Print Preparation (Prepress)
Guides for preparing print-ready PDF files: bleed, colour mode, imposition, crop marks, preflight checks and troubleshooting.
Print Preparation (Prepress)
Guides for preparing print-ready PDF files to professional print-shop standards — bleed, colour, imposition, crop marks and preflight checks.
Guides in This Section
Basic Concepts
Bleed, safe zone, CMYK and resolution — the essential terms for print preparation.
PDF Requirements
Technical standards and a checklist for files uploaded to NowToPrint.
Imposition
N-Up, Booklet and Work-and-Turn modes for professional page layout.
Crop Marks
Adding crop marks, registration marks and colour bars.
Preflight Check
PDF quality control, traffic-light results and error resolution.
Ink Coverage
Per-page CMYK ink coverage analysis and TIC alerts.
Zen Mode
Distraction-free full-screen preview and quality check.
Troubleshooting
Common errors and how to fix them.
Quick Start
Go to Print Preparation from the dashboard and drag-and-drop your PDF. Maximum file size: 50 MB, maximum pages: 500.
Select an imposition mode from the right panel:
- Single page (1-up): Original layout unchanged
- Booklet: Saddle-stitched brochure pagination
- N-Up: Repeat a single page for cards or labels
Add trim lines, registration marks and colour control strips for your press.
Review changes live, then click Download PDF to save your press-ready file.
Why Prepress Matters
| Issue | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing bleed | White edges after trimming | Add 3 mm bleed |
| Low resolution | Pixelated print | Minimum 300 DPI |
| RGB colour mode | Colour shift | Convert to CMYK |
| Fonts not embedded | Font substitution | Embed all fonts in PDF |
Industry Comparison
| Feature | Enfocus PitStop | Callas | NowToPrint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client-side processing | ✓ | ||
| Preflight check | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ink coverage analysis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| XJDF compliance | ✓ | ✓ | |
| SaaS model | ✓ | ||
| Licence cost | High | High | Free Tier |
NowToPrint processes all files locally in your browser — your files never leave your device.
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