Print checks, dielines, PDFs and the production handoff

Print setup → Checks; Advanced → Export

Structure, Artwork and Sheet checks

Groups problems by their source. Structure covers the generated geometry; Artwork covers placed content and delivery requirements; Sheet covers layout/production concerns. Show locates the relevant item when available.

When it helps most

Work from blocking structural problems toward artwork and sheet details. Re-run after any structure, material, image-size, colour or nesting change.

Impact and trade-offs

A green check describes what the app checked with the available information. It cannot prove a physical fit, calibrated colour match, scanner performance or external printer acceptance. Read each warning and the final-file diagnostics.

Export → Printer requirements

Printer requirements profile

Loads a set of target thresholds and delivery instructions. Generic is a starting point; named profiles reflect the documented guide; custom requirements let you enter the receiving job’s exact specification.

When it helps most

Use the current product-specific requirements supplied by the printer. A named preset is useful to begin a review, then reconcile it with the actual order/template.

Impact and trade-offs

Selecting a profile does not itself convert colour, outline imported fonts, flatten transparency, trap artwork or certify a supplied template. A required workflow may need receiving prepress tools and approval.

Printer-supplied requirements → numeric thresholds

Minimum bleed and Safe margin

Minimum bleed is the required extension for the checks. Safe margin is a required inset; a blank/template value means the printer’s template defines it. These targets are separate from the project’s actual Bleed/Safe geometry settings.

When it helps most

Set both the production design and the acceptance threshold consistently. For a supplier template with its own safety contours, review those contours rather than substituting an arbitrary number.

Impact and trade-offs

Lowering a threshold can remove a warning without fixing the art. Raising Minimum bleed does not create missing content; change the project/artwork and inspect the exported bounds.

Worked example

If the job requires 5 mm bleed while the design has 3 mm, increasing the checker to 5 should expose the mismatch. Set the design to the required bleed and make the background reach it.

Printer-supplied requirements; Generic starts at 300 ppi

Minimum image ppi

Sets the effective raster-resolution threshold at the image’s placed physical size, rather than judging a file solely by its pixel count or metadata label.

When it helps most

Use the printer’s threshold for the job’s viewing distance, process and content. Replace low-resolution source art or reduce its placed size when the check indicates a problem.

Impact and trade-offs

Changing the threshold does not resample the image or add real detail. A screenshot of vector text is still a raster image. Judge fine lettering and high-contrast edges carefully.

Worked example

1500 pixels across 127 mm (5 in) gives 300 ppi; the same image across 254 mm gives 150 ppi. A 4K mockup render is unrelated to the effective resolution of an asset in the print PDF.

Printer-supplied requirements; Generic starts at 8 pt and 0.25 pt

Minimum text and minimum artwork line

Sets the check thresholds for artwork text and stroke thickness. Technical die/crease rule lines have a different purpose and are not ordinary printed-artwork strokes.

When it helps most

Use the converter’s requirements, especially on absorbent, textured or corrugated stock and for reversed/light text.

Impact and trade-offs

The smallest UI-enterable value is not a printing recommendation. Raising text size may change wrapping; thickening a decorative rule may affect layout. Inspect the change at final size instead of only clearing the warning.

Worked example

0.25 pt is about 0.088 mm. If the printer requires 1 pt lines, a 0.25 pt decorative border remains too fine even though it looks visible on a zoomed screen.

Printer-supplied requirements

Process colour: Printer-managed or CMYK required

Records who accepts the process-colour handling and whether CMYK is required. Output colour condition/profile settings are separate from this target.

When it helps most

Choose Printer-managed when that is explicitly the agreement. Choose CMYK required when the recipient specifies it, then inspect conversion/output diagnostics and the actual final file.

Impact and trade-offs

An RGB-looking screen preview is not proof of a CMYK separation or colour match. Setting a requirement is not a conversion switch. Confirm ICC profile, intended substrate and treatment of special/technical inks with prepress.

Printer-supplied requirements → Text

Text: embedded fonts or outlines

Records whether the recipient accepts embedded fonts or requires outlined letter shapes.

When it helps most

Use the requirement from the receiving printer. Preserve editable text in the project even if a particular delivery needs outlines.

Impact and trade-offs

Changing this requirement does not outline every font in imported PDF/SVG artwork. Check the final file and downstream preparation. Outlined lettering loses normal text editability, so retain the source and approved wording.

Printer-supplied requirements → Transparency

Transparency: allowed or flattened

Records whether live transparency is acceptable in the final workflow or whether the recipient requires flattened output.

When it helps most

Relevant to opacity, transparent images, blends and effects, especially when targeting a legacy production workflow.

Impact and trade-offs

Choosing Flattened required is a target, not proof that all imported content has been flattened. Flattening can affect edges, colour and text/vector treatment; inspect the prepared final file with the recipient’s validation process.

Printer-supplied requirements → Sides

Combined or separate outside/inside files

Controls the delivery organisation. Separate requests outside and inside print PDFs; inside files are produced where the part actually has inside artwork.

When it helps most

Use when the printer wants one file per side/pass, particularly on multi-part or two-sided packaging.

Impact and trade-offs

Count parts and sides rather than assuming exactly two files for every project. A blank inside does not imply a missing export. Check filenames, page dimensions and orientation, then pair each file with the matching approved component.

