Files uploaded to our Prinergy system will be preflighted and checked to ensure they match the manufacturing specifications for your print order and meet our recommendations for file preparation. The table below may be referenced when reading our preflight reports. It explains in detail what our standards are for each of the conditions we check in your files. The first three conditions include the manufacturing requirements for your print order. They must match or be within close tolerances in the case of trim size in order to pass preflight. The remainder of conditions are file checks we perform, some using automatic preflight software, and some we check via visual inspections.
Condition | Standards |
Trim Size matches job specifications | Trim size should match the job ticket or within 1/16” allowance. In some cases the job ticket will allow 1/8”. |
Number of Colors matches job specifications | The number of colors in files must match the number of press inks. |
Number of Pages matches job specifications | The number of pages in files must match expected pages on press for each text and component file. |
Acrobat blanks errored - missing resource dict | Add needed blank pages in application files. If using Acrobat to add blank pages be sure to use the ‘Save As’ method after a needed settings change. See instructions below this table for more details. |
Page Orientation Is Equal | All pages have to have the same orientation. |
Fonts | All fonts must be embedded or converted to outlines. |
RBG Color | Do not use RGB color. |
CalGray Color | Do not use calibrated gray color. |
CalRGB Color | Do not use calibrated RGB color. |
LAB Color | Do not use LAB color. |
ICC Based RGB Color | Do not use a combination of ICC profiles and RGB color. |
Tagged with ICC Profile | Do not use ICC profiles with text or artwork. |
Resolution of LW Images | Line work images should be 1200 dpi resolution but no less than 600 dpi. |
Resolution of CT Images | Contone images should be 300 dpi resolution. Anything less than 200 dpi will be marked as a caution. |
Type in 2 or More Separations | Type with multiple colors must be 8 points or greater. |
Reversed Type | Reversed type must be 8 points or greater. |
Rules in 2 or More Separations | Rules with 2 or more colors must be 1 point or greater. |
TAC Total Area Coverage (Caution) | The total value of all ink color percentages in any element should not exceed 300% for color printing. Greater than 340% is considered a failure. |
Safety Margin | To prevent type or image from trimming, no items may be placed closer than 1/4" inch to the trim. Bleed elements should extend into the page by 1/4" inch minimum. |
Application Files | Application files must be organized logically and include all supporting images and fonts. |
Files Naming and Folder Organization | Pages may fall out of order if not properly named. We have quality checks in place but cannot guarantee we will catch every incident. Avoid using these illegal characters: ! , * [ ] \ = / ) ( |
Pagination | Files must contain all pages in proper order as defined by the job ticket pagination. It is a failure when detected |
Pages Setup in Spreads | Avoid printing pages in inconsistent orientations, as spreads or using different page setup options for each file. |
Meets NASTA Specs | Images and text in sidesewn books must have a minimum of 3/4“ for the back margin, 3/8” for the head margin, 1/2” for the front margin, and 5/8“ for the foot margin. Adhesive, Smyth sewn and saddle stitch books must have a minimum of 5/8” for the back margin, 3/8“ for the head margin, 1/2” for the front margin, and 5/8“ for the foot margin. |
Non Printing Elements | Any non-printing items must be placed 1/4” or more outside trim. |
Key Identifiers | All key identifiers, keyline, country of origin, printer and ISBN must be typeset correctly. |
Bleed | Bleeds should extend 3/16” past trim. Minimum standard is 1/8" past trim. Mechanical, PUR and Lay Flat bind titles must bleed on four sides. |
Spread Holdback | Spread elements that cross-over should be pulled back to avoid loss of critical text or image that must print in the book. The amount of pull back depends on binding styles and print plant. Ask your CSR for this information. |
Gutter Margin | 1” for side-sewn and side-stitched. 5/8” for Smyth, perf-notch, adhesive-bind. 3/4” inch for mechanical binding. |
Mechanical Drill and Performance Clearance | 3/4" margin from text to final back/gutter trim. Consult with CSR if distance is less to determine the minimum acceptable margin. Minimum clearance from drill hole to the final trim or perforation to the final trim is 1/4". Minimum clearance from drill hole or perforation to text is 1/8". 1/4" is recommended. |
Backup | Whenever backup is intended, pages must be designed to accurately backup intended elements. |
4/c Black Halftones | This is an illustration that appears to be black and white but uses additional process colors to add richness and density. Correct build is full range black and CMY starting around 25-30% of the black at 1% CMY and peaking at 20% maximum CMY. |
Black and White Halftones | 2-3% highlight, 5% crop, 92-96% shadow, linear tones between highlight and shadow. |
4/c Repeating Tints | Tint builds need to be at least 4% min per separation. Repeating tints in CMYK should be built with 2 colors and no more than 3 colors. Four color tints that repeat will show slight to moderate color variation throughout the book depending on tint build and value of the tints. |
Overprints | Files should be built to achieve proper overprint or knockout of elements as intended by the designer. Please view the PDF with Overprint Preview turned on. |
Multicolor Neutral Tints | Tints made up of three colors C-M-Y that attempt to produce a gray color. Cyan is the dominant color, magenta is secondary, and all colors are within 20% of one another. Using multiple colors to produce gray will result in the gray taking on different shades of color throughout the run. We recommend creating a gray color by using black as the dominant color. |
When adding blanks to your PDF using Acrobat, you must set up and use Acrobat in a specific way or your files could generate an error.
Set Acrobat settings. In Windows, go to the Edit menu > Preferences > General. On a Mac, go to the Acrobat menu > Settings > General. Select the Documents category, turn on the setting 'Save As optimizes for Fast Web View' then click Save. Add blanks using Acrobat.
Go to the Acrobat File menu and select 'Save As', then send that ‘saved as’ file to us.