devotionn Print Production
Printer/vendor requirements override generic guidance.
Procedure
- Read the printer's supplied specification, dieline, ICC/profile, binding method, stock, finishing notes, and export standard when available.
- Verify actual trim/artboard size, bleed, safe area, page count/order, and binding/spine assumptions against those requirements.
- Inspect placed image effective resolution at final size. Treat 300 ppi as a common reference for many print jobs, not a universal pass rule.
- Check color mode/profile, spot colors, black text and rich-black usage, transparency, overprint, total-ink concerns, gradients, and effects as relevant to the print process.
- Check fonts, embedding/outlining policy, missing links, raster/vector suitability, QR/barcode size/contrast, and dieline/finishing layers.
- Check finishing risks: foil, spot UV, emboss/deboss, white ink, varnish, die cut, folds, creep, spine, lamination, trapping, and registration where relevant.
- Export only to the known vendor standard. If PDF/X or another standard is not specified, do not invent a mandatory profile.
- Record each preflight item as verified, not verified, or vendor decision. Never turn unavailable checks into PASS.
Deliverables
Preflight checklist, blocking issues, export settings actually used or recommended, vendor questions, and handoff status.
Failure conditions
Do not call a file print-ready solely because it is CMYK or high resolution. Do not override the printer's own specification with generic internet rules.