Working with printers
Print shops reject files for predictable reasons and ask for predictable things. Knowing five questions and a dozen terms puts you ahead of most files in their queue.
Ask before you design
- What trim size? Confirm exact dimensions, not "roughly A5".
- How much bleed? Usually 3 mm (0.125 in in the US). Some large-format shops want 5 mm.
- Which color profile? Typical answers: ISO Coated v2 / FOGRA39 or PSO Coated v3 / FOGRA51 in Europe, GRACoL 2013 in the US, Japan Color in Japan. If they shrug, use eciCMYK (FOGRA59) and say so.
- What file format? PDF/X-1a is accepted nearly everywhere. Some shops take TIFF for raster jobs.
- For booklets: what binding? Saddle stitch changes the page-count rules and imposition.
Speak the language
| They say | It means | In the plugin |
|---|---|---|
| "Needs bleed" | Art must extend past the cut | Setup bleed, extend art to frame edge |
| "Where is the trim box?" | PDF lacks cut metadata | Trim boxes are on by default in PDF export |
| "Send it flattened" | No live transparency | Always true here: pages are flattened raster |
| "Text should be 100 K" | Black text on the K plate only | Automatic: pure black converts to K100 |
| "Ink limit is 300" | Total ink coverage cap | Automatic: conversion stays at or under 300% |
| "Registration marks" | Marks on every plate | Marks are drawn in registration color |
| "CutContour plate" | Named spot line for cutting | Dieline with plate name selector |
Responding to common feedback
"The colors look dull compared to your screen." That is CMYK physics, not a file error. Show them the soft proof; if a specific color matters, ask for their ink recipe and add a custom mapping.
"We prefer X-4 with an embedded profile." Explain the file is X-1a with a registered output condition named in the intent; nearly all shops accept it. If they insist, they can convert in Acrobat with their profile in one step.
"Can you send the native file?" No need: the PDF is self-contained, flattened, with no font or link dependencies. That is the point.
Proofs
For color-critical jobs, always order a proof: a contract proof (printed, profile-accurate) for brand work, or at minimum their soft-proof PDF. Approve the proof, not your monitor.