1. While Adobe’s Creative Suite remains the go-to for professional designers, its high cost and steep learning curve can be daunting — especially for startups, small businesses, or those on a tight budget.

    At Fast Print UK, we believe great design should be accessible to everyone. Whether you’re creating business cards, flyers, posters, or banners, you can still produce professional-quality artwork — without spending a penny on software.

    Here are our top free design tools and expert tips to help you prepare print-ready artwork like a pro.

    1. GIMP — Powerful & Professional (Without the Price Tag)

    If you’ve searched for free design software, GIMP is probably top of the list — and for good reason.
    This open-source software is ideal for photo editing, illustration, and layout design, giving you access to advanced features like layers, masks, and brushes — all free.

    Fast Print Tip:
    When setting up your GIMP document, work in millimetres and add 6mm total bleed (3mm each side). This ensures your artwork prints edge-to-edge with no unwanted white borders.

    How to Prepare GIMP Files for Print

    • Set your document size manually in mm and add 6mm to both width and height.
    • Extend your artwork to the bleed edge and keep text 3–5mm inside the trim area.
    • Export as a PDF: File > Export > PDF, tick Apply Layer Masks Before Saving, and click Export.

    2. Canva — The Easiest Way to Design Online

    Canva is one of the most popular design tools for good reason. It’s browser-based, beginner-friendly, and packed with professional templates for flyers, business cards, posters, and invitations.
    You can easily customise fonts, images, and layouts to suit your brand — no design skills required.

    Fast Print Tip:
    Use your brand colours (like our Fast Print UK palette: #151c2e, #4173ee, #f6f9fb, #171c29) to ensure your print materials look consistent and professional.

    How to Prepare Canva Files for Print

    • Choose Custom Dimensions, switch to millimetres (mm), and add 6mm bleed.
    • Extend your design to cover the bleed area.
    • Download as PDF Print and tick Crop Marks and Bleed before exporting.

    3. Krita — For Illustrators and Digital Artists

    If your focus is on art, illustration, or digital painting, Krita is an excellent free tool.
    It’s built for artists, offering hundreds of brushes, textures, and effects. While Krita doesn’t directly export PDFs, you can still make your designs print-ready in a few steps.

    How to Prepare Krita Files for Print

    • Export your design as a high-resolution PNG or TIFF.
    • Import the file into GIMP or Canva to add bleed and export as a print-ready PDF.

    4. Gravit Designer — Sleek, Versatile, and Vector-Based

    Gravit Designer is ideal for creating logos, posters, and marketing materials. It runs in your browser or as a desktop app and supports all standard paper sizes (A0–A10).

    How to Prepare Gravit Files for Print

    • In the Inspector tab, add 6mm bleed (not visible on canvas, but included in export).
    • Export your artwork as a PDF via File > Export.
    • If using the free version, save regularly, as autosave is a paid feature.

    Final Tips from Fast Print UK

    Getting your artwork print-ready is simpler than it seems. Just remember:

    • Add 6mm bleed (3mm per side).
    • Keep text and logos 3–5mm from the trim edge.
    • Export your final file as a high-resolution PDF with crop marks and bleed.

    Need help checking your artwork before sending it to print?
    Our expert team is happy to help — just email info@fastprintuk.com.