Automation catches the obvious errors; human expertise catches the subtle ones. Our preflight process is a rigorous series of checks designed to ensure your file is technically sound before it ever hits a plate. We verify bleed, resolution, colour intent, and structural integrity.
The #1 Error: Missing Bleed
The 10-Point Preflight Checklist
- ✓ Bleed: 3mm extension on all sides.
- ✓ Safe Zone: Text 3mm inside trim.
- ✓ Resolution: Images at 300 DPI min.
- ✓ Colour Mode: CMYK (not RGB).
- ✓ Fonts: Embedded or outlined.
- ✓ Blacks: Rich Black vs Standard Black.
- ✓ Transparency: Flattened correctly.
- ✓ Overprint: Checked for accidental knockouts.
- ✓ Trim Marks: Included and accurate.
- ✓ Page Count: Multiples of 4 (for booklets).
Manual Intervention
Software can tell you if an image is low-res, but it can’t tell you if the logo is pixelated because it was upscaled in Photoshop. That’s why our prepress operators visually inspect every page. We look for layout shifts, font substitution errors, and "weird" colour conversions that automation might miss.
Proofing: The Final Gate
Once preflight is cleared, we generate a soft proof (PDF) or a hard copy contract proof. This is your final opportunity to catch typos or layout issues. We do not proceed to print without your explicit approval.
