Why we don't touch it

We don't break your file. Some jobs we leave to the press on purpose.

Colour conversion, fonts, transparency flattening and trapping usually make a file worse when they are done before it reaches the press. We stay out of these four jobs. We call this Late Binding, and the reasons are below.

Who does what?

Designer
Prepares the PDF/X file
NowToPrint
Checks, fixes and shrinks
Press
Colour, transparency and trapping are handled here, in the press's own system

Four jobs, one principle

Colour conversion

Done early: RGB is converted to CMYK without knowing the press. Vivid colours are lost for good.
Done at the press: The press converts with its own profile, so the same file gives each press its best result.
What we do: We never change colour. We only report it.

Fonts

Done early: Text turned into outlines loses fine letter detail and can no longer be corrected.
Done at the press: Fonts embedded in the file are processed as they are.
What we do: We neither convert nor add fonts. If one is missing, we tell you.

Transparency flattening

Done early: Shadows and soft blends are cut into pieces, which can leave thin lines on edges and lower quality.
Done at the press: Current print systems read transparency directly, so the image is not damaged.
What we do: We don't flatten transparency. We leave it as it is.

Trapping

Done early: A trap added without knowing the press is wrong for that press.
Done at the press: The press applies it for its own registration tolerance.
What we do: We don't add trapping.

So what do we touch?

Everything we touch is recorded with its measurements and shown on the result screen with before and after values.

What we touch

Page size and trim size
Bleed and cut marks
Page count and blank pages
Lossless size reduction

What we leave alone

Colour
Fonts
Transparency
Trapping

What you should know

On the result screen, everything we deliberately left alone is listed under this heading. It reads like this:

Colours were not touched. The press will convert them with its own profile.
Fonts were left as they are. If a font is missing, you were warned separately.
Transparency was not flattened. The print system handles it directly.
No trapping was added. The press applies it for its own tolerance.

What is PDF/X?

PDF/X is the international standard for print-ready PDF. Its rules make sure the file prints as expected: page and trim size, colour information and the print intent travel inside the file.

Older versions (PDF/X-1a) banned transparency, so everyone had to flatten. With PDF/X-4, transparency and colour profiles stay live in the file. Flattening is no longer needed, and the file goes to press as the designer made it.

Export as PDF/X-4 from your design software and that is enough. We check and prepare the file without damaging it, and the press does the rest.

Frequently asked

Why do competitors still flatten transparency?

Flattening transparency to the detriment of PDF quality is an outdated approach. Keeping the habit can still cost you quality, so use the power of the PDF/X standards instead. This technology is not new either; it has about 20 years behind it. Not using it today is simply an old habit that causes quality loss.

What if my printer uses an older system?

If your printer wants, they can flatten the file in their own system. Because we don't damage the file, that decision stays with the printer, where it belongs.

Does this mean nothing in my file changes?

No. We handle page size, bleed, marks and page layout. We only stay out of colour, fonts, transparency flattening and trapping.

Get your file press-ready without breaking it

Checking, fixing and shrinking run in your browser, so your file stays on your computer.

Prepare for Print