How to Order Custom Flyers Online in Canada

How to Order Custom Flyers Online in Canada

To order custom flyers online in Canada, upload your print-ready file or use a template, choose your size, paper, and quantity, approve the digital proof, and check out. First Press prints in Montreal and ships across Canada and the USA, so your flyers arrive without you leaving your desk.

Ordering print online used to mean guessing at specs and hoping the colors matched. That has changed. A good web-to-print shop walks you through each choice, flags file problems before printing, and shows you a digital proof so you know what you are getting.

What You Need Before You Order

Have your artwork, size, quantity, and paper preference ready before you start. If you only have a rough idea, templates and stock paper options let you move fast without a designer.

Here is the short checklist:

• Artwork: A print-ready PDF is ideal. High-resolution JPG or PNG files can work for simpler designs.
• Size: Know your flyer dimensions (common sizes below).
• Quantity: Print pricing drops per unit as quantity rises, so order for your real campaign, not just a handful.
• Sides: Single-sided (4/0) or double-sided (4/4).
• Finish: Uncoated, gloss, or matte, plus optional lamination.

If your file is not ready, that is fine. You can start with a template and adjust size and paper as you go.

Choosing Your Flyer Size

The most common flyer sizes in Canada are 8.5 x 11 inches (standard letter), 5.5 x 8.5 inches (half letter), and 4 x 6 inches (postcard-style handout). Your choice depends on how much content you have and how the flyer will be handed out or mailed.

Standard sizes and when to use them

• 8.5 x 11 in: Best for detailed offers, menus, event programs, and real estate sheets. Room for images and text.
• 5.5 x 8.5 in: A lighter, cheaper option for promos and rack displays. Easy to hand out.
• 4 x 6 in: Compact and mailable. Good for quick promos and door drops.
• 11 x 17 in: A larger sheet for detailed layouts or fold-down brochures.

If you are unsure, 8.5 x 11 is the safe default. It is easy to design for and familiar to your readers.

Picking the Right Paper

For most flyers, a 100 lb (about 148 GSM) gloss or matte text stock gives a professional feel without the cost of card stock. Heavier stocks feel more premium but raise the price per unit.

Text vs cover stock

• Text stock (roughly 100 to 130 GSM): Standard flyer weight. Flexible, easy to stack and distribute, cost-effective for large runs.
• Cover stock (roughly 200 GSM and up): Stiffer, more like a postcard or business card. Use it when you want the piece to feel substantial and survive handling.

Coating and finish

• Gloss: Makes colors pop and photos look sharp. Reflective, so it can be harder to read under bright light.
• Matte or silk: Softer look, easier to read, less glare. A good default for text-heavy flyers.
• Uncoated: Natural feel, writable with pen. Colors look slightly muted.

If your flyer has large dark areas or bold solid colors, add a laminate film. Heavy dark ink scuffs and shows fingerprints, and a laminate protects it. Matte laminate hides fingerprints best while keeping the surface smooth.

Setting Up Your File Correctly

Set up your file at the final trim size plus a 0.125 inch (1/8 in) bleed on all sides, keep important text 0.125 to 0.25 in inside the trim as a safe margin, and export at 300 DPI in CMYK. This prevents white edges after cutting and keeps text from being trimmed off.

The three things that cause most reprints

1. No bleed: If your background color or image runs to the edge, extend it past the trim line by 0.125 in. Without bleed, you risk thin white slivers along the edges.
2. Text too close to the edge: Cutting has a small tolerance. Keep text and logos at least 0.125 in inside the trim.
3. Low resolution: Images pulled from the web are often 72 DPI and will look pixelated in print. Aim for 300 DPI at final size.

Color also shifts between screen and print. Screens use RGB and glow, while print uses CMYK ink on paper. Bright RGB blues and greens can look duller in CMYK. Build your file in CMYK so what you see is closer to what prints. Your digital proof helps catch surprises before the run.

Why the Digital Proof Matters

A digital proof is a preview of your file as it will print, showing trim, bleed, and layout. Every First Press order includes one, and reviewing it carefully is your last chance to catch typos, cropping issues, and low-resolution images before printing.

When you get your proof, check these:

• Spelling, phone numbers, dates, and web addresses.
• Whether any text or logo sits too close to the trim.
• That images look crisp, not blurry.
• That your background bleeds fully to the edge.

A digital proof shows layout and content accurately. It is not a color-calibrated contract proof, so exact color matching cannot be guaranteed from a screen. If precise color is critical (a brand color, for example), mention it to your printer.

Choosing Quantity and Managing Cost

Per-unit cost drops as quantity rises because setup is a fixed part of every print run. Ordering 1,000 flyers is far cheaper per piece than ordering 100, so plan your run to match your campaign.

A few ways to keep costs reasonable:

• Order the full quantity you need in one run rather than reordering in small batches.
• Choose a standard size to avoid custom cutting.
• Use text stock instead of cover stock if the flyer does not need to feel heavy.
• Skip lamination unless you have heavy dark coverage or need durability.

Free ground shipping applies on orders over $200 within Canada and the USA, so a larger run can offset the shipping you would otherwise pay.

How Long Flyers Take to Print and Ship

Turnaround varies by job, quantity, and finishing options. Standard flyers on stock paper print faster than jobs with lamination or special sizes, and shipping time depends on your distance from Montreal.

To keep your timeline on track:

• Upload a print-ready file to avoid back-and-forth.
• Approve your digital proof promptly, since printing does not start until you sign off.
• Order early for dated events so shipping time is built in.

If you have a hard deadline, confirm the production and shipping estimate before you place the order.

FAQ

What file format is best for ordering flyers online?

A print-ready PDF with fonts embedded, 300 DPI, CMYK color, and 0.125 in bleed is best. It preserves your layout exactly. High-resolution JPG or PNG files can work for simple designs, but PDF is the most reliable.

Can I order flyers without a designer?

Yes. You can start from a template, adjust the text and images, and choose your size and paper. If you have a logo and a clear message, you can build a clean flyer without design software.

Do you ship flyers across Canada?

Yes. First Press prints in Montreal and ships across Canada and the USA. Ground shipping is free on orders over $200.

Should I choose gloss or matte for my flyers?

Gloss makes photos and colors look vivid, while matte is easier to read and reduces glare. For text-heavy flyers, matte is often the more comfortable choice. For image-driven promos, gloss stands out.

Will the printed colors match what I see on my screen?

Not exactly. Screens use glowing RGB light and print uses CMYK ink, so bright colors can shift and look slightly duller in print. Build your file in CMYK and review your digital proof to reduce surprises.

Do I need lamination on my flyers?

Only if your flyer has large dark or solid-color areas, or if it needs to survive heavy handling. Lamination protects dark ink from scuffing and fingerprints. Matte laminate hides fingerprints best. For light, text-based flyers, a standard coating is usually enough.