Preflight is a print industry standard term for checking files for things that might cause issues in the physical output before you start the printing process. It is however NOT a standard set of checks or ways to solve those problems. Every printer has its own flavor of Preflight that does the checks and/or resolution steps in a different order.
Lob’s preflight module requires each file to meet the PDF-X/1a standard. PDF-X/1a is a standard for creating reliable and predictable PDF files for print production. (The "X-1a" part refers to the specific version of the PDF/X standard, which has certain requirements and restrictions to ensure compatibility and consistency.) To render and execute your campaigns quickly, and at scale, our ability to audit every file is limited. We run an automated check—where fixes are automatically applied—but in doing so, it may negatively impact your mailpieces.
To ensure each mailpiece is rendered exactly like you intend, please submit print-ready files by following the preflight checklist below.
Requirements for static PDFs Must be PDF/X-1a compliantIf you have Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can use the Preflight function to run a report on your PDF which will alert the issues with your PDF file and also allow you to fix/convert the PDF file to PDF/X-1a format.
To perform these actions in Adobe Acrobat, please follow the steps outlined below:
How to review:1) Open Acrobat and the desired PDF
2) Access the Production tools by clicking on (View > Tools > Print Production) from your window pane. Alternatively, you can locate it on the right-hand side of the screen under search tools by expanding the Print Production tab.
3) Once the Print Production tools are open, click on the Preflight option.
4) In the Preflight window, select the "PDF/X” tab.
5) Choose the option "Convert to PDF/X-1a (Coated GRACoL 2006)”
6) You then have two options:
If you want to generate a report detailing errors in your PDF file, click on the “Analyze” button.To analyze and fix any identified issues click the "Analyze and Fix" button. **This option will also save your file in PDF/X-1a format.**
How to Save: Select the PDF file that you want to convert to PDF/X. Once the PDF document is open, go to the “File” menu option and choose “Save As”In the “Save As” dialog box, specify the desired location on your computer to save the converted file. Choose a recognizable name for the converted PDF/X-1a file.
Next, look for a dropdown menu or an option that allows you to select the file format. Click on the PDF/X option.
Next, configure the settings: Select Save as PDF/X-1a Select Convert to PDF/X-1a (Coated GracOL 2006) Click the “OK” button to initiate the conversion process.Depending on the size and complexity of the original PDF file, the conversion process may take a few moments or longer. You may see a progress bar indicating the status of the conversion.
Once the conversion is complete, the software will save the PDF/X-1a file to the specified location on your computer.
Flatten transparencyIf transparencies are not flattened, overlapping colors may change and objects may disappear completely. To ensure predictable and accurate print results, it is generally recommended to flatten transparencies before submitting the file over to Lob for printing. Flattening eliminates potential issues and helps create a final output that closely matches the intended design.