Artwork & prepress
Print-ready artwork: what to check before sending files
A file that looks correct on screen is not automatically ready for production. Final checks need to reflect the particular printed product.
Confirm the specification before exporting
Ask for the requirements first: finished size, bleed, safe margins, PDF format and colour handling. Exporting a print PDF requires checks for images, fonts and text that does not fit inside its frames.
Bleed extends a background beyond the final cutting edge. It is not the safety space for your logo or contact details. Confirm the required distances for the construction, especially for folded pieces, packaging and custom shapes.
Read the content as if you had received the finished item
Check phone numbers, email addresses, locations, dates and prices again. Test links and QR codes at the final size. Confirm the page sequence and remove placeholder text or internal comments from the artwork.
For multiple languages or versions, use clear filenames and one consolidated list. A filename such as final-new-2 does not explain which version belongs to each quantity. Include a brief note describing what changed when you send a replacement file.
Avoid guessing at image and colour corrections
Use original image files rather than screenshots whenever possible. Changing a resolution label alone cannot restore missing detail to a blurry photograph. Send the best source available and ask for it to be checked at its intended print size.
A bright screen is not, on its own, a reference for final printed colour. If a particular brand colour is critical, mention it at the start. Do not make blanket colour conversions or alter special production separations without instructions for the actual job.
Keep technical checking and content approval separate
A technical file check does not replace your confirmation that names, figures and wording are correct. Review the exact version intended for production before approving it, and consolidate amendments into one message.
If the layout needs design support, explain that before production begins. Keep editable files and supporting assets available where you hold the necessary usage rights. These general checks do not replace the requirements agreed for your project; ask before exporting again if the brief or construction changes.
These guides provide general information. Specifications, pricing and production timing are confirmed separately for each project.
Technical reference: Adobe — Print-ready PDF files