Prepress tools for print-ready PDFs
Free online prepress tools: outline fonts, add bleed and crop marks, check ink coverage, convert to PDF/X and preflight your PDF. Nordic hosting, automatic deletion.
From design to print-ready PDF
- Start from a clean PDF: Export to PDF from your design app. If all you have is an AI, EPS or SVG file, convert it directly.
- Get the fonts right: Embed every font in the file, or convert text to outlines if your printer requires it. Typography then looks identical everywhere.
- Bleed and crop marks: Backgrounds that run to the edge need at least 3 mm of bleed. The tool extends the page and adds crop marks automatically.
- Check your colors: Convert to CMYK with the right ICC profile, and keep total ink coverage under your printer's limit, typically 300 percent.
- Preflight and deliver: Run a print check to catch low resolution, missing fonts and wrong color spaces, then deliver as PDF/X if your printer asks for it.
Frequently asked questions
- What is prepress?
- Prepress is everything between finished design and the actual print run: fonts, colors, bleed, resolution and file format all need to be correct before the press starts. Catching errors here saves a round trip with your print shop.
- How do I make a PDF print-ready?
- Check five things: all fonts embedded or outlined, at least 3 mm bleed on edge-to-edge backgrounds, colors in CMYK with the right profile, images at 300 DPI, and the file saved in the format your printer asks for, usually PDF/X. The tools on this page cover each step.
- My printer asked me to outline the fonts. What does that mean?
- Converting all text to vector curves so the document looks the same regardless of which fonts are installed. Use the convert text to outlines tool; it preserves layers and cut lines, which most alternatives do not.
- How much bleed do I need?
- 3 mm is the common standard for business cards, flyers and posters. Large formats like banners and roll-ups often need 5-10 mm. When in doubt, check your print shop's file specification.
- What is the difference between PDF/X and PDF/A?
- PDF/X is the print standard: it locks colors, fonts and transparency for predictable output. PDF/A is for long-term archiving. For a print shop you want PDF/X, usually PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4.
- What is total ink coverage (TAC)?
- The sum of the four CMYK channels at the darkest point. Above roughly 300 percent on coated paper, ink does not dry properly and can set off. Analyze the file to see exactly where the limit is exceeded.
- Are the tools free?
- Yes, free to use with no signup. A few automatic fixes in the print check require Pro. Files are deleted automatically within 24 hours at most, and you can download a deletion certificate.