The press wants color-separated files matched to their profile and I only have an RGB proof our art director approved.…
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Go to the Tools pane and select Print Production.
Click Preflight to open the Preflight dialog.
In the Preflight dialog, switch to the Fixups tab.
Type a keyword such as 'outline' or 'transparency' in the search box to locate relevant fixups.
Select Convert all text to outlines from the list of fixups.
CautionOutlining text makes it uneditable and can increase file size.
Click the Fix button to apply the outline fixup.
Repeat the search and select Flatten all transparency (or similar) from the fixups list.
NoteFlattening transparency is essential for print workflows that do not support live transparency.
Click the Fix button to apply the transparency flattening fixup.
Save the corrected PDF with a new name to preserve your original file.
Best practiceBLOGS recommend saving a backup before running fixups, as some changes (like outlining) cannot be undone.
You can combine multiple fixups in a single Preflight profile to automate repeated print production tasks.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
A Preflight profile is a set of rules that Acrobat uses to check your PDF. It matters because it ensures your file meets specific standards for printing, like correct colors, fonts, and image resolution. Using the right profile helps avoid costly errors and ensures your printed material looks as intended.
Yes, Preflight can fix incorrect spot colors automatically using its 'fixups' feature. You can choose a fixup that converts spot colors to process colors, or maps them to a different color space. This helps ensure your file prints correctly without unexpected color shifts, especially important for branding.
You should use a standard Preflight profile like PDF/X-4 because these profiles are designed to meet common industry printing standards. Making your own profile can be complex and might miss important checks, leading to print errors. Standard profiles are reliable and widely accepted by print shops.
| Tool | Main Purpose | Example Task |
|---|---|---|
| Preflight | Checks and fixes PDF for print errors based on profiles. | Ensuring PDF/X compliance and fixing ink coverage. |
| Output Preview | Simulates how colors will look on different devices. | Checking color separations and overprint. |
| Flattener Preview | Shows how transparency will be flattened. | Identifying areas where transparency issues might occur. |