The Cost of a Bad Export
Sending a poorly formatted file to a commercial printer can result in thousands of dollars of wasted materials. Pixels look different than ink. Here is the ultimate checklist for ensuring your PDF is print-ready.1. Color Space: CMYK
Your monitor displays colors using RGB light, which can create vibrant neons that physically cannot be printed with ink. Before exporting your PDF, ensure your document color space is set to CMYK. This will give you an accurate preview of how the final print will look.
2. Resolution: 300 DPI Minimum
Web images are usually 72 DPI. If you print them, they will look blurry and pixelated. Ensure every image embedded in your document is at least 300 DPI at its final physical size.
3. Bleeds and Margins
Commercial printers print on large sheets and cut them down to size. The blade isn't perfectly accurate. If your design goes to the edge of the page, you must include a "bleed" (usually 0.125 inches or 3mm) that extends past the cut line.
4. Font Embedding
Never assume the print shop has your specific brand font. Export your PDF with all fonts embedded, or convert your text to outlines (shapes) so the typography remains exactly as you designed it.
5. Final PDF Export
Use a reliable PDF generation tool. Avoid "Save as PDF" options that heavily compress the file. You want a high-quality, uncompressed output specifically tailored for print production.