Reopen the export
Close the artwork application and inspect the actual PDF you intend to send. Confirm size, pages and visible content.
Before export
Print-ready means ready for this job.
A PDF can open correctly and still contain production risks. Finished size, bleed, image resolution, colour setup, fonts, page construction and finishing layers all need to match the product being ordered.
Requirements vary by printer and process. Use this as a disciplined final check, then follow the specification supplied for the actual job.
| Preflight area | What to inspect | Why it matters | Confirm with printer when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document setup | Finished size, orientation, page count and page boxes | Incorrect geometry changes the final format or forces scaling | The product folds, binds, cuts to shape or has mixed page sizes. |
| Bleed and safety | Bleed beyond trim plus space around critical content | Allows trimming tolerance without white edges or clipped information | Required bleed is not shown in the job specification. |
| Images | Effective resolution at the placed output size | Enlarged or low-resolution images can print soft or pixelated | Large-format viewing distance or unusual reproduction is involved. |
| Colour | CMYK or spot-colour intent, profiles, black builds and ink limits | Screen colour, process colour and special inks behave differently | Brand matching, rich black or spot colours are important. |
| Fonts and vectors | Embedded fonts, outlined exceptions and fine line weights | Avoids substitution, missing glyphs and fragile details | Variable fonts, small text or specialist scripts are used. |
| Finishing | Dielines, folds, perforations, white ink, foil and varnish layers | Production marks must be separate, named and positioned accurately | Any cutting or special finish is part of the job. |
One-page preflight
Check these ten items before sending artwork.
Use the boxes as a final handover check. The print button creates a clean copy that can also be saved as a PDF from your browser.
Do not treat a generic preset as the job specification.Ask the printer about bleed, PDF standard, colour profile, page setup and finishing layers for the actual product.