AI-Generated Artwork and Printing
Artwork generated by artificial intelligence (AI) can pose challenges for professional printing.
Most AI-generated images are created for digital use and do not meet the resolution, color, and file requirements for high-quality print production. Common issues that arise when printing AI-generated artwork include:
Low Resolution and Pixelation
Many AI tools generate images at relatively low resolutions, often around 72 DPI or in fixed pixel dimensions like 1024 × 1024. Artwork at these lower resolutions may look acceptable on a screen, but when scaled for print, the results can appear blurry or pixelated. For the best printed results, we require files to be either 300 DPI or vector.
RGB Color vs. CMYK Printing
AI-generated artwork is typically created in RGB color mode, which uses light to create the colors you see on screen, whereas commercial printing presses use CMYK inks, which use pigments to create color. Converting RGB artwork to CMYK can cause colors to appear duller, and the colors on the final print can shift slightly from what you see on screen, even after conversion. This can be especially noticeable when printing certain colors, such as some black, gray, and blue builds.
Missing Print Setup Elements
Since AI image generators cannot use our layout templates, they cannot account for the trim and bleed areas required for successful printing. Artwork that does not follow our template can result in misalignment, extra whitespace along one or more edges, and elements being cut off during trimming.
Lack of Vector Artwork
AI tools generally produce raster images rather than vector graphics. Raster images are made up of individual pixels. As you enlarge these images, the pixels become visible, and the edges of the artwork become blurry. Alternatively, vectors are made up of lines and shapes that are reconfigured each time you resize, so the image always looks crisp. For this reason, vectors are ideal for printing and are required for the mask files needed to produce elements like spot UV and foil.
Subtle Distortions and Errors
Small visual inconsistencies and errors that you may not notice right away on screen can become much more noticeable once printed at larger sizes or higher resolutions.
Copyright and Legal Considerations
Many AI models are trained using large datasets that include copyrighted material. Additionally, AI-generated content currently has limited copyright protection in the United States, which may present potential legal considerations for commercial use.
Primoprint Policy on AI-Generated Artwork
Primoprint strongly discourages the use of AI-generated artwork for print production. Our systems are not designed to work with AI-native formats, and the visual quality produced by AI tools does not always translate accurately to commercial printing. Additionally, while our File Processing Team reviews submitted files and will flag obvious technical concerns, they are not specifically trained to identify AI-related artwork issues. As a result, we cannot guarantee that AI-generated artwork will print as intended.
Should you choose to submit AI-generated artwork for your order, you will be responsible for correcting any issues that our Processing Team finds during their preflight review. If you’re unable to correct these issues on your end, our Design Team would be happy to review and provide a quote for Design Services.
By submitting AI-generated artwork, customers acknowledge that Primoprint cannot be held responsible for print results that differ from what appears on screen. We will not provide any reprints, refunds, or credits for orders that are printed with AI-generated artwork.