Blog

Convert BMP artwork for a print shop

Convert old BMP artwork to a format your print shop accepts, then check pixel dimensions, sharpness, and color requirements before sending it.

Emily ParkerTools and utilities Tools 5 min read

You have an old BMP image and need to send it to a print shop. The shop may ask for PNG, TIFF, or JPG, but changing the file type alone does not make artwork print-ready. The right format depends on what the shop accepts and whether the image contains photos, text, or sharp graphic edges.

Use the Image Converter to make a copy in a supported format, then check the image dimensions and ask the shop about color and layout requirements before sending it.

Convert the BMP file

  1. Open the Image Converter and choose your BMP artwork. The tool can convert up to 50 images at once.
  2. Ask the print shop which file formats it accepts. Choose PNG for crisp artwork with text or flat colors, TIFF if the shop requests it, or JPG if the image is mainly a photograph and the shop accepts JPG.
  3. Convert the file to the format you chose and save the converted copy. Keep the original BMP unchanged in case you need to try a different format.
  4. Open the converted image and inspect it at a useful zoom level. Check small text, thin lines, edges, and important details against the original.
  5. Before sending it, confirm the pixel dimensions, intended printed size, color requirements, and any bleed or margin instructions with the shop.

The conversion runs in your browser. Files you open stay on your device. For a general guide to converting BMP images, see how to convert BMP files to PNG.

Choose a format that fits the artwork

PNG for text and clean edges

PNG is usually a practical choice for logos, diagrams, labels, and artwork with solid color areas. It uses lossless compression, which means it does not add the blocky artifacts associated with repeated JPG saving. Some print shops accept PNG, while others require a different format, so check first.

TIFF when the shop asks for it

TIFF is commonly used in print workflows, but shops can have specific requirements for TIFF files. Ask whether they accept your image dimensions and color mode, and whether they need a particular TIFF setup. Converting a BMP to TIFF does not automatically add bleed, convert color to the shop's preferred profile, or improve the image's detail.

JPG for photographic artwork

JPG can work well for photos and can produce a smaller file. It uses lossy compression, which discards some image information. That can make text edges, thin lines, and flat color boundaries look rough, especially if the artwork has already been saved as JPG before. Avoid choosing JPG just to make a file smaller unless the shop accepts it and the image still looks clean.

Keep the BMP if the shop accepts it

Some shops may accept the original BMP, but BMP files are often larger than compressed alternatives. Ask before converting if you are unsure. A different extension does not guarantee that the file matches a shop's workflow.

Fix common problems before you send it

  1. Check the shop's file instructions first. Confirm the accepted format, color mode, printed dimensions, resolution, and whether the shop needs bleed. These requirements can differ between shops and print jobs.
  2. Check pixel dimensions against the print size. A raster image is made of pixels. If a file is 2400 pixels wide and will print 8 inches wide, that works out to 300 pixels per inch at that size. This is a useful example, not a universal requirement. Follow the shop's stated resolution, especially for large posters or small detailed artwork.
  3. Do not expect conversion to sharpen a small image. Changing BMP to PNG, TIFF, or JPG changes the file format, not the amount of original detail. Enlarging a small image can make edges look soft or blocky. If the file is too small, look for a higher-resolution original or ask the shop whether it can be printed at a smaller size.
  4. Ask about color before changing anything. A shop may accept RGB artwork and handle the print conversion, or it may request a specific CMYK profile. The Image Converter changes image formats, but do not assume that a format conversion also changes color mode or guarantees a color match. Ask the shop what it needs.
  5. Prepare bleed in the original layout. Bleed is extra artwork extending past the final cut edge, which helps prevent a thin white border if trimming shifts slightly. A file conversion does not add bleed. If the design reaches the edge of the page, ask the shop for its bleed amount and prepare the layout in the original design file.
  6. Use the source artwork if text or lines look poor. Old BMP files are raster images, so text and shapes may already be softened or jagged. If you can find the original design file or a vector version, use that instead of trying to restore detail by converting the BMP.

Check the finished file at its intended size

A picture can look sharp when viewed small on a screen but reveal rough edges when enlarged for print. Compare the converted image with the BMP at the same zoom level, then check a crop of the smallest text and finest lines. Also verify that the saved file has the dimensions you expect. If the shop has a proofing process, ask to review a proof before approving the full print run.

Send the shop the converted copy, along with its intended print size and any instructions it requested, and keep the original file as your backup.

More articles