Abstract Rules for geometric design and compensation aim to guarantee that layout representations match final printed patterns within an accepted tolerance for a desired process yield. The more conservative the rules, the better the yield. Therefore, for a given process and after an experimental extraction of the required process parameters, it is possible to derive minimum design rules that characterize the technological process to a point where, without necessarily having an in-depth knowledge of the process and materials involved; design engineers can address physical design in order to develop devices and systems. In this article, a methodology for the extraction and characterization of inkjet geometric design rules and the application of compensation techniques to permit the inkjet manufacturing of reliable and precise designs is proposed as a first step towards separating design from digital fabrication, in a similar way to what has already occurred in silicon microelectronics technology.