AI is a fantastic tool… but it isn’t a graphic designer.
We use AI ourselves from time to time. It’s great for brainstorming concepts, exploring ideas, or texting your mother-in-law, avoiding all those landmines along the way.
But lately, we’re seeing more and more customers send through AI-generated artwork and assume it’s ready for print.
Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case.
As printers, we need specific file types, resolutions, colour profiles, bleed settings, vector artwork, and all the technical bits that make sure your finished product actually looks good when it comes off the press.
That stunning AI-generated flyer with glowing neon text, metallic shimmer effects, floating 3D elements and impossible lighting? It might look amazing on a screen, but it often can’t be reproduced in print the way you see it online.
Think of AI artwork like a concept car at a motor show. It looks incredible, but someone still has to engineer it before it can drive down the road.
And while AI-generated designs were once a novelty, audiences are starting to spot them instantly. One comment we recently saw said:
“If your birthday party invitation is an AI image, I’m not coming.”
The reality is that people connect with authentic, thoughtful design. AI can help get you started, but good design still requires human experience, technical know-how, and an understanding of how things work in the real world.
We’ve spent almost 30 years designing for print, signage, promotional products and marketing materials. AI is another tool in the toolbox, but it’s not a replacement for knowing how to turn an idea into something that actually works.