Printer-supplied requirements

Additional marks, PDF standard, trapping and printer template

Records four independent handoff constraints: whether extra marks are allowed, the requested PDF standard, who provides trapping and whether the original supplier template is mandatory.

No additional marks

Review crop/registration/slug options and omit unrequested marks in the actual output.

No PDF/X / PDF/X-1a / PDF/X-4

Choose the required target and read final diagnostics. A standard label is not a substitute for validation of fonts, colour, transparency and output intent.

Receiving printer / Supply trapped artwork

Assigns responsibility. When supplied trapping is required, have it prepared and verified through the agreed prepress workflow.

Printer template required

Preserve the actual ordered-product template and its technical colours. Independently regenerated geometry still needs explicit acceptance.

When it helps most

Use the receiver’s written instructions. These settings are especially important when uploading to a production portal that rejects extra marks or regenerated dielines.

Impact and trade-offs

The app does not generate traps. Validated PDF/X-1a requires validation outside a mere preset name; PDF/X-4 is explicitly described as structurally self-checked rather than independently certified. A generated lookalike is not a certified replacement for a mandatory supplier template.

Export in Printer audience

Cutter/RIP profile and spot-colour name overrides

Selects technical-ink conventions and lets you override names for the line kinds present in this design: Cut, Crease, Reverse crease, Perforation, Kiss cut, Cut-score and Double crease as applicable.

When it helps most

Use the precise names requested by the receiving RIP. Keep cut and crease operations distinguishable, and verify them in a separations/layer inspection.

Impact and trade-offs

Names are matched exactly by downstream systems. Reserved PDF names such as All, None, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black cannot be used as arbitrary technical spot names; the UI warns. A familiar CutContour name alone does not establish Processing Steps compliance.

Download → Dieline PDF options

Dieline PDF: Dimensions, Legend, Bleed & safe, View

Dimensions adds measurement annotation; Legend explains technical line types; Bleed & safe includes guides; View selects Print side or Die side.

When it helps most

Use annotated output for review and a cleaner technical output if requested for tooling. Show enough context for the recipient to interpret side, units and revision.

Impact and trade-offs

Annotations are not cutting paths. A die-side view can mirror an asymmetric blank relative to a print-side view; inspect a known flap before sending. Turning off guides does not remove the actual production need for bleed.

Download → Print PDF options

Print PDF: Include die and Crop marks

Include die adds technical dieline content to the artwork output; Crop marks adds the relevant print marks.

When it helps most

Include only what the printer requested. An artwork-only file may be appropriate where the portal already has the fixed tooling template; a combined technical proof may be useful for review.

Impact and trade-offs

Check separations and ensure technical content is handled as intended, rather than assuming it will never print. Crop marks consume area and may conflict with a no-extra-marks requirement. Inspect actual PDF page size, not just the editor view.

Download → Vector format

SVG, DXF R12 and CF2

SVG can include artwork, dimensions and safe guides. DXF R12 exports technical geometry in millimetres under line-type layers. CF2 carries technical cut/crease and specialty-rule geometry, including supported arcs.

When it helps most

Choose SVG for compatible vector editing, and the format explicitly requested for CAD or cutting systems. Use the intended knife side and technical conventions.

Impact and trade-offs

SVG rendering/import support varies, including physical-unit interpretation and artwork effects. DXF/CF2 are not a substitute for the print-artwork PDF. Confirm specialty rule types, pointage and scale in the receiver’s software.

Download → Illustrator

Illustrator ZIP and bridge

The handoff ZIP contains PDF artwork/parts and a dimensioned dieline plus an import script. Running Import to Illustrator.jsx in Illustrator saves native AI files and restores unambiguous technical spots to named layers.

When it helps most

Use when the receiving designer needs to continue in Illustrator. Extract the ZIP first and inspect each imported part/side before editing or manufacture.

Impact and trade-offs

The download itself is not a native .ai file. The optional bridge sends the currently selected part/side when connected; it does not imply every part was transferred. Confirm Save AI and the imported layer/spot mapping in Illustrator.

Download → output selection

Sheet PDF, Printer bundle and Proof package

Sheet PDF produces separate print-sheet and sheet-die files in a ZIP. Printer bundle collects production files, specification, job ticket and diagnostics. Proof package preserves a sign-off document, project, manifest and available renders under a revision ID.

When it helps most

Use Sheet PDF for an agreed imposed production layout, a bundle for a coordinated multi-file handoff, and a proof for review/approval.

Impact and trade-offs

Inspect every ZIP member and reconcile its part/side/revision. A proof is not automatically an accepted press file. The 3D view must be available for rendered proof views; export access and artwork treatment depend on the current plan.

Export in Printer audience → Press colour

Press colour (output intent) and printer ICC profile

Writes a production-PDF output intent. Named CMYK press conditions can identify a target without embedding a CMYK profile; a supplied .icc/.icm file can be loaded and its information inspected. The current control limits profile files to 16 MB.

When it helps most

Use the exact profile/condition agreed with the receiver and read the contract note shown for that choice. Choose None only when the colour workflow will be agreed separately.

Impact and trade-offs

Artwork colour is not converted by this control. Embedding an ICC profile describes the intended output condition; it does not itself convert RGB artwork to that CMYK press. Choosing a named preset clears a loaded custom profile. Have required conversion and final-file validation performed in the agreed prepress workflow.