with bleed — much of the production work is already done. Be honest about that; the charge should reflect actual remaining effort, not a reflex full-rate add-on.

How do I avoid this confusion in the contract?+

State the output formats the project delivers — for example, digital RGB files at web resolution — and note that print preparation, with CMYK conversion and press-ready setup, is a separate priced deliverable. Naming the target medium upfront stops the common assumption that a digital design automatically comes with a print-ready twin.

Related reading

Answer scope creep from your actual contract — not a template.

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