Print Specifications
Ad Sizes & Dimensions
| Placement | Trim Size (mm) | Bleed Size (mm) | Safe Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Page | 365 × 250 | 371 × 256 (+3mm all sides) | 5mm inside trim |
| Half Page | 175 × 250 | 181 × 256 (+3mm all sides) | 5mm inside trim |
| Quarter Page | 175 × 125 | 181 × 131 (+3mm all sides) | 5mm inside trim |
| Print Takeover (4-page wrap) | 365 × 250 per page | 371 × 256 (+3mm all sides) | 5mm inside trim |
| Insert | Supplied pre-printed | N/A | N/A |
Bleed: All background images and colours must extend 3mm beyond the trim edge. Keep all critical content (text, logos) at least 5mm inside the trim edge to avoid being cut off.
Print Technical Requirements
Colour Mode
CMYK only. RGB and Pantone colours must be converted to CMYK before submission.
Resolution
Minimum 300 DPI at final print size. Low-resolution files will be rejected.
File Format
PDF/X-1a preferred. High-res TIFF or EPS also accepted. JPEG at 300 DPI minimum.
Fonts
All fonts must be embedded or outlined. Missing fonts will cause text reflow.
Black Text
Use 100% K only for black text. Do not use rich black for small text or fine detail.
Rich Black (large areas)
Recommended: C40 M30 Y30 K100. Total ink coverage must not exceed 300%.
Transparency
Flatten all transparency before submission. Live transparency can cause output errors.
Ink Density
Total ink coverage (sum of C+M+Y+K values) must not exceed 300%.
Digital Specifications
Ad Sizes & Placements
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Retina / HiDPI (2×) | Position | Device |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Banner | 320 × 100 | 640 × 200 | Top & bottom of pages | Mobile |
| Mobile Rectangle | 336 × 180 | 672 × 360 | Mid-article | Mobile |
| Desktop Sidebar | 160 × 600 | 320 × 1200 | Sidebar — full browse session | Desktop |
| Desktop Rectangle | 300 × 250 | 600 × 500 | High-traffic pages | Desktop |
Digital Technical Requirements
Colour Mode
RGB only. Do not submit CMYK files for digital placements.
Resolution
72 DPI at display size. For retina screens supply artwork at 2× dimensions (144 DPI).
File Format
PNG preferred (lossless). JPEG accepted for photography. GIF or MP4 for animation.
Transparency
PNG transparency supported. Use PNG (not JPEG) for ads with transparent backgrounds.
Safe Zone
Keep all critical content at least 5px inside the ad boundary to avoid clipping.
Click-through URL
A valid destination URL must be supplied with all creative submissions.
Advertising Rates
Print
| Placement | 1 Edition | 2+ Editions | 3+ Editions | GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Page | $1,500 | $1,200 | $950 | Ex GST |
| Half Page | $900 | $700 | $600 | Ex GST |
| Quarter Page | $500 | $450 | $400 | Ex GST |
| Print Takeover (4-page wrap) | $3,000 | — | — | Inc GST |
| Inserts | $330 | — | — | Inc GST |
Digital
| Placement | Per Month | 3+ Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Banner (320×100) | $350 | $250 | Top & bottom of article pages |
| Mobile Rectangle (336×180) | $250 | $180 | Mid-article placement |
| Desktop Sidebar — Homepage (160×600) | $300 | — | Visible throughout browse session |
| Desktop Sidebar — Inside Pages (160×600) | $200 | — | Visible throughout browse session |
| Desktop Rectangle (300×250) | $250 | $180 | High-traffic pages |
Creative Design Services
Don't have artwork ready? No problem. Our team can design your ad creative to spec, ensuring it looks great across all placements.
- Available for all digital and print formats
- Competitively priced per placement or as part of a package — contact us for a quote
- Fast turnaround to get your campaign live sooner
- Supplied files will be optimised and checked against our technical specifications before going live
Release Schedule & Deadlines
Print
3rd Friday of each month — all artwork must be received by 5:00pm AEST
Digital
48 hours between artwork submission and ad going live
Creating Your Ad in Canva
Canva is a free online design tool that makes it easy to create professional ads without any design experience. Here's how to get started for both print and digital.
Print Ads
Canva can export high-quality files suitable for print, but there are a few important settings to get right before you start.
-
Create a custom sizeGo to canva.com, click "Create a design" then "Custom size". Enter your ad dimensions in millimetres — for example 365mm wide x 250mm tall for a full page. Make sure you are working in mm not px.
-
Add bleed to your canvasAdd 3mm to each side of your dimensions when setting up the canvas (e.g. 371mm x 256mm for a full page). Design your background colours and images to fill the entire canvas including this extra 3mm. Your text and logos should sit at least 5mm inside the original trim size.
-
Set your colours to CMYKCanva works in RGB by default, but print requires CMYK. When choosing colours, look up the CMYK equivalent of your brand colours and enter them manually using the hex or RGB values that most closely match. Note that colours may look slightly different when printed — always request a proof if colour accuracy is critical.
-
Use high resolution imagesAny photos or images you use should be high quality. Avoid screenshots or images downloaded from websites as these are typically low resolution and will appear blurry when printed. Canva's built-in photo library is generally suitable for print use.
-
Export as PDF (Print)When your design is ready, click Share, then Download, and select "PDF Print" as the file type. Make sure "Crop marks and bleed" is ticked. This gives us the file we need to send to the printer.
Tip: Canva Pro includes a CMYK PDF export option which gives more accurate colour output for print. The free version's PDF Print export is generally acceptable for most ads.
Digital Ads
Digital ads are much more straightforward to set up in Canva. The key is getting the dimensions right for the placement you have booked.
-
Create a custom size in pixelsClick "Create a design" then "Custom size". Select px (pixels) and enter the exact dimensions for your placement — for example 320px wide x 100px tall for a Mobile Banner. Refer to the Digital Specifications table above for all sizes.
-
Design for small screensKeep your message short and your text large enough to read on a phone screen. A clear headline, your logo, and a single call to action (e.g. "Visit us today" or "Call now") is usually enough. Avoid cramming too much information into a small space.
-
Keep important content away from the edgesLeave at least 5px of clear space around the inside edge of your design so nothing gets clipped when the ad is displayed on different devices.
-
Export as PNGClick Share, then Download, and choose PNG as the file type. PNG gives the best quality for logos and graphics. If your ad is a photograph with no text overlay, JPEG is also fine.
-
Supply at 2x size for sharper results (optional but recommended)For crisper results on modern phones and retina screens, design your ad at double the dimensions (e.g. 640px x 200px for a Mobile Banner) and export at that size. We will scale it down correctly when it goes live.
Tip: Once you have designed one ad size, you can use Canva's "Resize" feature (Pro) to quickly adapt it to other placements. If you're on the free plan, duplicate the design and manually adjust the canvas size and layout.