Pre-Flight and Print Production Quality Checklist

What a good one includes

• A clear verification step to ensure all artwork is set to CMYK or designated Pantone spot colors rather than digital RGB profiles.
• Precise dimensional checks for minimum bleed areas, typically 0.125 inches, and safe zones to prevent critical text from being trimmed.
• A resolution audit ensuring all embedded raster images meet the minimum 300 DPI threshold for crisp physical reproduction.
• A typography check to confirm all fonts are either fully embedded in the PDF or converted to vector outlines to prevent rendering errors.
• A total ink coverage threshold verification to prevent wet ink smudging and paper warping on the printing press.
• Step-by-step instructions for exporting files to universally accepted PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 industry standards.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Trusting the digital screen's vibrant display without checking the actual CMYK color values or requesting a physical, calibrated color proof.
• Forgetting to extend background images and solid colors all the way to the outer bleed line, resulting in thin white edges after cutting.
• Submitting files with active, un-outlined fonts that can break or default to standard system fonts when opened on the printer's prepress workstation.
• Overlooking low-resolution web assets that were mistakenly pulled into high-quality print layouts.

Frequently asked questions