THE SHORT ANSWER
Agree the final size with your printer and designer before work begins. A3 is 297 × 420 mm and A2 is 420 × 594 mm, before any bleed. Printed artwork usually needs a printer-approved PDF; a WhatsApp version needs a separate image export that reads clearly on a phone. There is no single file specification suitable for every print supplier or digital placement.
A3, A2 or a digital version?
| Output | Dimensions | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| A3 portrait | 297 × 420 mm | Paper, bleed and print quantity |
| A2 portrait | 420 × 594 mm | Paper, bleed and print quantity |
| Digital portrait | For example, 1080 × 1350 pixels | Destination and any cropping |
| Digital full-height version | For example, 1080 × 1920 pixels | Safe space around interface controls |
The digital dimensions are briefing examples, not a requirement imposed by WhatsApp. Ask for the format that suits the actual placement. Landscape print work swaps the width and height. A change in shape can require a layout adjustment rather than a simple export.
What is bleed, and why does the printer ask for it?
Bleed extends artwork beyond the final trim edge so cutting does not leave an unintended white sliver. Adobe notes that 3 mm is a common setting, while some printers require more. Use your printer’s specification rather than assume that every file needs identical settings.
Bleed is different from the safe area inside the page. Keep essential text and logos away from the cutting edge. Ask whether the supplier wants crop marks and which PDF preset it accepts. Do not add marks to a digital image simply because they appear in the print export.
Will a WhatsApp photograph be clear enough for print?
Ask for the original photograph whenever possible. A forwarded or compressed image may have fewer pixels than the source, and enlarging it cannot recover detail that has already been lost. The designer should check the image at its intended size in the actual layout.
Adobe’s print-resolution guidance uses 300 pixels per inch as a standard for close-viewed prints and notes that larger formats viewed from farther away may use lower resolution. The printer’s requirements and the actual artwork still decide whether an image is suitable. A filename containing “HD” is not evidence of image quality.
Keep approved logo files separate from the photograph. A logo copied from a screenshot can have fuzzy edges, a background you did not want or incorrect proportions. Supply an original vector file where available.
Request a print file and a sharing file
The print version should retain the agreed page size, image quality, fonts and output settings. The phone version should use the agreed pixel dimensions and display important supplied details clearly at normal screen size. Open both exported files rather than approve only a small preview inside the design app.
Ask for a clearly named final file for each purpose. Keep the print PDF for the print supplier and the digital image for sharing. Printing a phone preview or posting a print proof with crop marks creates avoidable confusion.
If a QR code is part of the approved artwork, test the exported file with a phone. Confirm its destination with the content owner before approval. A code that worked in the working document still needs checking after export.
What should you check before production?
Read the supplied names, dates and contact details. Confirm the correct approved portrait and logos. Check that no internal comments, hidden objects or older text appear in the export. Match the PDF page size to the job specification and ask the printer about a proof before a large run.
Record one approved master and a version date. When a detail changes, update every output affected by it and clearly retire the old file. This applies whether the artwork is a poster, brochure or the short version of a larger publication.
Sage serves Nairobi and clients across Kenya remotely. Send your printer’s specification with the brief so the design and production requirements are agreed together.
For a quotation, use Sage’s political campaign poster design service in Nairobi and Kenya. Start with the materials, quantities of designs and deadline. An enquiry is free; the scope and final price are agreed before work begins.
A few more questions
Is A3 twice as wide as A4?
No. A3 has twice the area of A4. Its dimensions are 297 × 420 mm; the proportions and layout still need checking when adapting artwork.
Can I print the image saved from WhatsApp?
Use the approved print master when possible. A saved chat image may have been compressed or resized and may not contain the required bleed or colour settings.
Do you supply printed campaign posters?
Sage’s core service is artwork and publication design. Physical printing and delivery are separate unless specifically arranged in your written scope.
Sources & further reading
- Adobe: Set a print bleed
Primary explanation of bleed and checking the print provider’s settings.
- Adobe Photoshop: Resolution specifications for printing images
Primary guidance on resolution and viewing distance.
Sources reviewed 27 October 2026. Practical recommendations and examples are Sage Design Lab editorial guidance.
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