Tips

Preflight for printing

Preflight is essentially a checklist used to examine various aspects of a design file before sending it to a print shop or for lithography. The specific items on this checklist can vary depending on the type of printing or the final material.

The term "preflight" originates from the aviation industry. It refers to the checklist that pilots use to inspect an aircraft before takeoff, ensuring that everything is in order for a safe flight. Similarly, in the printing industry, a preflight checklist ensures that a design file is prepared correctly for printing.

  • Font Size: Ensuring fonts are legible and meet the required size.
  • Black Color: Verifying the specific black color code used (e.g., Rich Black).
  • Image Color Mode: Checking if images are in the correct color mode (e.g., CMYK).
  • Color Profiles: Ensuring consistent color profiles throughout the document and for output.
  • Output Profile: Selecting the appropriate color profile for the final output.
  • Bleed, Crop, and Fold Marks: Verifying the accuracy and placement of these marks.
  • Overprint and Trap: Checking for proper overprinting and trapping settings.
  • Ink Density: Ensuring ink densities meet industry standards (e.g., Total Area Coverage).
  • Black Ink Consistency: Verifying consistent black ink throughout text, fills, and strokes.
  • Image Links: Confirming that all linked images are present and correctly embedded.
  • Overset Text: Correcting any text that overflows its text box.
  • RGB Color Presence: Searching for any remaining RGB colors.

Preflight is like a final check before sending your design to be printed. It makes sure everything is set up correctly, so the printed piece looks exactly as you intended. This includes checking things like font sizes, colors, and image quality.

"Software like Acrobat Pro or Esko DeskPack can automate the preflight process and generate reports highlighting any issues found in the design file."