pdfviz

Preflight a PDF for print

or drop one here

Print settings

Start with the workflow closest to the job. The report records every value.

300 DPI · 3 mm bleed · managed color
Choose a PDF first.

Run a local print preflight before the PDF reaches production: name the job as commercial, digital or large-format print, then adjust minimum image resolution, bleed and color policy. Every page is opened through pdf.js and every PDF object walked through pdf-lib, with evidence kept for each finding. The PDF stays in this browser tab and is never changed; checks that need a native press-proof renderer stay marked as not checked.

How to preflight a PDF for print

  1. Choose a PDF

    Press Choose a PDF, or drop one on the page. The file stays in this browser tab.

  2. Name the print job

    Choose commercial, digital or large-format print, then adjust the minimum image resolution, bleed and color policy if needed.

  3. Inspect both views

    The tool opens every page through pdf.js and walks its PDF objects through pdf-lib. Each result keeps the page or object evidence that produced it.

  4. Simulate the press output

    Run the optional local color-channel pass for separation plates, total ink coverage and overprint differences. On small devices it uses smaller tiles and lower proof resolution.

  5. Download the evidence

    Review failed, warning, passed and not-checked results separately, then save the human report or versioned JSON evidence.

Where static preflight stops

The browser can inspect the PDF structure, content operators and resource graph without changing the file. That is enough to find missing bleed, low-resolution placements, unmanaged color, missing fonts, transparency declarations and risky document actions. These checks run before the file is sent, so fixable structural issues surface early.

The optional Poppler WebAssembly pass renders process and named spot channels in bounded tiles. It measures total area coverage and compares overprint preview off and on without uploading the PDF. It is a simulation at the selected proof resolution, not a certified PDF/X validation. ICC soft proof remains not checked.

When to run a print preflight

Preflight catches the problems that cause a press to reject a file: images below the required DPI, missing bleed on a trimmed job, RGB images in a CMYK workflow, fonts not embedded, transparency the press must flatten. Running the check before sending the file saves a round trip and a deadline. For a brochure going to an offset press, the commercial profile flags low-resolution images and missing bleed. For a short-run digital job, the digital profile relaxes the resolution floor. For a banner or poster, the large-format profile accepts lower DPI at viewing distance.

Pair preflight with PDF size breakdown to see whether an oversized file is caused by images that also fail the resolution check, and with Compress PDF to reduce the file before sending. For a privacy pass before the file leaves your hands, run Privacy scan to strip metadata that names the author or the editor.

Questions about preflighting a PDF for print

Does this change my PDF?
No. Print preflight reads the source and produces a report. It does not write a new PDF.
What does the tool check?
It checks page boxes and bleed, page sizes, used fonts, placed-image resolution, color spaces, spot colors, output intents, PDF/X claims, transparency, overprint declarations, annotations, forms, attachments and risky actions.
Does it check total ink coverage?
Yes, in the optional press simulation. The local Poppler runtime renders CMYK and named spot channels, measures process ink coverage, and compares overprint preview off and on. ICC soft proof remains not checked.
Is this a certified PDF/X validation?
No. The tool inspects PDF/X claims and supporting structure, but it does not claim ISO conformance certification. Use an accredited validator for that decision.
Does preflight upload my PDF?
No. The PDF, its object data and its report stay in this browser tab unless you download the report yourself.
Which profile should I choose?
Choose commercial print for an offset or press job, digital print for a short-run press or office device, and large format for banners and posters. The profile sets the starting minimum image resolution, bleed and color policy, and every value can be changed before the run.
Can I download the report as JSON?
Yes. The tool offers both a human-readable report and a versioned JSON evidence file for archival or automated comparison.
What does the image resolution check measure?
It reports the effective DPI of every placed image against the size the page draws it at. A 300 DPI image scaled to twice its size drops to 150 DPI effective, and that is what the check flags.

The other pdfviz tools

They all run in a browser tab like this one, and none of them needs an account.

Where to go next