Preflight

Preflight is the automated check on a customer-supplied print file before it is committed to plate or press. Preflight tools verify resolution, fonts, colour space, bleed, ink coverage, and other production-critical attributes — flagging files that would cause problems on the press.

Also called: preflight check · PDF preflight · print file check · print-ready check · PitStop preflight

In depth

A typical preflight check covers: image resolution (usually 300dpi at final size for sharp print); embedded fonts (anything not embedded becomes a substitution risk); colour space (RGB images converted to CMYK with the right profile); overprint and transparency (flagged because they can render unexpectedly); bleed and trim marks (present and correct); total ink coverage (often capped around 280–300% to avoid set-off on the press); and PDF/X compliance.

Preflight tools range from desktop applications (Adobe Acrobat Pro, Enfocus PitStop) to RIP-integrated checks in prepress workflows (Heidelberg Prinect, Esko Automation Engine, Kodak Prinergy). The output is a report listing each issue, its severity, and — increasingly — an auto-fix suggestion.

Good preflight catches problems hours before a press run, when the customer can still supply a corrected file. Bad preflight (or no preflight) catches them on press, when the operator is stopped, the schedule is broken, and the makeready waste is paid for. For an SME shop, preflight is one of the highest-ROI tools to standardise on.

Common questions

Does PeakSpitz AIERP run preflight?+
Yes. PeakSpitz includes an automated preflight pipeline that runs against every customer-uploaded file: resolution, font embedding, colour space, bleed, ink coverage. The customer sees the result on their order portal; the operator sees a flagged status on the production queue.
Can I run preflight myself before I send a file?+
Acrobat Pro has a built-in preflight engine with the standard PDF/X profiles. For more advanced checks, PitStop is the de facto industry tool. PeakSpitz exposes the same checks in the customer portal so you can fix issues before submission.

Related terms

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