The Ultimate Prepress Checklist

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

We can all agree that printing at home is easy, but when it comes to marketing materials and printing in batches, it’s better to entrust your project to professionals. That said, there are steps you can take to ensure your prints come out perfectly. We list everything you need to prepare before sending your files to your printer and getting started with production.

Step 1: File Preparation. Give your file a thorough check from cover to cover and check for the following elements:

• Check for correct typeface, fonts are in “true” form, and spacing and kerning are correct.
• Ensure that there are no missing or inactive font files.
• Correct any errors in grammar, spelling, and capitalization.
• Ensure that all pricing details are correct.
• Correct any errors in punctuation.
• Check margins, bleed marks, and crop marks.
• Ensure that process colors are set to CMYK.
• Remove unnecessary color swatches.
• Ensure that hyperlinks and QR codes are correct and working.
• Remove unused elements, empty boxes, and elements on the pasteboard.
• Decide on a paper type, coating, and lamination.

Step 2: Preflight Stage. At the preflight stage, printing specialists meticulously check the file before it is sent to the proofing stage. The preflight stage is digitally automated, eliminating technical errors from print files. However, a printing expert is still required to operate the process.

• Check if the file is packaged correctly based on the program used to compile it.
• Ensure that the file is set to “Preflight” mode (Adobe InDesign) or has gone through preflight software FlightCheck if you’re using a Quark document.
• Double-check CMYK settings of your file.
• Double-check font files.
• Fix the errors that the preflight check will generate.
• Collect the corrected files and their active components into a new folder and package it for printing.

Step 3: Proofing Stage. It is during the proofing stage that printing specialists produce either a hard proof or soft proof of your order for one final check. A soft proof is a digital file they can email you for checking and approval. This file is usually generated in PDF format. On the other hand, a hard proof is a physical printout of your print product and is typically sent via mail. It is the customer’s responsibility to check the digital or physical proof for last-minute discrepancies and ensure it is free from errors.

• Check for color quality.
• Check for copy accuracy.
• Check layout and pagination.

Pick a Printer You Can Trust

Choose a printer that is as meticulous as you are, if not more. At UPrinting, we employ a rigorous 33-point print check process to ensure that your files come out flawlessly. Regardless of the print product you want to produce or the quantity you want them in, we apply this strict process and pay attention to the minute details to maintain print perfection.

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