Print-Ready PDF Preflight
PDF preflight check online
Find print problems before the printer does: low-resolution images, missing bleed, unembedded fonts. You get a list by page and a marked-up copy of your PDF.
Free: 3 jobs a day, up to 3 PDFs and 10 MB, no account needed Pro: up to 200 jobs a day, 10 PDFs and 128 MB per job, €12.99/month (see plans)
- 1No output intentThe PDF names no print color profile
- 2Image at 126 DPIPage 18 · your minimum is 150 DPI
- 3Bleed only 2 mmPages 4–7 · your printer asks for 3 mm
THREE STEPS
How the check works
- 01Upload your PDF
Up to 3 PDFs and 10 MB per job for free.
- 02Enter your printer's specs
Target and minimum image resolution in DPI and the bleed in millimetres, usually from the print shop's file guide.
- 03Download the report
Fix what is flagged in your layout program. Failed jobs are never counted.
Sample report · fictional data
What the report for a 64-page catalogue looks like
Profile entered: offset print, A4, 3 mm bleed, minimum image resolution 150 DPI. The check flagged 9 low-resolution images. Three of the findings:
- ErrorNo output intentWhole documentThe PDF does not name the color profile it was made for
- ErrorImage resolution too lowPage 18 · image Im42126 DPI measured · 150 DPI minimum
- WarningBleed too narrowPages 4–72 mm in the file · 3 mm required
What gets checked
- Page size and bleed whether the artwork runs far enough past the trim edge
- Fonts whether every font is embedded in the PDF
- Image resolution the effective DPI of each placed image
- Color spaces which color spaces the pages use
- Output intent whether the PDF names a print color profile
- Transparency which pages use it
What you download
- Report an HTML page with every finding by page
- Marked-up proof a PDF copy that shows where each problem sits
- Data files the same findings as CSV and JSON, for checklists or spreadsheets
What it does not do
- It does not change colors, images or any other part of your file.
- It is not a sign-off from your printer. Their own check, the paper and the press still decide the result.
Your PDF is deleted after processing. The report is kept for 24 hours, unfinished uploads for 2 hours. How files are handled
Questions
PDF preflight FAQ
What does the PDF preflight check look at?
Page boxes and bleed, embedded fonts, image resolution, color spaces, the output intent (the print color profile the PDF names) and transparency. Every page is checked against the values you enter.
Where do the limits come from?
From your print shop's specs. Before the run you enter a profile name, a target and a minimum image resolution and the bleed in millimetres, then confirm them. Each finding shows the value it was checked against. Without that confirmation the report lists measurements only and gives no print-ready verdict.
What does a typical problem look like?
A photo on a named page with a lower resolution than your minimum, bleed narrower than your printer asks for, or a PDF that names no print color profile.
Does the tool fix the file?
No. Nothing is converted or recolored. You receive a report plus a marked-up proof PDF that shows where each finding sits on the page, so you can fix it in your layout program.
Does a clean report mean the job will print fine?
No. The check covers what can be measured inside the PDF. Press conditions, paper and your printer's own preflight still decide the outcome.
Do I need an account?
No. You get 3 free jobs a day without an account, with up to 3 PDFs and 10 MB per job. Failed jobs are never counted. Pro allows up to 200 jobs a day.
Ready when you are
Check your print PDF before you send it.
3 free jobs a day, no account needed. Up to 200 a day with Pro.